Oxytate hoshizuna

Oxytate hoshizuna is a species of spider in the family Thomisidae (crab spiders). It is found in China and Japan.^[1]

The specific name hoshizuna is derived from the Japanese words hoshi (星 "star") and zuna (砂 "sand"), literally translating to "star sand".^[2] This name references the famous star-shaped sand found on beaches in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, where the species was first collected.

O. hoshizuna has been recorded from China and Japan.^[1] The original specimens were collected from the Ryukyu Islands in Japan, specifically from Iriomote Island in Okinawa Prefecture.^[2] The species has subsequently been reported from various regions of China.^[3]

The original description by Ono (1978) provides detailed morphological measurements for both male and female specimens. Males have a body length of 3.0-3.7 mm, while females are slightly larger at 3.2-3.7 mm. The species exhibits the characteristic features of the genus Oxytate, including relatively long anterior legs adapted for ambush predation.^[2]

In life, males appear bright green without distinct markings. When preserved in alcohol, both the prosoma and opisthosoma become dorsally pale, and the legs turn yellowish-brown, while the sternum and ventral opisthosoma appear yellowish-white. Females are similarly green in life and become yellowish-white when preserved in alcohol.^[2]