| Saitis barbipes | |
|---|---|
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| Male from Barcelona, Spain | |
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| Female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Salticidae |
| Subfamily: | Salticinae |
| Genus: | Saitis |
| Species: | S. barbipes |
| Binomial name | |
| Saitis barbipes | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Saitis barbipes is a common jumping spider (family Salticidae) found in the Mediterranean region. [2] [3]
The species name barbipes is derived from Latin, and means "bearded foot".
The species Saitis barbipes was described by the French naturalist Eugène Simon in 1868, under the name of Attus barbipes. [4] It was placed in 1876 by Eugène Simon in the genus Saitis of which it constitutes the type species. [5]
The Australian "peacock spider", Maratus volans , has a range of superficial similarities to the species, such as green eyes, and an enlarged third pair of legs used for courtship. Recent work suggests that Saitis and Maratus are closely related genera. [6]
This species is present in the Mediterranean region, from southern Europe (Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland) to Turkey and in North Africa. [3] [7] [8]
These jumping spiders can be found on houses and rocks, as well as indoors.
Saitis barbipes is characterized by a significant Sexual dimorphism. Males can reach a body length of 3.8–4 millimetres (0.15–0.16 in), while females measure 4.6–5.7 millimetres (0.18–0.22 in). [3] The female shows a less evident coloration, with a dull brown body, a dark or blackish eyes field and pale brown legs with almost no drawing.
On the contrary the smaller male is strikingly colored, especially when frontally viewed. It has bright emerald green eyes, the four white frontal legs are densely haired and regularly interspersed by black stripes and there is a red band above the eyes, which extends on the sides to the rear pair of eyes. The cephalothorax (prosoma) usually is pale brown and rather hairy above the eyes. The abdomen (opisthosoma) is provided on the upper side with a laterally dark bordered longitudinal band. Saitis barbipes is probably the most colorful species of jumping spiders in Europe. The most impressive feature however is the greatly enlarged third pair of legs. These are longer and colored red near the body, fading into black, with white tufts at the end.
Thanks to the long third pair of legs these spiders can jump at great distances. These legs are also used in courtship display. When the male spots a female, he raises vertically the third pair of legs. As he approaches her, from time to time he audibly vibrates them. A receptive female will then collapse on her legs and turn her abdomen ventral side upward. Sexually mature animals can be found year-round. [9] [10]
Jumping spiders are a group of spiders that constitute the family Salticidae. As of 2019, this family contained over 600 described genera and over 6,000 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.
Tord Tamerlan Teodor Thorell was a Swedish arachnologist.
Afraflacilla is a genus of the spider family Salticidae. Most species are distributed in Eastern to Northern Africa and Australia, with two species found in Europe. This genus was for a time included in the genus Pseudicius, and the boundaries between both genera are disputed. In 2016 Jerzy Prószyński erected the genus Psenuc for some borderline species. The name Afraflacilla is combined from Africa, where most earlier described species were found, and FlacillaSimon, 1901, an obsolete salticid genus now called FlacillulaStrand, 1932. This genus name is in turn derived from Aelia Flaccilla, wife of Roman Emperor Theodosius I. Afraflacilla, Pseudicius, Festucula and Marchena are close relatives and form a monophyletic group.
Ascyltus are a genus of jumping spiders in the family Salticidae that was first described by Ferdinand Anton Franz Karsch in 1878. As of December 2020, the genus contained 10 species. Ascyltus spiders utilize their vision in courtship, hunting, and navigation. They are typically large to medium-sized salticids and often move relatively slowly. However, they are capable of agile jumps when moving, hunting, or to avoid predators. They have well developed book lungs and tracheal systems, and they are capable of utilizing both systems. Ascyltus have four pairs of eyes, with the anterior median pair being the most prominent. One distinguishable characteristic of the genus is their antero-lateral carapace, which is iridescently coloured.
Bathippus is a genus of jumping 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.
Pseudicius is a genus of the jumping spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1885. The name is combined of Greek pseudo "false" and the salticid genus name Icius. The small genus Wesolowskana should possibly be included in this genus. There is some dispute whether Afraflacilla is a distinct genus or should be included in Pseudicius. Festucula and Marchena are other close relatives, these genera form a monophyletic group.
Saitis is a genus of jumping spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1876. The Australian species may belong to other genera, such as Maratus.
