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A new species of Plexippoides Prószyński, 1984 is described from Southwest China: P. qiui sp. nov. (♂♀). Plexippoides cornutus Xie & Peng, 1993 and P. meniscatus Yang, Zhu & Song, 2006 are re-described. The unknown female of P. cornutus Xie & Peng, 1993 is described for the first time. Diagnostic photos and a distributional map for the studied specimens of these species are provided.

A new species of jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae), Afraflacilla goaensis Gawas & Tripathi sp. nov., is described, diagnosed and illustrated based on a single male specimen collected from a mangrove in Goa, India. Considering this finding, the genus Afraflacilla previously known from the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, is now documented for the first time in Goa. Finally, the Indian records of the genus Afraflacilla are mapped.

Salticidae (jumping spiders) usually exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism in adult morphology, particularly body coloration and size and shape of the first legs. Consequently, the male and female from the same species might be erroneously assigned to different species or even different genera, which could generate synonymies in classification if only morphological data were used. Phintella is a species‐rich genus of Salticidae, which currently exhibits 76 named species. However, the male–female counterpart is unknown for nearly half of the species. In this study, we used a molecular approach to delineate the species boundaries for Phintella and Phintella‐like specimens collected in Vietnam, using morphological information as supporting data. We used three gene fragments (mitochondrial COI, 16S‐ND1, and nuclear 28S) and biogeographical considerations for species delimitation. A total of 22 putative species were recognized: 18 species of the genus Phintella, one species of the genus Lechia (L. squamata), and three species of the genus Phinteloides. Eleven undescribed species were discovered, of which seven have a male–female combination, two species have only males, and two species have only females. The crown age of Phintella was estimated at the Serravallian stage of the Miocene after the increase of species number around 16 MYA. The crown ages of most putative species recognized in this study were estimated in the Pleistocene, and the divergence among sister species likely occurred from the mid‐Miocene to the Pliocene. Our ancestral range reconstruction results showed that the diversification of our ingroup was governed by progressive dispersal events, i.e., Phintella and their related species in Vietnam diversified while expanding their range on the continent. Our results provide fundamental biodiversity data for a high‐diversity genus in Vietnamese Phintella spiders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of the jumping spider genus Indopadilla Caleb & Sankaran, 2019 is described from the Kanniyakumari district, Tamil Nadu state, India. Detailed diagnosis, description, and illustration are provided. In addition, a new locality record of Indopadilla darjeeling Caleb & Sankaran, 2019 is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of jumping spiders (Araneae, Salticidae), Afraflacilla goaensis Gawas & Tripathi sp. nov., is described, diagnosed and illustrated based on a single male specimen collected from a mangrove in Goa, India. Considering this finding, the genus Afraflacilla previously known from the Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, and Rajasthan, is now documented for the first time in Goa. Finally, the Indian records of the genus Afraflacilla are mapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Salticidae (jumping spiders) usually exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism in adult morphology, particularly body coloration and size and shape of the first legs. Consequently, the male and female from the same species might be erroneously assigned to different species or even different genera, which could generate synonymies in classification if only morphological data were used. Phintella is a species‐rich genus of Salticidae, which currently exhibits 76 named species. However, the male–female counterpart is unknown for nearly half of the species. In this study, we used a molecular approach to delineate the species boundaries for Phintella and Phintella‐like specimens collected in Vietnam, using morphological information as supporting data. We used three gene fragments (mitochondrial COI, 16S‐ND1, and nuclear 28S) and biogeographical considerations for species delimitation. A total of 22 putative species were recognized: 18 species of the genus Phintella, one species of the genus Lechia (L. squamata), and three species of the genus Phinteloides. Eleven undescribed species were discovered, of which seven have a male–female combination, two species have only males, and two species have only females. The crown age of Phintella was estimated at the Serravallian stage of the Miocene after the increase of species number around 16 MYA. The crown ages of most putative species recognized in this study were estimated in the Pleistocene, and the divergence among sister species likely occurred from the mid‐Miocene to the Pliocene. Our ancestral range reconstruction results showed that the diversification of our ingroup was governed by progressive dispersal events, i.e., Phintella and their related species in Vietnam diversified while expanding their range on the continent. Our results provide fundamental biodiversity data for a high‐diversity genus in Vietnamese Phintella spiders.

