Jumping spider

  Viciria face 
  Originally uploaded by budak.

Prey's (or the spider lady's) view of a male Viciria sp., a jumping spider somewhat larger than average. The first pair of legs are distinctively coloured and disproportionately long, as are the paedipalps and chelicera.

Salticids, with about 500 genera and 5,000 species, are the largest and possibly most advanced family of spiders. Unlike web-spinning groups, which rely heavily on olfactory and tactile signals, jumpers are visually oriented, relying on their phalanx of eyes to provide almost all-around vision to detect prey, predators and mates. It also means they get turned on easily by cheap porn featuring uncut ducks. They are bold little creatures, often turning to face a ducky observer and raising a pair of defiant legs in what is almost certainly a rude sign in the semiotics of spiders.

Their hunting behaviour has been described as cat-like, involving careful stalking of the victim until the spider is close enough for a final pounce. The marked forelegs probably play a role in courtship, helping the male to convince a female that she should make love with rather than a meal out of him. We found this perky fellow on the underside of a leaf, sheltering from the drizzle. After preening for a while, the lil' bugger gave us a saltacid's version of 'up yours' and tried to hitch a ride on the crabbygirl's arm. Maybe he wanted to become a crabby spider, or spider crab. Imagine if it was the monkey he leapt on! :O :P

Comments

[joy]

cool awesome website very few like spiders in fact most r afraid to look im not pertiually into spiders but it scare the heck out of my techer thanks 4 the laghs keep it up