''Ascyltus'' are a
genus of
jumping spiders in the family Salticidae that was first described by
Ferdinand Anton Franz Karsch in 1878.
, the genus contained 10 species.
''Ascyltus'' spiders utilize their vision in courtship, hunting, and navigation. They are typically large to medium-sized salticids and often move relatively slowly. However, they are capable of agile jumps when moving, hunting, or to avoid predators. They have well developed
book lung
A book lung is a type of respiration organ used for atmospheric gas exchange that is present in many arachnids, such as scorpions and spiders. Each of these organs is located inside an open ventral abdominal, air-filled cavity (atrium) and conn ...
s and tracheal systems, and they are capable of utilizing both systems. ''Ascyltus'' have four pairs of eyes, with the anterior median pair being the most prominent. One distinguishable characteristic of the genus is their antero-lateral carapace, which is iridescently coloured.
Distinguishing characteristics
''Ascyltus'' are relatively large to medium-sized salticids, distinguishable from other Pacific salticids by their antero-lateral carapace, which is iridescently coloured. In addition to being iridescently coloured, their antero-lateral carapace is typically widened even at a juvenile age. Like other members of the Salticidae, ''Ascyltus'' have four pairs of eyes in three rows. The anterior median eyes are noticeably more prominent than the others. Male
palpal
Pedipalps (commonly shortened to palps or palpi) are the second pair of appendages of chelicerates – a group of arthropods including spiders, scorpions, horseshoe crabs, and sea spiders. The pedipalps are lateral to the chelicerae ("jaws") an ...
structures are similar among all ''Ascyltus'' species.
Size
Males average 13–19 mm, females average 16–20 mm.
Geographic distribution
The majority of ''Ascyltus'' species live in
Oceania, having a widespread distribution across the Pacific islands, including the Hawaiian islands.
Diet
''Ascyltus'' are carnivorous, so their diet mainly consists of insects around the tropical region. They capture the majority of their food by stalking or hunting prey. This includes many flies, crickets, and small grasshoppers.
Hunting
''Ascyltus'' relies on visual stimuli when catching prey. The anterior-lateral eyes function to track moving objects. The anterior-median eyes are essential for the stalking of prey because of their telescopic abilities. ''Ascyltus'' spiders typically employ one of three sets of responses to catch prey. The responses are a set of motor movements as follows: alignment pursuit - follow, run, stalk; orientation - alert, swivel; and capture - crouch and jump. The distance separating the spider from its prey are the determining factor in the response pattern used.
Species
, the genus contains ten species, found only in Oceania, on the
Pacific Islands
Collectively called the Pacific Islands, the islands in the Pacific Ocean are further categorized into three major island groups: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Depending on the context, the term ''Pacific Islands'' may refer to one of se ...
, and
Sulawesi
Sulawesi (), also known as Celebes (), is an island in Indonesia. One of the four Greater Sunda Islands, and the world's eleventh-largest island, it is situated east of Borneo, west of the Maluku Islands, and south of Mindanao and the Sulu Ar ...
:
*''
Ascyltus asper''
(Karsch, 1878) – Australia (New South Wales), New Caledonia
*''
Ascyltus audax''
(Rainbow, 1897) – Tuvalu (Funafuti)
*''
Ascyltus divinus''
Karsch, 1878 – Australia (Queensland), Fiji
*''
Ascyltus ferox''
(Rainbow, 1897) – Tuvalu (Funafuti)
*''
Ascyltus lautus''
(Keyserling Keyserling is the surname of several members of the noble House of Keyserlingk:
* Alexander Keyserling (1815–1891), Russian geologist, paleontologist, botanist and zoologist
* Eugen von Keyserling (1833–1889), German arachnologist
* Hermann ...
, 1881) – New Guinea, Samoa
*''
Ascyltus minahassae''
Merian, 1911 – Indonesia (Sulawesi)
*''
Ascyltus opulentus''
( Walckenaer, 1837) – Tonga
*''
Ascyltus pterygodes''
(L. Koch, 1865) (
type
Type may refer to:
Science and technology Computing
* Typing, producing text via a keyboard, typewriter, etc.
* Data type, collection of values used for computations.
* File type
* TYPE (DOS command), a command to display contents of a file.
* Ty ...
) – Pacific Is.
*''
Ascyltus rhizophora''
Berry, Beatty & Prószyński, 1997 – Fiji
*''
Ascyltus similis''
Berry, Beatty & Prószyński, 1997 – Fiji, Samoa
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q626715
Salticidae
Salticidae genera
Spiders of Australia