Hentzia
Marx, 1883
Long-jawed Jumping Spiders
Hentzia is a of (Salticidae) in the Dendryphantinae, established by G. Marx in 1883 and named after arachnologist Nicholas Marcellus Hentz. The genus contains approximately 22 recognized distributed primarily in the Caribbean region, with Cuba hosting the greatest diversity (seven species). North species include the widespread H. palmarum and H. mitrata, along with western outlier species H. poenitens and H. fimbriata. Males exhibit elaborate involving leg spreading, abdominal cocking, and zigzag approaches toward females.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Hentzia: /ˈhɛn.tsi.a/
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Identification
Females are distinguished by the presence of hair (setal) pencils below the medial and hairs on the margin of the first and —characters absent in the related Anicius. Males possess enlarged, often darkened legs that function in courtship signaling. Both sexes show differences in palpal and epigynal structure compared to Anicius, though the two genera share close anatomical affinities.
Images
Habitat
Hentzia palmarum is associated with palms and vegetation in sand prairie , as suggested by its epithet and field observations. Caribbean species occupy varied tropical and subtropical environments across island .
Distribution
Widespread in North America and northern South America, with primary center in the Caribbean. Cuba contains seven . North distribution includes eastern and central United States, southeastern Canada, Bermuda, and the Bahama Islands, with outlier species in western North America (H. poenitens, H. fimbriata) ranging from Mexico to Colombia.
Behavior
Males perform elaborate beginning with leg spreading, cocked 30 degrees above the substrate and angled to one side, and zigzag approaches toward females from distances of 3-4 cm. In H. palmarum, males may switch abdominal orientation during courtship, eventually touching the female with front legs and mounting if receptive. Male-male agonistic displays escalate from similar postures to unsheathing, cheliceral locking, and biting. Ritualized fighting occurs without immediate escalation to injury in similarly sized opponents.
Similar Taxa
- AniciusClosely related dendryphantine sharing similar body plan and male palpal structure, but distinguished by absence of female setal pencils below medial and lack of hairs on first and .
More Details
Etymology
named by G. Marx in 1883 to honor Nicholas Marcellus Hentz (1797-1856), an early arachnologist who described the H. palmarum (as Epiblemum palmarum) and H. mitrata (as Attus mitratus) in 1846.
Species diversity
As of 2020, 22 recognized; H. elegans considered dubious and likely not belonging to Hentzia. Richman (1989) provided the most recent comprehensive revision of the .
Research significance
H. palmarum served as subject for one of the first Boolean mathematical models of (Crocker & Skinner 1984), quantifying decision rules in courtship and agonistic interactions.