A new species of the genus Pancorius Simon, 1902, P. sebastianisp. n. (♂♀) is diagnosed and described from Western Ghats, India. Detailed description and illustrations of the new species and a map showing the collecting locality of all Indian Pancorius species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen new species of the genus Ptocasius are described from Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan: P. angulatus sp. nov. (♀); P. circulus sp. nov. (♀); P. danzhu sp. nov. (♂♀); P. davidi sp. nov. (♀); P. filiformus sp. nov. (♂♀); P. foliolatus sp. nov. (♀); P. geminus sp. nov. (♂♀); P. jietouensis sp. nov. (♂♀); P. longapophysis sp. nov. (♂♀); P. longlingensis sp. nov. (♂♀); P. rectangulus sp. nov. (♀); P. robustus sp. nov. (♀); P. tengchongensis sp. nov. (♂♀); P. umbellulatus sp. nov. (♀); P. zabkai sp. nov. (♂♀) and P. zonatus sp. nov. (♀). Including P. montanus (Żabka, 1981) and P. pseudoflexus (Liu, Yang & Peng, 2016), a total of eighteen species of Ptocasius have been reported from Mt. Gaoligong. For each new species, a morphological description, photos of the body and copulatory organs, line drawings of copulatory organs, and locality maps are provided.

Temperature is known to influence many aspects of organisms and is frequently linked to geographical species distributions. Despite the importance of a broad understanding of an animal's thermal biology, few studies incorporate more than one metric of thermal biology. Here we examined an elevational assemblage of Habronattus jumping spiders to measure different aspects of their thermal biology including thermal limits (CTmin, CTmax), thermal preference, V̇CO2 as proxy for metabolic rate, locomotor behavior and warming tolerance. We used these data to test whether thermal biology helped explain how species were distributed across elevation. Habronattus had high CTmax values, which did not differ among species across the elevational gradient. The highest-elevation species had a lower CTmin than any other species. All species had a strong thermal preference around 37 °C. With respect to performance, one of the middle elevation species was significantly less temperature-sensitive in metabolic rate. Differences between species with respect to locomotion (jump distance) were likely driven by differences in mass, with no differences in thermal performance across elevation. We suggest that Habronattus distributions follow Brett's rule, a rule that predicts more geographical variation in cold tolerance than heat. Additionally, we suggest that physiological tolerances interact with biotic factors, particularly those related to courtship and mate choice to influence species distributions. Habronattus also had very high warming tolerance values (> 20 °C, on average). Taken together, these data suggest that Habronattus are resilient in the face of climate-change related shifts in temperature.

The jumping spider genus Pancorius Simon, 1902 is represented by 40 species primarily distributed in East, South and Southeast Asia. Amongst these, 10 (including eight endemics) are known from China.A new species, Pancorius lui sp. nov., is diagnosed and described, based on both sexes from Yuntai Mountain in Guizhou of China. Diagnostic photos and a distribution map are provided.

Florida has a rich diversity of spiders that vary greatly in body shape, size, color, hunting strategy, and habitat. While spiders are often feared, they are generally non-aggressive and provide essential ecosystem services, such as controlling pest insects in homes, gardens, and agricultural crops. This downloadable educational coloring book focused on spiders provides a creative way for people of all ages to appreciate the beauty and intrigue of spiders. It accompanies An introduction to Some Common and Charismatic Florida Spiders, a facts sheet highlighting some of the most commonly encountered spiders in Florida and some less common, but particularly charismatic, groups. The fact sheet, available at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1366, provides information on species biology along with images and descriptions for spiders across 15 families.

