Ant Mimic

Observed by Ryan van HuyssteenRyan van Huyssteen's reputation in InvertebratesRyan van Huyssteen's reputation in InvertebratesRyan van Huyssteen's reputation in Invertebrates on 24th May 2013
(Added to iSpot on 2nd June 2013)
IMG_2489
Location: Karongwe
Identifications
Species interactions

No interactions present.

Comments

Never seen this before...

4 June 2013 - 6:51am — vynbos
Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers
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The way it's holding its forelegs makes them look like antennae. Unless of course they are antennae!

Myrmecomorphy

4 June 2013 - 7:13am — Riaan Stals
Entomological Society of Southern AfricaLepidopterists' Society of Africa
Invertebrates expert

Myrmecomorphy again.

-- Beetledude

True...

4 June 2013 - 7:28am — vynbos
Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers
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The biggest Genus of Salticidae that mimics ants is Myrmarachne.
But they generally have very enlarged chelicerae.

Can you crop the image? It's such an interesting spider but it appears as just a tiny blob in the carousel. Any other angles?

added another image

4 June 2013 - 8:32am — Ryan van HuyssteenRyan van Huyssteen's reputation in InvertebratesRyan van Huyssteen's reputation in InvertebratesRyan van Huyssteen's reputation in Invertebrates

Here is another image of the spider.

Wow!

4 June 2013 - 8:59am — vynbos
Custodians of Rare and Endangered Wildflowers
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Now that is a nice picture! Dang man, how many other great pictures have you not posted?!
Can you make it pic 1 so it appears in the carousel?
I'm going with Salticidae even though I can't see the characteristic eyes, cos the giss is right and what else could it be?

This is female of Mexcala

13 July 2013 - 8:32pm — urmakuzInvertebrates expert

This is female of Mexcala

How iSpot works, and welcome!

13 July 2013 - 10:25pm — Riaan Stals
Entomological Society of Southern AfricaLepidopterists' Society of Africa
Invertebrates expert

Dear Galina,

Thank you for your identification, which I assume to be authoritative. The ID is, however, of little use down here in the comments. Please click on "Add a revised identification" just below the last pink ID box above, and then enter your new and improved identification there. Don't worry about the common name; "Jumping spider" will be sufficient.

Thanks so much, and W-E-L-C-O-M-E to iSpot Southern Africa. We have many many salticids that need names, and I am happy to see you starting to tackle them. Please return again and again -- iSpot is a very friendly place, and we are in short supply of experts on invertebrates, including spiders.

-- Beetledude

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