The
six-eyed sand spider (
Sicarius hahni) is a medium-sized
spider with body measuring 8 to 15 mm and legs spanning up to 50 mm, found in deserts and other sandy places in southern
Africa. It is a member of the
Sicariidae family; close relatives may be found in both Africa and in
South America, and its near cousins, the
recluses (
Loxosceles), are found worldwide. Due to its flattened stance and laterigrade legs, it is also sometimes known as the
six-eyed crab spider. Bites by Sicarius to humans are uncommon; there are no proven cases and only two suspected cases where the culprit was never identified. Sicarius bites have been experimentally shown as lethal to rabbits within 5 to 12 hours. The genus name
Sicarius is Latin for 'murderer', from
sica, a curved dagger. The species was named after
Carl Wilhelm Hahn.