Florida has a rich diversity of spiders that vary greatly in body shape, size, color, hunting strategy, and habitat. While spiders are often feared, they are generally non-aggressive and provide essential ecosystem services, such as controlling pest insects in homes, gardens, and agricultural crops. This publication highlights some of the most commonly encountered spiders in Florida and some less common, but particularly charismatic, groups. The publication provides information on species biology along with images and descriptions for spiders across 15 families. Accompanying the publication is a downloadable educational coloring book focused on spiders, providing a creative way for people of all ages to appreciate the beauty and intrigue of spiders.

Cesium ion (Cs+) resistance has been reported in bacteria but is poorly understood as reports on Cs+-resistant bacteria have been limited. We previously reported a novel Cs+/H+ antiporter CshA implicated in Cs+-resistance in Microbacterium sp. TS-1. The present study used the same screening method to isolate novel Cs+-sensitive mutants and their revertants from TS-1. A comparative mutation site analysis using whole-genome sequencing revealed that MTS1_03028 encodes the Mg2+ transporter MgtE and is a candidate Cs+ resistance-related gene. We performed a bioinformatic analysis of MTS1_03028 and complementation experiments on Cs+ resistance in the TS-1 MTS1_03028 mutants Mut5 and Mut7 as well as Escherichia coli expressing MTS1_03028 in the presence of Mg2+. We established the role of MgtE in Cs+ resistance through a functional analysis of TS-1. Enhancing Mg2+ transport by expression of MTS_03028 conferred increased Cs+ resistance. When this strain was exposed to Cs+ concentrations exceeding 200 mM, CshA consistently lowered the intracellular Cs+ concentration. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to clarify the mechanism of Cs+ resistance in certain bacteria. The study findings offer important insights into the mechanism of bacterial resistance to excess Cs+ in the environment, suggesting the potential for bioremediation in high Cs-contaminated areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents new faunistic records, morphological data, and occasional natural history observations on Yllenus uiguricus Logunov & Marusik, 2003 (Salticidae) from south-east Kazakhstan. Three male colour forms and digging behaviour of Y. uiguricus are reported and described for the first time. Brief synopses of digging behaviour and colour polymorphism in Salticidae are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In nature, food is often variable in composition and availability. As a consequence, predators may need to seek non‐prey food sources. Some predators are known to feed on nectar when food is limited. Nectar and other carbohydrate resources could also be beneficial when prey are more abundant if it helps predators balance protein‐biased diets. We tested if an actively hunting predator, the jumping spider, Phidippus audax, benefited from liquid carbohydrates when prey were not limited. We also tested if the benefit of carbohydrates varied with the nutrient content of prey (i.e., from protein to lipid biased). Spiders were reared on one of six live prey, Drosophila melanogaster, treatments that ranged from high protein to high lipid. Half of the spiders were given access to a 20% sucrose solution. After 2 months, we measured spider mass, cephalothorax width, instar duration, percent body fat, survival, and estimated number of prey eaten. Spiders reared on high‐protein diets with carbohydrates were larger and heavier than spiders on other treatments. Access to carbohydrates also increased percent body fat and survival across prey treatments. Our results suggest that carbohydrates may be a valuable component of spider diets, especially when prey have high protein and low lipid content as is commonly observed in prey in the field. Our results highlight the importance of diet balancing for predators, and that liquid carbohydrates can be an important nutrient to supplement a diet of prey rather than just being an energy supplement during periods of starvation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new euophryine species, Thiania indicasp. n. (♂♀), is diagnosed and described from the Western Ghats of southern India. Detailed descriptions, diagnostic features, and illustrations for the new species are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In nature, food is often variable in composition and availability. As a consequence, predators may need to seek non‐prey food sources. Some predators are known to feed on nectar when food is limited. Nectar and other carbohydrate resources could also be beneficial when prey are more abundant if it helps predators balance protein‐biased diets. We tested if an actively hunting predator, the jumping spider, Phidippus audax, benefited from liquid carbohydrates when prey were not limited. We also tested if the benefit of carbohydrates varied with the nutrient content of prey (i.e., from protein to lipid biased). Spiders were reared on one of six live prey, Drosophila melanogaster, treatments that ranged from high protein to high lipid. Half of the spiders were given access to a 20% sucrose solution. After 2 months, we measured spider mass, cephalothorax width, instar duration, percent body fat, survival, and estimated number of prey eaten. Spiders reared on high‐protein diets with carbohydrates were larger and heavier than spiders on other treatments. Access to carbohydrates also increased percent body fat and survival across prey treatments. Our results suggest that carbohydrates may be a valuable component of spider diets, especially when prey have high protein and low lipid content as is commonly observed in prey in the field. Our results highlight the importance of diet balancing for predators, and that liquid carbohydrates can be an important nutrient to supplement a diet of prey rather than just being an energy supplement during periods of starvation.

