Thanatus atlanticus is a species of spider in the family Philodromidae. It is commonly known as the ground running spider.
Thanatus atlanticus is known from Cape Verde Islands and South Africa. In South Africa, it was sampled from four provinces including three protected areas, at altitudes of 182-1431 m above sea level.
Thanasus atlanticus was sampled from grass in the Savanna biome.
Thanatus atlanticus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in three protected areas: Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park and Namaqua National Park.
The species was originally described by Lucien Berland (1936) from the Cape Verde Islands. The African species have not been revised and the species is known from both sexes.