The specific namecyaneus derives from the Greek word κυάνεος (kyaneos), meaning "dark blue", referring to the spider's dark metallic coloration.[2]
Taxonomy
Sassacus cyaneus was first described by Nicholas Marcellus Hentz in 1846 as Attus cyaneus.[2] The species has a complex taxonomic history, having been placed in several different genera over time. It was originally classified in the genus Agassa by many authors, but David B. Richman transferred it to Sassacus in 2008, making Agassa a junior synonym of Sassacus.[2]
It seems to be closely related to S. papenhoei, but differs in the form of the carapace.[3]
This species is generally found on small shrubs, small oak trees, and scrub pines.[2] It prefers habitats with woody vegetation where it can hunt for prey and construct retreats.
Sassacus cyaneus is described as having a very beetle-like appearance, which distinguishes it from many other jumping spiders.[2]
Both sexes have a distinctive row of setae on the anterior edge of the dorsal abdomen, a characteristic shared with the closely related Sassacus alboguttatus.[2]
Females
Females have a total length of 3.75-4.8 mm, with a carapace length of 1.5-1.8 mm and width of 1.5-1.6 mm. The leg formula is 4123, meaning the fourth legs are longest. The basic coloration is dark reddish-brown to nearly black, covered with pink (appearing in alcohol) metallic scales.
The carapace is box-like and square to nearly square, enhancing the beetle-like appearance. The pedipalps, chelicerae, clypeus, sternum and endites are reddish-brown, with the endites yellowish anteriorly.[2]
The legs are reddish-brown except for yellow tarsi on the first legs, and there are long hairs on the anterior dorsal opisthosoma.[2]
Males
Males are smaller, with total length of 2.4-3.35 mm, carapace length of 1.25-1.6 mm, and carapace width of 1.25-1.5 mm. The leg formula is 1423.[2]
The carapace is nearly black with fine metallic pink and green scales both dorsally and ventrally. The palpal bulb and cymbium are dark red-brown, while the chelicerae are red-brown with scattered metallic scales. The legs are generally red-brown except for the metatarsi and tarsi of legs II-IV, which are yellowish with dark brown distal portions.[2]
Like the female, the abdomen is nearly black with metallic pink and green scales.[2]
Natural history
The natural history of Sassacus cyaneus includes seasonal activity patterns documented by Hentz, who noted collections in "April, May, June, etc."[2] Males have been collected in May, while females have been found from June through September.[2]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