Five new species of salticids were collected from China: Synagelides emangou Liu, sp. nov. (♂, ♀) from Gansu province, and S. jinding Liu, sp. nov. (♂), S. serratus Liu, sp. nov. (♂, ♀), S. shuqiang Liu, sp. nov. (♂), and S. triangulatus Liu, sp. nov. (♀) from Jiangxi Province. All species are described and illustrated with photographs and SEM micrographs, and their distributions are also mapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent work on Neotropical jumping spiders continues to reveal the morphological complexity, phylogenetic relationships, and high taxonomic richness of groups that have not been reviewed in years. Here, we focus on clarify the limits of the genus Cobanus F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900, and transferred some species misplaced in Sidusa peckham & peckham, 1895 to Cobanus. We use an integrative approached of total evidence (DNA + morphology) to produce phylogenetic hypotheses using maximum parsimony (MP), maximum likelihood (ML), and Bayesian methods (BI). Cobanus is strongly supported in all analyses. Based on morphological synapomorphies, we transferred five species to Cobanus and established the following new combinations: Cobanus bifurcata (Chickering 1946) stat. reinst. , Cobanus cambridgei (Chickering 1946) stat. reinst. , C. electa (Chickering 1946) stat. reinst. , Cobanus mandibularis (Peckham and Peckham, 1896) stat. reinst. , and Cobanus unicolor (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge 1900) stat. reinst. Additionally, two new species of Cobanus from Colombia, Cobanus chocquibtown sp. n. and Cobanus muelona sp. n. , are described. Finally, based on the original proposal of the genus, C. mandibularis stat. reinst. is restored as the type species of the genus Cobanus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many ecological interactions of spiders with their potential prey and predators are affected by the visibility of their bodies and silk, especially in habitats with lower structural complexity that expose spiders. For instance, the surface of tree trunks harbours relatively limited structures to hide in and may expose residents to visual detection by prey and predators. Here we provide the first detailed description of the novel retreat building strategy of the tree trunk jumping spider Arasia mullion. Using fields surveys, we monitored and measured over 115 spiders and 554 silk retreats. These spiders build silk retreats on the exposed surface of tree trunks, where they remain as sedentary permanent residents. Furthermore, the spiders decorate the silk retreats with bark debris that they collect from the immediate surrounding. We discuss the role of silk decoration in the unusual sedentary behaviour of these spiders and the potential mechanisms that allow A. mullion to engineer their niche in a challenging habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many ecological interactions of spiders with their potential prey and predators are affected by the visibility of their bodies and silk, especially in habitats with lower structural complexity that expose spiders. For instance, the surface of tree trunks harbours relatively limited structures to hide in and may expose residents to visual detection by prey and predators. Here we provide the first detailed description of the novel retreat building strategy of the tree trunk jumping spider Arasia mullion. Using fields surveys, we monitored and measured over 115 spiders and 554 silk retreats. These spiders build silk retreats on the exposed surface of tree trunks, where they remain as sedentary permanent residents. Furthermore, the spiders decorate the silk retreats with bark debris that they collect from the immediate surrounding. We discuss the role of silk decoration in the unusual sedentary behaviour of these spiders and the potential mechanisms that allow A. mullion to engineer their niche in a challenging habitat.

