A new species of the genus Spinoctenus Hazzi, Polotow, Brescovit, González-Obando et Simó, 2018 (Araneae: Ctenidae) from Panama

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  A new species of the genus Spinoctenus Hazzi, Polotow, Brescovit, González-Obando et Simó, 2018 (Araneae: Ctenidae) from Panama A new species Spinoctenus leleji sp. n . is described from Panama based on a male specimen. This is the first record of the genus Spinoctenus from Panama and the second record of this genus outside South America. The new species is most similar to S. tequendama Hazzi, Polotow, Brecovit, González-Obando et Simó, 2018, but differs by the structure of the male palp and the shape of metatarsus IV. Photographs of the habitus and copulatory organs are provided. The type locality of the new species is mapped. Omelko, Мichail M. 2026. A new species of the genus Spinoctenus Hazzi, Polotow, Brescovit, González-Obando et Simó, 2018 (Araneae: Ctenidae) from Panama. Far Eastern Entomologist(554): 19-24.  https://biosoil.ru/fee/publication/2988

Jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) attacking and eating vertebrates: an update

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Jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) attacking and eating vertebrates: an update

Abstract

In this study, we provide an update on the knowledge of vertebrate-eating jumping spiders. Twenty-four reports of jumping spider predation on vertebrates are known, which are attributed to seven species: Hyllus diardi (Walckenaer, 1837), H. semicupreus (Simon, 1885), H. treleaveni GW Peckham & EG Peckham, 1902, Paraphidippus cf. aurantius, Phidippus bidentatus FO Pickard-Cambridge, 1901, P. regius CL Koch, 1846, and an unknown species apparently related to Hasarius Simon, 1871. In addition, several unsuccessful predation attempts by Phidippus audax (Hentz, 1845) on hummingbird and chickadee nestlings are documented. Furthermore, an incident of Phidippus otiosus (Hentz, 1846) feeding on an oversized gecko carcass (likely a case of scavenging) is reported. Overall, incidents of vertebrate predation by salticids are likely to be, in most cases, very rare chance encounters between a tiny vertebrate and a hungry spider. In contrast, the case of Phidippus regius is unique for salticids as—to the current state of knowledge—this is the only salticid species in which vertebrate consumption has been reported numerous times (n = 18) and in many different locations (11 different Florida counties, USA).

Martin Nyffeler, Alireza Zamani, Bruce Cutler, Kenneth L. Krysko "Jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) attacking and eating vertebrates: an update," The Journal of Arachnology, 53(2), 143-149, (10 December 2025) https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-23-034