Brettus cingulatus

Brettus cingulatus is a species of jumping spider of the genus Brettus. It is found in Myanmar and India.[1]

Brettus cingulatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Salticidae
Genus: Brettus
Species:
B. cingulatus
Binomial name
Brettus cingulatus
Thorell, 1895

The species was first described in 1895 from a single specimen. The female was originally misidentified as another species, B. albolimbatus. Males and females look very different due to sexual dimorphism. Only in 2017 was the species rediscovered near Mumbai, India, far away from its original discovery in Myanmar.

The epithet "cingulatus" means "wearing a belt" in Latin, "albolimbatus" refers to white limbs.

Diet and behaviour

This spider preys upon other spiders. To capture web-building spiders, the typical strategy is to stand at the edge of the web and pluck upon the silken strings with its pedipalps, trying out numerous patterns/rhythms until an effective one is found, then to lunge and capture/stab the spider when it gets lured over(aggressive mimicry). Brettus cingulatus does not adhere to spider silk and can walk on webs with ease, but usually does not go into the webs of other spiders.[2]

In studies, this spider also readily stalked insects, approaching at fast speeds, then slowing down and eventually lunging at the insect to capture it.[2] However, they prefer to eat web-building spiders.[3]

References

  1. "Brettus cingulatus Thorell, 1895". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  2. Jackson, Robert R.; Hallas, Susan E. A. (1986-10-01). "Predatory versatility and intraspecific interactions of spartaeine jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae): Brettus adonis, B. cingulatus, Cyrba algerina, and Phaeacius sp. indet". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 13 (4): 491–520. doi:10.1080/03014223.1986.10422979. ISSN 0301-4223.
  3. Jackson, Robert R. (2000-01-01). "Prey preferences and visual discrimination ability of Brettus, Cocalus and Cyrba, araneophagic jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) from Australia, Kenya and Sri Lanka". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 27 (1): 29–39. doi:10.1080/03014223.2000.9518206. ISSN 0301-4223.


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