Jumping spiders (Salticidae) are famous for their visually driven behaviors [1]. Here, however, we present behavioral and neurophysiological evidence that these animals also perceive and respond to airborne acoustic stimuli, even when the distance between the animal and the sound source is relatively large (∼3 m) and with stimulus amplitudes at the position of the spider of ∼65 dB sound pressure level (SPL). Behavioral experiments with the jumping spider Phidippus audax reveal that these animals respond to low-frequency sounds (80 Hz; 65 dB SPL) by freezing-a common anti-predatory behavior characteristic of an acoustic startle response. Neurophysiological recordings from auditory-sensitive neural units in the brains of these jumping spiders showed responses to low-frequency tones (80 Hz at ∼65 dB SPL)-recordings that also represent the first record of acoustically responsive neural units in the jumping spider brain. Responses persisted even when the distances between spider and stimulus source exceeded 3 m and under anechoic conditions. Thus, these spiders appear able to detect airborne sound at distances in the acoustic far-field region, beyond the near-field range often thought to bound acoustic perception in arthropods that lack tympanic ears (e.g., spiders) [2]. Furthermore, direct mechanical stimulation of hairs on the patella of the foreleg was sufficient to generate responses in neural units that also responded to airborne acoustic stimuli-evidence that these hairs likely play a role in the detection of acoustic cues. We suggest that these auditory responses enable the detection of predators and facilitate an acoustic startle response. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

Previous research on Cyrba algerina (Araneae, Salticidae) has shown this jumping spider expresses predatory specialisation with respect to spiders as prey as well as inter-population variation in responsiveness to prey-spider odour. However, this earlier research pertained to a single prey species (Oecobius machadoi) and only field-collected C. algerina individuals were tested. Here we extend the previous research by using laboratory-reared, as well as field-collected, individuals of C. algerina and also by using another prey-spider species, Zelotes thorelli, as well as O. machadoi. Two localities in Portugal are considered, Sintra where C. algerina and both prey species are abundant and Tavira where C. algerina is present but neither prey species has been found. In olfactometer experiments, field-collected C. algerina individuals from Sintra, but not Tavira, were attracted to the odour of both prey species. Next, we tested the response of laboratory-reared Sintra C. algerina individuals that had been maintained with no prior experience with the odour of either prey species. We found no evidence of laboratory-reared individuals being attracted to the odour of either prey species in the olfactometer. These findings suggest that prior experience mediates responsiveness of C. algerina to the odour of local prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new jumping spider species, Langelurillus tertius sp. nov. (♂♀), is described from the Ajanta and Sathmala hill ranges of the Deccan plateau in Maharashtra (India). Detailed description, illustrations, and a map showing the distribution of all known Indian congeners are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four new species of the jumping spider genus Synagelides Strand, 1906 from Guizhou and Yunnan, China are described: Synagelides angustus sp. nov. (♀), S. latus sp. nov. (♂♀), S. subagoriformis sp. nov. (♂♀), and S. triangulus sp. nov. (♀). Photographs of the habitus and copulatory organs and a distributional map are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper includes additional detailed characters and new distribution records of the male of Icius alboterminus (Caleb, 2014) from India. A detailed morphological description based on scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images and illustrations of the reproductive organ are provided.

'Biological motion' refers to the distinctive kinematics observed in many living organisms, where visually perceivable points on the animal move at fixed distances from each other. Across the animal kingdom, many species have developed specialized visual circuitry to recognize such biological motion and to discriminate it from other patterns. Recently, this ability has been observed in the distributed visual system of jumping spiders. These eight-eyed animals use six eyes to perceive motion, while the remaining two (the principal anterior medial eyes) are shifted across the visual scene to further inspect detected objects. When presented with a biologically moving stimulus and a random one, jumping spiders turn to face the latter, clearly demonstrating the ability to discriminate between them. However, it remains unclear whether the principal eyes are necessary for this behavior, whether all secondary eyes can perform this discrimination, or whether a single eye-pair is specialized for this task. Here, we systematically tested the ability of jumping spiders to discriminate between biological and random visual stimuli by testing each eye-pair alone. Spiders were able to discriminate stimuli only when the anterior lateral eyes were unblocked, and performed at chance levels in other configurations. Interestingly, spiders showed a preference for biological motion over random stimuli - unlike in past work. We therefore propose a new model describing how specialization of the anterior lateral eyes for detecting biological motion contributes to multi-eye integration in this system. This integration generates more complex behavior through the combination of simple, single-eye responses. We posit that this in-built modularity may be a solution to the limited resources of these invertebrates' brains, constituting a novel approach to visual processing., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2024. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

