Habronattus dossenus

Griswold, 1987

A small in the Habronattus, to Mexico and the southwestern United States. Males are renowned for producing complex multimodal combining visual signals with seismic (vibratory) signals generated by dorsoventral abdominal vibrations against the substrate. Signal efficacy varies dramatically by substrate , with leaf litter providing the most favorable transmission environment compared to rocks or sand.

Habronattus dossenus Griswold, 1987 (SDSU TAC000557) 002 by wikipedia. Used under a CC0 license.

Habronattus dossenus Griswold, 1987 (SDSU TAC000564) 002 by wikipedia. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Habronattus dossenus: /ˌhæbroʊˈnætəs ˈdɒsɛnəs/

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

Identification

Distinguished from other Habronattus by specific morphological features described by Griswold (1987); males possess modified third legs typical of the used in visual . The species-specific identification relies on detailed examination of and other taxonomic characters.

Images

Habitat

Found on rocks, desert sand, and leaf litter. Leaf litter provides the most favorable environment for seismic signal transmission during courtship.

Distribution

Mexico and the southwestern United States.

Behavior

Males produce seismic courtship signals through dorsoventral abdominal vibrations against the substrate. These signals range from rapid phasic sounds less than 200 milliseconds long to extended phrases lasting multiple seconds. Males do not modify their across different substrate despite significant variation in signal transmission efficacy. Females detect these signals as substrate vibration velocity. The exhibits strong correlation between seismic signals and motion signals, suggesting integration of multiple communication modalities.

Similar Taxa

Habronattus cuspidatusBoth are ground-dwelling Habronattus with modified third legs used in courtship; H. cuspidatus males possess a conspicuous on the 'knee' joint of the third leg.
Habronattus calcaratusRelated with similar elaborate multimodal courtship involving seismic signals and visual displays using modified third legs.