Saitis barbipes

Taxobox
name = "Saitis barbipes"

---

image_caption = male "S. barbipes"
image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Arachnida
ordo = Araneae
subordo = Araneomorphae
familia = Salticidae
subfamilia = Euophryinae
subtribus = Saitini
genus = "Saitis"
species = "S. barbipes"
binomial = "Saitis barbipes"
binomial_authority = (Simon, 1868)
range_

range_map_width = 250px
synonyms = "Attus barbipes"
"Attus scriptus"
"Euophrys barbipes"
"Salticus blandus"
"Saitis sanctae-eufemiae"
"Saitis sanctaeeufemiae"

"Saitis barbipes" is a common jumping spider in the Mediterranean region, where it can be found on houses and rocks.

Description

Females reach about 5 to 6 mm body length. While the female is of a dull brown color, the smaller male is strikingly colored when frontally viewed. With green eyes, black stripes on the four white frontal legs, and red color above the eyes, it is probably the most colorful species of jumping spiders in Europe. The most impressive feature however is the greatly enlarged third pair of legs. These are colored red near the body, fading into black, with white tufts at the end. These legs are used in courtship display. When the male spots a female, he raises these. As he approaches her, from time to time he audibly vibrates the legs. A receptive female will then collapse on her legs and turn her abdomen upward.

Name

The species name is derived from Latin, meaning "bearded foot".

References

* [http://saitis.club.fr/montardi/salticidae/courtship/courtship_frame.html Courtship dance for "Saitis barbipes"] (with photo)
* (2008): [http://research.amnh.org/entomology/spiders/catalog/index.html The world spider catalog] , version 8.5. "American Museum of Natural History".