Zygoballus Sexpunctatus Male Agonistic Behavior

''Zygoballus'' is a genus of jumping spiders found in North and South America.

Taxonomy and history

The genus was first described in 1885 by American arachnologists George and Elizabeth Peckham based on the type species ''Zygoballus rufipes''. The name derives from a combination of the Ancient Greek word ζυγόν (''zygon''), meaning "yoke", and the genus name ''Ballus''. The etymology of ''Ballus'' is unknown, but may be related to the Greek word βαλλίζω (''ballizo''), meaning "dance" or "jump about".

The genus '' Messua'', based on the type species ''Messua desidiosa'', was synonymized with ''Zygoballus'' by Eugène Simon in 1903. Simon argued that ''Messua desidiosa'' was a transitional species which differed "much less from typical ''Zygoballus'' than would seem to be indicated by he Peckham'sdescription." This synonymy was reversed by Wayne Maddison in 1996, and ''Messua'' restored as a valid genus.

The genus ''Amerotritte'', based on the type species '' Amerotritte lineata'', was synonymized with ''Zygoballus'' in 1980 by María Elena Galiano. Galiano stated that the holotype of ''Amerotritte lineata'' was actually a very young ''Zygoballus'' specimen.

''Zygoballus'' is currently classified in the subtribe Dendryphantina of the family Salticidae (jumping spiders).

Description

Spiders of the genus ''Zygoballus'' share a strong resemblance in appearance. The cephalothorax is high and roughly square when viewed from above. It is widest at the posterior eyes, with the ocular quadrangle occupying approximately three-fifths of the cephalothorax. The cephalothorax slopes steeply behind the posterior eyes and the sides of the cephalothorax are nearly vertical. The labium is as long or longer than it is wide. The anterior (first) pair of legs are the largest, with three pairs of spines on the ventral surface of the tibia. Males have obliquely oriented chelicerae with long fangs.

Many species exhibit wide variation in color, size, and markings.

Distribution

''Zygoballus'' is a genus from the New World, ranging from Argentina to Canada. Three species from India were originally placed in ''Zygoballus'', but have been reassigned to other genera.

Species

, the World Spider Catalog accepted the species listed below. One species, ''Z. quaternus'', was previously recognized (prior to 2008), but is now considered a ''nomen dubium''. Several other species are known only from single specimens. In addition to the species listed below, a 2001 phylogenetic analysis suggested that ''Rhetenor texanus'' may also belong in ''Zygoballus'', but this has not been accepted by the World Spider Catalog.

* ''Zygoballus amrishi'' Makhan, 2005 — Suriname
* ''Zygoballus aschnae'' Makhan, 2005 — Suriname
* ''Zygoballus concolor'' Bryant, 1940 — Cuba
* '' Zygoballus electus'' Chickering, 1946 — Panama
* '' Zygoballus gracilipes'' Crane, 1945 — Guyana, Argentina
* '' Zygoballus incertus'' ( Banks, 1929) — Panama
* '' Zygoballus iridescens'' Banks, 1895 — USA
* ''Zygoballus lineatus'' ( Mello-Leitão, 1944) — Argentina
* '' Zygoballus maculatipes'' Petrunkevitch, 1925 — Panama
* '' Zygoballus maculatus'' F. O. P-Cambridge, 1901 — Guatemala
* '' Zygoballus melloleitaoi'' Galiano, 1980 — Argentina
* '' Zygoballus minutus'' Peckham & Peckham, 1896 — Guatemala
* '' Zygoballus nervosus'' (Peckham & Peckham, 1888) — USA, Canada
* ''Zygoballus optatus'' Chickering, 1946 — Panama
* '' Zygoballus remotus'' Peckham & Peckham, 1896 — Guatemala
* '' Zygoballus rishwani'' Makhan, 2005 — Suriname
* ''Zygoballus rufipes'' Peckham & Peckham, 1885 — Canada to Costa Rica
* '' Zygoballus sexpunctatus'' ( Hentz, 1845) — USA
* '' Zygoballus suavis'' Peckham & Peckham, 1895 — Jamaica
* '' Zygoballus tibialis'' F. O. P.-Cambridge, 1901 — Guatemala to Panama

References

External links

''Zygoballus''
at Bugguide.net


at Salticidae: Diagnostic Drawings Library

{{Taxonbar, from=Q18454

Salticidae
Salticidae genera
Spiders of North America
Spiders of South America