''Attulus fasciger'' is a species of
spider
Spiders ( order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species ...
from the family
Salticidae native to northern and western Asia but now introduced to North America.
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Description
The spider is brownish-black coloured, has 8 eyes, and is in size. The sexes are similar in size but the males have a small, but more slender abdomen
The abdomen (colloquially called the belly, tummy, midriff, tucky or stomach) is the part of the body between the thorax (chest) and pelvis, in humans and in other vertebrates. The abdomen is the front part of the abdominal segment of the torso. ...
compared to the female, with larger black palps.
Species history
The species, originally found throughout north and west Asia, is an introduced species
An introduced species, alien species, exotic species, adventive species, immigrant species, foreign species, non-indigenous species, or non-native species is a species living outside its native distributional range, but which has arrived there ...
in North America, first documented there in the 1950s or 1960s. Their success can be attributed to colonizing man-made structures, which provide refuge and camouflage for the mottled brown-and-grey spiders. This species also capitalizes on the artificial lighting found on many buildings, which attracts prey at night, thereby providing these visually-acute spiders with extended foraging opportunities.
References
External links
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Sitticini
Spiders of Asia
Spiders described in 1880
{{salticidae-stub