Round black spider with yellow spots?

I was digging up some weeds yesterday and came across a black spider with a body that was the size of a dime. Its body was round and had yellow spots on it. It almost looked like some kind of a crab only it walked forward and had no claws. I live south of Boston and we have a swamp in our back yard. Any ideas on what it could have been and if it is dangerous? I have never seen anything like it before. Thanks.

Contributed by gardening mom on 7 July, 2008 - 6:16pm

No, those aren't it. I wish

No, those aren't it. I wish I had been able to get a picture of it, but it ran off into the grass before I could have run in to get my camera. Thanks anyway!

… gardening mom, 9 July, 2008 - 10:55am

ran off...

that actually helps, for some reason I had it stuck in my head that it was on an orb weaver. Perhaps it was something like this...

or this..

You can also try browsing through the crab spiders here.

… Lynette Elliott, 9 July, 2008 - 2:48pm

How about

not round enough and doesn't look like a crab, let me try again.

… Lynette Elliott, 7 July, 2008 - 7:43pm

crab-like spiny orb weaver

here is one more crab like

Sorry, I can't think of anything else black and yellow.

… Lynette Elliott, 7 July, 2008 - 7:50pm

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