A faunistic revision of the jumping spider genus TitanattusPeckham & Peckham, 1885 from Argentina, and full colour photographs of living specimens for every recorded species, are presented. A new species, T. sciosciaen. sp. (male and female, from Argentina), is described. Two different groups within the genus, andinus and pegaseus, are proposed. An identification key for species from Argentina is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the occurrence of the ant-mimicking jumping spider Myrmarachne melanocephala MacLeay, 1839 for the first time from Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary, Jharkhand, India. Digital illustrations and descriptions of the spider, the female's exuviae, and video records of a live male are also presented. The distribution pattern of M. melanocephala has not been studied in detail across India whereas its ant model, Tetraponera rufonigra Jerdon, 1851 is known to have a wide distribution. Co-occurrence of the mimic and the model implies a wider range of biogeographical distribution of these species in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mate guarding is one of the most common tactics in sperm competition. Males are expected to guard their mates when costs of guarding (accrued from physical confrontations with rivals and/or reduced foraging) are low relative to the benefits of ensuring mating opportunities and paternity. We investigated mate guarding in the jumping spider Phidippus clarus, a species where males defend immature subadult females against rival males and attempt to mate with the females soon after they mature. We assessed a possible social cost of mate-guarding behaviour (male intersexual signalling) using laser vibrometry and respirometry. We found that males produced a unique set of signals when guarding subadult females and that these signals were energetically costly (guarding courtship). Mating success did not differ between males that successfully defended a subadult female and males that located an unmated, mature virgin female. This suggests that guarding courtship does not directly influence mate choice and that males may use different tactics depending on female availability to ensure fitness. To explore further the effect of mate guarding and guarding courtship, we experimentally sealed male's copulatory organs (males could guard normally but were unable to transfer sperm) and compared mating rates of sealed versus intact males. We found that guarding behaviour, and not sperm transfer, significantly influenced female remating behaviour. Placed in the context of P.clarus life history, our results highlight the ongoing sexual conflict between males and females and the hidden costs and benefits of mate-guarding behaviour.

In animal taxa, the behavior of choosing a microhabitat determines the context in which individuals engage in all other behaviors and interactions. Microhabitat choice has particularly important implications for animal communication, because the successful transmission of information between individuals is highly context-dependent. Substrate-borne vibrations, which are commonly produced, detected, and used for communication by arthropods, are especially influenced by substrate choice because substrates vary widely in their vibration transmission properties. In this laboratory-based study, we examine vibration transmission properties of substrates commonly encountered in nature by the jumping spider Habronattus clypeatus and also examine whether these spiders exhibit a preference for particular substrates using a choice experiment. We predicted that spiders would prefer substrates that can better transmit vibratory signals. We found that leaf litter minimized the attenuation of vibratory signals, while rocks and sand sharply attenuated the signals. In behavioral trials, more spiders chose leaf litter or rocks as their first substrate over sand. Further, spiders spent more time on, and were more likely to jump to, leaf litter and rocks than sand. These results suggest that substrate preference by H. clypeatus partially matches the choice that would maximize signal transmission efficiency, indicating that the ability to communicate with conspecifics may influence these animals' choice of microhabitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mate guarding is one of the most common tactics in sperm competition. Males are expected to guard their mates when costs of guarding (accrued from physical confrontations with rivals and/or reduced foraging) are low relative to the benefits of ensuring mating opportunities and paternity. We investigated mate guarding in the jumping spider Phidippus clarus, a species where males defend immature subadult females against rival males and attempt to mate with the females soon after they mature. We assessed a possible social cost of mate-guarding behaviour (male intersexual signalling) using laser vibrometry and respirometry. We found that males produced a unique set of signals when guarding subadult females and that these signals were energetically costly (guarding courtship). Mating success did not differ between males that successfully defended a subadult female and males that located an unmated, mature virgin female. This suggests that guarding courtship does not directly influence mate choice and that males may use different tactics depending on female availability to ensure fitness. To explore further the effect of mate guarding and guarding courtship, we experimentally sealed male's copulatory organs (males could guard normally but were unable to transfer sperm) and compared mating rates of sealed versus intact males. We found that guarding behaviour, and not sperm transfer, significantly influenced female remating behaviour. Placed in the context of P.clarus life history, our results highlight the ongoing sexual conflict between males and females and the hidden costs and benefits of mate-guarding behaviour.

