Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Crab spider
CRAB SPIDER or MATOUTOU, a
spider that belongs to the typical genus
of the family Mygalidæ, which may be
at once known by the shape of its
mandibles and the terrific claws which
proceed from them. In the greater number
of spiders the claws are set horizontally,
but in the Mygalidæ they are bent
downward, and strike the prey much as a lion
clutches at his victim with his curved
talons. The great crab spider preys on
young birds and other small vertebrates.