Habronattus calcaratus maddisoni

Griswold, 1987

Maddison's Jumping Spider

Habronattus calcaratus maddisoni is a of jumping spider in the Salticidae, described by Griswold in 1987. It belongs to the Habronattus, a large group of small jumping spiders known for elaborate involving visual and acoustic signals. Males of the Habronattus calcaratus group possess modified third legs with prominent spurs used in visual signaling to females during courtship. This subspecies occurs in western North America, with records from the United States.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Habronattus calcaratus maddisoni: /həˌbrɒnætəs kælkəˌreɪtəs mæˌdɪsəˌnaɪ/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Males of Habronattus calcaratus maddisoni can be distinguished from related by the presence of a large spur on the "knee" joint of the third leg, visible with magnification. During courtship, males adopt a characteristic crouching posture that maximizes visibility of this knee joint to females. The group is characterized by sexually dimorphic facial coloration in males, with related species showing green or violaceous facial markings. Females lack these modified leg structures and bright facial coloration. Distinguishing this from other subspecies of H. calcaratus requires examination of detailed morphological characters, including genitalia.

Habitat

Ground-dwelling in areas of scattered vegetation, including prairies, grasslands, and open fields with low vegetation. Found on stones, leaf litter, and low vegetation close to the ground.

Distribution

United States; western North America. Records indicate presence in the southwestern U.S. and Rocky Mountain regions.

Seasonality

active during spring and summer months; peak activity likely coincides with courtship and mating periods.

Diet

Predatory on small insects and other arthropods; hunts actively using vision rather than building webs.

Behavior

Males perform elaborate multimodal combining visual signals with acoustic (vibratory) signals. The third pair of legs is modified for visual recognition by females, with males bending these legs to prominently display the knee joint spurs. Acoustic signals include drumming or tapping on the substrate, described as complex and synchronized with visual displays. This has been described as having among the most elaborate courtship of any terrestrial .

Ecological Role

of small insects and arthropods in ground-level ; prey for larger spiders, , and other predators.

Similar Taxa

Habronattus calcaratus calcaratusNominate ; distinguished by subtle morphological differences in genitalia and possibly facial coloration patterns
Habronattus cuspidatusRelated with similar modified third leg spurs in males; distinguished by specific leg spine and geographic distribution
Habronattus coecatus group speciesShare elaborate courtship and modified leg structures; differ in specific morphological details of leg ornamentation and coloration