The crab spider designates a non-sentient spider species that was native to Despayre, a planet situated within the Atrivis sector of the Outer Rim Territories. A crab spider, its size comparable to the hand of Celot Ratua Dil, a prisoner residing in the Slashtown Prison Colony on Despayre, made its home in an upper corner of Dil's shack, close to the roof. The destruction of Despayre by the initial firing of the Death Star in 0 BBY resulted in the extinction of all crab spiders on the planet.
Michael Reaves and Steve Perry conceived the crab spider, featuring it in their 2007 novel, Death Star.