Synageles venator

Taxobox
name = "Synageles venator"

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image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Arachnida
ordo = Araneae
familia = Salticidae
genus = "Synageles"
species = "S. venator"
binomial = "Synageles venator"
binomial_authority = (Lucas, 1836)
range_

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range_map_width = 240px
synonyms ="Attus venator"
"Salticus myrmecoides"
"Leptorchestes venator"
"Leptorchestes ludibundus"
"Synageles ludibundus"
"Synageles confusus"

"Synageles venator" is a species of ant-like jumping spider. It occurs in the Palearctic region and Canada, and is also found in North Africa. In Central Europe it is the most common ant-like jumping spiderBellmann 1997: 238] .

Description

Female are about four millimeters long, males slightly smaller. They are similar to the jumping spider "Leptorchestes berolinensis", but feature a white line on the back ouf their heads.

Effect of mimicry

These spiders are virtually indistinguishable from ants, even for humans looking at them rather closely. They move rapidly like an ant, and even raise their second pair of legs like an ant's antennae. Hand-raised tits that had never come in contact with ants ate spiders of this species readily. However, after their first encounters with real ants, and the nauseating effect of their formic acid, they refrained from eating "S. venator".

Footnotes

References

* (1997): Kosmos-Atlas Spinnentiere Europas. "Kosmos". ISBN 3440107469

External links

* Salticidae.org: [http://salticidae.org/salticid/diagnost/synagele/venator.htm Diagnostic drawings]