bleke bodemkrabspin
Ozyptila sanctuaria
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) Emanuele Santarelli, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Emanuele Santarelli
Overview
The bleke bodemkrabspin (Ozyptila sanctuaria) is a small, pale-colored crab spider belonging to the family Thomisidae. This cryptic arachnid displays characteristic mottled beige and gray coloration that provides excellent camouflage against sandy and rocky substrates. As an ambush predator, it plays a crucial role in controlling populations of small arthropods in its specialized ground-dwelling ecosystem.
Ozyptila sanctuaria faces severe threats from habitat destruction and fragmentation of its specialized dune ecosystem. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to coastal development, recreational activities, and climate change impacts on coastal habitats.
Habitat
Ozyptila sanctuaria inhabits sparse vegetation zones of coastal sand dunes, particularly areas with scattered marram grass and pioneer plant communities. The species shows strong preference for semi-stabilized sandy areas with partial shade from low shrubs, typically within 500 meters of the shoreline.
Other threatened species in Thomisidae
Threatened in Belgium
Frequently asked questions
Why is bleke bodemkrabspin classified as Endangered?
Where does bleke bodemkrabspin live?
What are the main threats to bleke bodemkrabspin?
Get weekly conservation intelligence
One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.
Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.