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 ultraviolet-range; this helps them detect and pursue prey. Males of this species are characterized by their colourful abdomen flaps that are used to attract females during courtship.
Ohilimia is a spider genus of the jumping spider family, Salticidae.
Euophryini is a tribe of jumping spiders. It has also been treated as the subfamily Euophryinae.
Maratus speciosus, sometimes called the coastal peacock spider, is an Australian species of jumping spider. They are only known to inhabit the vegetation of the coastal sand dunes of southwestern Western Australia. Like other Maratus spiders, the males of the species engage in a courtship display during which they raise their third pair of legs and their abdomen, presenting their colourful opisthosomal plate to potential female partners. Accompanying their elaborate dance moves, males beat their front and back body halves together, sending vibrations that travel through the ground which the females pick up, stimulating them into receiving higher chances of a successful mate. Unlike other Maratus, however, the males of this species have a set of bright orange hairs (setae) along both edges of the opisthosoma which only become visible during this display. Maratus speciosus derives from the arachnid class with both sexes measuring about 5 mm in body length, equivalent to a pencil eraser. They are known as the smallest species of spiders. This organism is known as diurnal cursorial hunters, meaning they feed on insects. Like any other jumping spider, they rely on their keen vision and jumping actions to help them travel and spot prey at far distances.
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 colourful abdomen and elongated third pair of legs and wave them, along with extending its lateral flaps. This complex display of courtship is analogous to that of a peacock, hence the common name of this spider species.
Pseudicius athleta is a species of jumping spider in the genus Pseudicius that is found in Kenya and Uganda. The spider was first defined in 2011 by Wanda Wesołowska. It lives communally, in individual nests which may contain either male or female spiders, which engage in complex courtship rituals. The spider is small, with an elongated cephalothorax between 1.8 and 2.2 mm long and an abdomen between 2.2 and 2.8 mm long. The carapace is dark brown with a black eye field but the abdomen has a pattern that differs between the male, which is marked by a brownish-fawn streak, and the female, which has a complex pattern consisting of a herring-bone pattern on the top, diagonal patches on the edge and two small round white spots on the bottom. Pseudicius athleta can be differentiated from other species in the genus by its copulatory organs. The male has a long thin embolus and characteristic tibial apophysis, which has three prongs. The female has narrow tube-like spermathecae. However, it is the swollen first leg, which is reminiscent of the large muscle of an athlete, as reflected in the species name, that most easily identifies the species.
Langelurillus sibandai is the largest species of jumping spider in the genus Langelurillus. It lives in Zimbabwe. The female was first described in 2011 by Wanda Wesołowska. The male has not been identified. The spider has a large fawn abdomen that is between 6.9 and 7.1 mm long and a brown cephalothorax between 4.7 and 5.7 mm long. The distinctive bulgy shape of the abdomen helps to distinguish the species, as well as its size. It has short brownish-orange legs and a large triangular epigyne with two small gonopores.
Maratus pavonis is a species of jumping spider (Salticidae), endemic to Australia, where it is found in Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. The species epithet, pavonis, derives from the Latin, pavo, pavonis, meaning "peacock".
Maratus mungaich, the banksia peacock spider, is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is endemic to Western Australia.
Saitis mutans is a species of spider in the genus Saitis. It is endemic to Australia.
Langelurillus holmi is a species of jumping spider in the genus Langelurillus that is endemic in Kenya. It was first described in 1994 by Maciej Próchniewicz. The spider is small, with a orange-brown carapace that is typically 1.9 mm (0.075 in) long and a round brown abdomen typically 1.3 mm (0.051 in) long. The abdomen is marked with a yellow cross-like pattern surrounding a diamond motif. The mouthparts and legs are orange-yellow. The male has a distinctive palpal bulb, particularly the shape of the appendages on the tibia. It has three tibial apophyses, or spikes, which is typical of the genus. The female has not been described.
Cosmophasis lami, also known as the Lami Beach northern jumping spider or tangerine garden jumper, is a species of jumping spider in the genus Cosmophasis, probably native to South East Asia and some pacific islands, and possibly introduced to Japan and Okinawa Islands by humans. It was first described by Berry, Beatty & Prószynski in 1997 and has one synonym, Cosmophasis squamata (Saaristo,2002) Both the female and the male have been described.
