Hedana species
Hedana Green Crab Spiders Identification in Australia
Small foliage-dwelling crab spiders in the genus Hedana. Green colour alone cannot separate them from other Australian thomisids.
Usually low risk; avoid handlingAbout Hedana green crab spiders
Hedana is a genus in the crab-spider family Thomisidae. The green crab spider common name is broader than this genus, so it should not replace the scientific label. Small foliage hunters with front legs used to grasp prey can fit this comparison, but green thomisids also include several other genera.
Some Australian field material historically labelled Hedana has subsequently been reassigned or corrected, including pictures now identified as Cetratus. This is why a page showing a similar green animal is not enough for a confirmed match. Compare the body outline, leg proportions and clear adult features. Colour can differ with lighting, age and species; some specimens are not uniformly green. Use this page as a genus-level possibility and keep the broad green-crab guide available when detail is limited. Leave folded leaves and silk nurseries intact. A top view and a side view of an exposed animal are preferable to trying to open its retreat.
Identification limit: this guide is a comparison aid. A name match in the identifier does not establish a species record.
Compare similar spiders
Sources and further reading
- World Spider Catalog: Hedana
- Australian spider specialists: Hedana observations
- Australian spider specialists: corrected Cetratus identification
- Healthdirect: spider-bite first aid
Reviewed 21 September 2026. Identification guide; not a confirmed species diagnosis.
Quick identification
- Small foliage-dwelling crab-spider form
- Front legs adapted to grasp prey
- Often green or yellowish, but colour varies
- Compare Hedana with Cetratus and other green thomisids
What to check next
Photograph the whole spider and its surroundings without disturbing it. Use the clues together; a close match is not a confirmed species identification.
When to seek medical help
For a suspected bite, contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26. Call 000 for breathing difficulty, collapse or other severe symptoms. Do not wait for an online identification.
Where it is usually seen
Australian foliage and woodland habitats, with regional occurrence varying among species. Plant camouflage is a useful ecological clue, not a taxonomic diagnosis.