Three Plexippoides species are diagnosed, illustrated and (re)described: P. flavescens (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) (♂♀) from the Near East and Central Asia, P. gestroiDalmas, 1920 (♂♀) from the eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor, and P. insperatussp. n. (♂♀) from Pakistan and Iran. An updated diagnosis of and comments on a taxonomic validity of the genus Plexippoides are provided. Two new combinations are proposed: Plexippoides guangxi (Peng & Li, 2002), comb. n., ex Epeus; and Ptocasius linzhiensis (Hu, 2001) comb. n., ex Plexippoides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dexippus kleini Thorell 1891 is recorded for the first time from India based on a sample collected from Assam, northeastern India which is about 2600 km away from its type locality. The species is diagnosed and illustrated in detail along with notes on its natural history, and a distributional map is also provided. The present species is recorded for the first time since its original description 129 years ago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the strongest determinants of behavioural variation is the tradeoff between resource gain and safety. Although classical theory predicts optimal foraging under risk, empirical studies report large unexplained variation in behaviour. Intrinsic individual differences in risk‐taking behaviour might contribute to this variation. By repeatedly exposing individuals of a small mesopredator to different experimental landscapes of risks and resources, we tested 1) whether individuals adjust their foraging behaviour according to predictions of the general tradeoff between energy gain and predation avoidance and 2) whether individuals differ consistently and predictably from each other in how they solve this tradeoff. Wild‐caught individuals (n = 42) of the jumping spider Marpissa muscosa, were subjected to repeated release and open‐field tests to quantify among‐individual variation in boldness and activity. Subsequently, individuals were tested in four foraging tests that differed in risk level (white/dark background colour) and risk variation (constant risk/variable risk simulated by bird dummy overflights) and contained inaccessible but visually perceivable food patches. When exposed to a white background, individuals reduced some aspects of movement and foraging intensity, suggesting that the degree of camouflage serves as a proxy of perceived risk in these predators. Short pulses of acute predation risk, simulated by bird overflights, had only small effects on aspects of foraging behaviour. Notably, a significant part of variation in foraging was due to among‐individual differences across risk landscapes that are linked to consistent individual variation in activity, forming a behavioural syndrome. Our results demonstrate the importance of among‐individual differences in behaviour of animals that forage under different levels of perceived risk. Since these differences likely affect food‐web dynamics and have fitness consequences, future studies should explore the mechanisms that maintain the observed variation in natural populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bistable rhodopsins have two stable forms that can be interconverted by light. Due to their ability to act as photoswitches, these proteins are considered as ideal candidates for applications such as optogenetics. In this work, we analyze a recently crystalized bistable rhodopsin, namely the jumping spider rhodopsin-1 (JSR1). This rhodopsin exhibits identical absorption maxima for the parent and the photoproduct form, which impedes its broad application. We performed hybrid QM/MM simulations to study three isomers of the retinal chromophore: the 9-cis, 11-cis and all-trans configurations. The main aim was to gain insight into the specific interactions of each isomer and their impact on the absorption maximum in JSR1. The absorption spectra were computed using sampled snapshots from QM/MM molecular dynamics trajectories and compared to their experimental counterparts. The chromophore–protein interactions were analyzed by visualizing the electrostatic potential of the protein and projecting it onto the chromophore. It was found that the distance between a nearby tyrosine (Y126) residue plays a larger role in the predicted absorption maximum than the primary counterion (E194). Geometric differences between the isomers were also noted, including a structural change in the polyene chain of the chromophore, as well as changes in the nearby hydrogen bonding network.

