Hentzia

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Hentzia
Kaldari Hentzia mitrata male 01.jpg
Male Hentzia mitrata
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Salticidae
Subfamily: Salticinae
Genus: Hentzia
Marx, 1883
Type species
Epiblemum palmarum
Hentz, 1832
Species

See text.

Synonyms
  • WalaKeyserling, 1885
  • AnokaPeckham and Peckham, 1893
  • ParahentziaBryant, 1943
  • MaeviobeataCaporiacco, 1947

Hentzia is a genus of the spider family Salticidae (jumping spiders) subfamily Dendryphantinae. The genus is widespread in North America and northern South America but the center of biodiversity seems to be primarily in the Caribbean and surrounding areas, with the greatest species diversity occurring in Cuba, which has seven species. [1] [2] Some outlier species, such as Hentzia poenitens and Hentzia fimbriata are found in western North America. [1] [2] It appears to be closely related to the genus Anicius from which it differs primarily in certain anatomical details. [2]

Contents

Description

The genus is characterized by the females especially having hair (setal) pencils below the posterior medial eyes and spatulate hairs on the ventral margin of the first patella and distal femur. These characters are not found in Anicius and there are some differences in the structure of both male palpi and female epigyna. However, the anatomy is close enough that there is almost certainly some relationship to Anicius .

Behavior

Hentzia males perform fairly elaborate courtship displays and engage in both ritual agonistic displays and fighting. [3] Displays have been observed in Hentzia palmarum , Hentzia mitrata , Hentzia antillana , and Hentzia grenada and are suspected in the rest. In the species that have been observed, courtship begins with the male spreading his front legs and with the abdomen cocked to right or left and raised at an angle of about 30 degrees above the substrate. Males of H. palmarum started courtship from a distance of about 3-4 cm if the female moved even slightly. Some males were observed to switch the abdomen from right to left or left to right during courtship, but most kept the orientation with which they started the display. Most males moved toward the female in a zigzag path (with a sideways motion as much as 1 cm), with pauses during which the abdomen was straightened and then re-twisted. However some males proceeded in a straight path. When the male reached about 1 cm from the female he straightened his abdomen and stretched his front legs forward, eventually touching the female, raising and lowering his legs two or three times. If she was receptive the male then see-sawed his front legs over her several times and then mounted and twisted her abdomen before inserting one palp into her epigynum, repeating with a second palp on the other side. Males would often repeat mating several times until the female started to move. Male-male agonistic display initially began like courtship, but within seconds the males would unsheathe their fangs and move toward each other with abdomens cocked and front legs spread. If the males were of similar size they would usually lock chelicerae and touch spread front legs, trying to bite. Often one would break away and retreat. On occasion one did get bitten and leave with a damaged front leg.

Species

As of 2020, there were 22 recognized species: [4]

H. elegans is dubious and is almost certainly not a Hentzia.

Related Research Articles

Jumping spider Family of spiders

Jumping spiders or the Salticidae are a family of spiders. As of 2019, it contained over 600 described genera and over 6000 described species, making it the largest family of spiders at 13% of all species. Jumping spiders have some of the best vision among arthropods and use it in courtship, hunting, and navigation. Although they normally move unobtrusively and fairly slowly, most species are capable of very agile jumps, notably when hunting, but sometimes in response to sudden threats or crossing long gaps. Both their book lungs and tracheal system are well-developed, and they use both systems. Jumping spiders are generally recognized by their eye pattern. All jumping spiders have four pairs of eyes, with the anterior median pair being particularly large.

<i>Anasaitis</i> Genus of spiders

Anasaitis is a genus of jumping spiders that was first described by E. B. Bryant in 1950. The name is derived from the salticid genus Saitis.

<i>Bagheera</i> (spider) Genus of spiders

Bagheera is a genus of jumping spiders within the family Salticidae, subfamily Salticinae and subtribe Dendryphantina. The genus was first described by George Peckham & Elizabeth Peckham in 1896. The name is derived from Bagheera, a character from Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book.

<i>Maratus</i> Genus of spiders

Maratus is a spider genus of the family Salticidae. These spiders are commonly referred to as peacock spiders due to the males' colorful and usually iridescent patterns on the upper surface of the abdomen often enhanced with lateral flaps or bristles, which they display during courtship. Females lack these bright colors, being cryptic in appearance. In at least one species, Maratus vespertilio, the expansion of the flaps also occurs during ritualised contests between males. The male display and courtship dance are complex, involving visual and vibratory signals.

<i>Sassacus</i> (spider) Genus of spiders

Sassacus is a genus of jumping spiders that was first described by George and Elizabeth Peckham in 1895. It is likely named after Sassacus, a Native American chief of the 16th and 17th century.

<i>Zygoballus</i> Genus of spiders

Zygoballus is a genus of jumping spiders found in North and South America.

<i>Maratus volans</i> Species of spider

Maratus volans is a species in the jumping spider family (Salticidae), belonging to the genus Maratus. These spiders are native to certain areas in Australia and occupy a wide distribution of habitats. They have a specialized visual system that allows them to see the full visible spectrum as well as in the UV-range; this helps them detect and pursue prey. Males of this species are characterized by their colorful abdomen flaps that are used to attract females during courtship.

