Salticus (from Latin “saltus” – leap or jump[2]) is a
genus of the family
Salticidae (the jumping spiders). Salticus is the type genus for the family Salticidae.[3]
Description
Coloration is determined by various scales (modified
setae) covering a brown or black integument. Narrow scales (or hairs) may be black or red/rust colored, while broad scales are either iridescent (often magenta or green) or opaque granular white or yellow.[4]
Several common species have a dorsal pattern of black narrow scales and white granular scales arranged in transverse stripes, especially on the
abdomen, from which the common name “zebra spiders” originates, e.g. Holarctic Salticus scenicus (Clerck, 1757). Some Salticus species in the Southwestern US and Mexico have red and white transverse stripes on the abdomen, e.g. Salticus palpalis (Banks, 1904). Some lack the “zebra” stripes completely and have both dorsal abdomen and
cephalothorax covered with iridescent scales, e.g. Salticus peckhamae (Cockerell, 1897).[5] Since the dorsal coloration does not seem to be involved in the male’s courtship display the coloration may have been selected for camouflage or
mimicry. For example, there is a strong similarity between S. palpalis and Agapostemon sweat bees.[6]
Salticus species range in length from 3-7 mm.[5][7] Males are smaller than females, but have elongated
chelicerae and
pedipalps.
Habits
Like most Salticidae, they prefer open, sunny habitats. They are often found on vertical surfaces including man-made structures such as walls and fences or natural such as tree trunks. They are commonly found near water, where they feast on emergent aquatic
gnats and other insects. One study recorded dipterans as 70% of prey items.
[1]Salticus species have been observed preying on insects several times their body size.
Distribution
This genus has at least one species recorded from every continent except Antarctica. One common species, S. scenicus, is a widely distributed
Holarctic species associated with human habitations. S. scenicus has the second most jumping spider observations on
iNaturalist. Most other Salticus species have a more restricted distribution. Two areas with high species diversity are the Southwestern portion of the United States (into Mexico) and the
Mediterranean. Four species have been recorded from the
Canary Islands
^Bellmann, Heiko (2011). Nueva Guia de Campo de Aracnidos de Europa. Barcelona, Spain: Ediciones Omega.
ISBN978-84-282-1558-9.
^Zamani, Alireza; Hosseini, Marzieh Sadat & Moradmand, Majid (2020), "New data on jumping spiders of Iran, with a new species of Salticus (Araneae: Salticidae)", Arachnology Letters, 59: 63–66,
doi:10.30963/aramit5908
Further reading
Murphy, Frances & Murphy, John (2000): An Introduction to the Spiders of South East Asia. Malaysian Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur.
External links
Dr. Heiko Metzner's Worldwide Database of Jumping Spiders (includes descriptions, distribution maps, drawings/photos for most species listed in the World Spider Catalog)
[2]