Salticidae, also known as jumping spiders, is the largest spider family. They are strongly influenced by habitat type. Here we describe the diversity and seasonal variation of jumping spider fauna of Calicut University campus, which spread over 500 acres. This study was conducted for ten months and spiders were collected by hand picking method and beating method. A total of 46 species of jumping spiders coming under 33 genera were collected. A taxonomically complete inventory of species, with good taxonomic resolution, is an advantageous feature that can be used in the analysis of species diversity and has great potential in setting conservation priorities, and support for environmental monitoring. Besides, this taxonomic information can be used to measure β-diversity, based on taxonomic dissimilarity coefficients for presence/absence data, regardless of the sampling effort. In this way, checklist or faunistic studies demonstrate a clear connection between basic taxonomy and biodiversity issues; and, as in other fields, these inventories provide an important source of quantitative compiled information concerning species diversity of several regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phintelloides undulatus (Caleb & Karthikeyani, 2015) is redescribed, along with the description of its female for the first time. Detailed morphological description, diagnosis, and illustrations of the copulatory organs are provided. New distributional records of the species are also mapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some animals have evolved task differentiation among their eyes. A particular example is spiders, where most species have eight eyes, of which two (the principal eyes) are used for object discrimination, whereas the other three pairs (secondary eyes) detect movement. In the ctenid spider Cupiennius salei, these two eye types correspond to two visual pathways in the brain. Each eye is associated with its own first‐ and second‐order visual neuropil. The second‐order neuropils of the principal eyes are connected to the arcuate body, whereas the second‐order neuropils of the secondary eyes are linked to the mushroom body. We explored the principal‐ and secondary eye visual pathways of the jumping spider Marpissa muscosa, in which size and visual fields of the two eye types are considerably different. We found that the connectivity of the principal eye pathway is the same as in C. salei, while there are differences in the secondary eye pathways. In M. muscosa, all secondary eyes are connected to their own first‐order visual neuropils. The first‐order visual neuropils of the anterior lateral and posterior lateral eyes are connected with a second‐order visual neuropil each and an additional shared one (L2). In the posterior median eyes, the axons of their first‐order visual neuropils project directly to the arcuate body, suggesting that the posterior median eyes do not detect movement. The L2 might function as an upstream integration center enabling faster movement decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper includes additional detailed characters and new distribution records of the male of Icius alboterminus (Caleb, 2014) from India. A detailed morphological description based on scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images and illustrations of the reproductive organ are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new spider genus and species from México and Guatemala, Amilaps mayana gen. et sp. nov., is described, distinct from other members of the jumping spider tribe Lapsiini (subfamily Spartaeinae) by its four retromarginal cheliceral teeth and the large sclerite cradling the embolus. It is the first living lapsiine known outside of South America. This tribe has received attention recently for new species and genera in Ecuador and Brazil, but Simon's original four species of Lapsias, described from Venezuela in 1900 and 1901, remain relatively poorly known. Accordingly, new illustrations of Simon's type material are given, and a lectotype is designated for L. cyrboides Simon, 1900. The three forms of females in Simon's material from Colonia Tovar, Aragua, are reviewed and illustrated, and they are a tentatively matched with the three male lectotypes of his species from the same location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of jumping spider from the genus AfraflacillaBerland & Millot, 1941 is described from India. A detailed morphological description, diagnosis and illustrations of the reproductive organs are provided. Distribution of the new species is also mapped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous new spider species are waiting to be described, and in many cases knowledge is incomplete because species are known from a single sex. In this contribution the female of the jumping spider Lyssomanes miniaceus is described and its morphology is illustrated. Females are distinguished by having spherical, slightly oval spermathecae, the copulatory openings towards the back, and sparse white hairs ventrally on femora I and II; the last character could be a unique trait shared by both sexes. Additionally, a new southernmost record plus new illustration of the little-known species L. belgranoi are given.