<i>Phidippus johnsoni</i> Species of spider

Phidippus johnsoni, the red-backed jumping spider, is one of the largest and most commonly encountered jumping spiders of western North America. It is not to be confused with the unrelated and highly venomous redback spider.

<i>Spintharus</i> Genus of spiders

The spider genus Spintharus occurs from the northeastern United States to Brazil. Nicholas Marcellus Hentz circumscribed the genus in 1850, initially as a monospecific genus containing his newly described species S. flavidus.

Dendryphantina Subtribe of spiders

The Dendryphantina are a subtribe of jumping spiders that occur mainly in the New World. The subtribe was first defined by Anton Menge in 1879 as Dendryphantidae. Females of the subtribe generally show paired spots on the abdomen, and the males often have enlarged chelicerae. Females in this subtribe typically have S-shaped epigynal openings.

<i>Saitis barbipes</i> Species of spider

Saitis barbipes is a common jumping spider found in the Mediterranean region.

<i>Maevia inclemens</i> Species of spider

Maevia inclemens is a relatively common and colorful jumping spider of North America. In the males there are two forms, a very rare phenomenon in zoology. These use different courting displays, and differ in appearance: the "tufted" morph has a black body and pedipalps ("palps"), three black tufts across its "head", and pale legs; and the "gray" morph has black and white stripes all over its body and legs, orange palps, and no tufts. However, each form accounts for 50% of the adult males, and they are equally successful in mating. A female of Maevia inclemens is 6.5 to 8.0 millimetres long, while males are 4.75 to 6.50 millimetres long.

<i>Trite planiceps</i> Species of spider

Trite planiceps, commonly known as the black-headed jumping spider, is a common jumping spider (Salticidae) endemic to New Zealand and one of about 150 species of jumping spiders in New Zealand.

<i>Zygoballus sexpunctatus</i> Species of spider

Zygoballus sexpunctatus is a species of jumping spider which occurs in the southeastern United States where it can be found in a variety of grassy habitats. Adult spiders measure between 3 and 4.5 mm in length. The cephalothorax and abdomen are bronze to black in color, with reddish brown or yellowish legs. The male has distinctive enlarged chelicerae and front femora. Like many jumping spiders, Z. sexpunctatus males exhibit ritualized courtship and agonistic behavior.

<i>Zygoballus nervosus</i> Species of spider

Zygoballus nervosus is a species of jumping spider which occurs in the eastern United States and Canada.

<i>Anasaitis canosa</i> Species of spider

Anasaitis canosa, previously of the genus Corythalia, is a small jumping spider that can typically be found atop leaf-litter or man-made structures such as fences and exterior walls. This species is more commonly known as the twin-flagged jumping spider due to the two pennant shaped markings on the dorsal side of the cephalothorax. Typical of the genus Anasaitis, this species has iridescent setae ("scales") which may appear white, green or pink which create the "flags" as well as patches on the male pedipalps used in courtship and intraspecific signaling. This species is roughly 5 to 6 mm in length. A. canosa ranges from Mexico to South Carolina along the Gulf of Mexico.

<i>Phidippus clarus</i> Species of spider

Phidippus clarus is a species of jumping spider found in old fields throughout eastern North America. It often waits upside down near the top of a plant, which may be useful for detecting prey, and then quickly jumps down before the prey can escape. The spider is one of 60 species in the genus Phidippus, and one of about 5,000 in the Salticidae, a family that accounts for about 10% of all spider species. P. clarus is a predator, mostly consuming insects, other spiders, and other terrestrial arthropods.

Maratus vespa is a species of the peacock spider genus, Maratus, characterised by its distinctive courtship display. The male spiders are characterized by a bright abdomen, lateral flaps, and an elongated third pair of legs. When attempting to attract a mate, the male spider will raise its colorful abdomen and elongated third pair of legs and wave them, along with extending its lateral flaps. This complex display of courtship is analogous of that of a peacock, hence the common name of this spider species.

Hentzia alamosa is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is only known from Texas in the United States.

<i>Hentzia palmarum</i> Species of spider

Hentzia palmarum, the common hentz jumper, is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is found in North America, Bermuda, the Bahamas, and Cuba.

References

  1. 1 2 Richman, David B. (April 2010). "A new species and new records of Hentzia (Araneae: Salticidae: Dendryphantinae) from the United States" (PDF). Journal of Arachnology. 38 (1): 73–78. doi:10.1636/A09-47.1. S2CID   84165647.
  2. 1 2 3 Richman, David B. (1989). "A revision of the genus Hentzia (Araneae, Salticidae)" (PDF). Journal of Arachnology. 17 (3): 285–344.
  3. Richman, David B. (1982). "Epigamic display in jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae) and its use in systematics" (PDF). Journal of Arachnology. 10 (1): 47–67.
  4. "Gen. Hentzia Marx, 1883", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2020-07-27