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This is a Colonus and since we likely have only two species in Arkansas it is either C. puerperus or C. silvanus. Formerly Thiodina. I lean towards C. silvanus. I have this species at two locations in my home county (see below). Smallish, looks big-headed when they are climbing around on the vegetation. This one was climbing the window glass on my shop. |
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I told you it looked big-headed. I believe this is a male. This one is from Bell Slough. |
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A jumper that also has the large headed look of Colonus and I have come slowly to the conclusion that this is the other species which is Colonus puerperus. It was working the stems and leaves of this Bell Slough plant slowly and meticulously. |
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Same individual with a top shot. Note that on C. puerperus the central dot on the head is replaced with an elongate line. Rich dark red forward and light green-brown with stripes posteriorly. |
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Shot of a Colonus from Florida by Eric. Looks like our Colonus puerperus only a bit richer colored. I think it is the same species. Not sure Florida has an additional Colonus. |
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| Looks like perhaps not quite to full colors on my porch in 2018, stalking the potted plants. Rich oranges here. |
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Paraphidippus (formerly Eris) aurantius by all available sources that I have. This is a genus close to the Metaphids and Phids. This species is very variable but most show the iridescent scaling with greens and oranges. The four spot row is usually present. Smaller than the majority of Phidippus species. We likely have five species of the true genus Eris in Arkansas. I believe this one is distinctive. It is also widespread in the east. Below is another individual that was riding in my car with me. This one refused to stay put and kept launching up to perch on the top of my camera. Poised here for a moment on my finger.
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Norm's much older and well proportioned female Paraphidippus female shows the variation. The greenish overtones seem consistent in the females. |
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| The striking orangish female on my property in July 2019 near the creek. A male was nearby. |
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| The 2020 version on Round Mountain. That spring the Paraphids seem to rule every plant. |
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| 2020 famale face. Bigger, paler, just as animated. |
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| This is the male Paraphidippus and it is an adult. They are strictly black and white, I assume even when juvenile. Resemble Marpissa formosa males to me. |
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| Here is the top of the same individual. |
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| And here is another male from Bell Slough on the 2015 butterfly count. Bo shot him with his portable cam. |
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| And Bo's same male with the "I am going to jump on your lens in about a second look." |
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| And also from the 2020 boom spring for this species in my yard. Facial male portrait. Boxing gloves at the ready. |
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| Also from spring 2020 on my Dogwood. Could not find him the next day. |
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Another eastern species that is widespread. This is the male of Pelegrina galathea. Was on the butterfly bush in my yard. I believe a female was nearby but she was skittish. Several Hentzia on the same bush. |
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| Another likely P. galathea from 2021 on the emerging Buckeye flowers. |
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This jumper was on a rocky creek bed in Montgomery county and was making tremendous leaps from one rock to the next. That is a giant stony background it is on. There were several of these in the area. I believe it is Habronattus coecatus. It appears from available sources that the head markings may be variable. |
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Jumper from Toadsuck rocky area that is either a variant of the H. coecatus or the above was actually H. borealis. Note that both are males. |
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I believe this is a male Habronattus decorus. That iridescent posterior is reflective. These things can move through the leaf litter in spring. Taking giant leaps. Below is another admittedly somewhat hotshot male but it shows the head shape. |
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My favorite shot of this whole spring week May 05 with the new camera. Very small jumper with lovely brown eyes. The back should be distinctive. Appears to be female which makes things more complicated. Seems to key grossly to the female Habronattus group. And I believe it is the female H. decorus to go with the male above. |
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Small head body proportions with posterior eyes wider than the front row. The third and fourth legs do not appear markedly different. And leg I seems shorter than III. |
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Compare this face with the above. Note the darker forehead. This is a male jumper and it is a different species. Note those male palps. Same individual just below which I think, as stated is H. orbus. |
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Okay, these Habronites get fairly difficult if I am keeping them straight. This is the same spring male as above and I believe this is a different species. Though look how it compares to the female above. Mysterious world but I think this is a male Habronattus orbus, a very common species in the east apparently. |
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This is the marvelous Marpissa formosa. The female is wider bodied than the male and the several males of Marpissa we have in Arkansas are distinctively slim-bodied with an elongate abdomen. But what a fine face. All three of our Arkansas species have lined abdomens. Both the male and female of M. pikei have elongate abdomens which are much thinner than in this female. M. lineata has four lines on the abdomen (two up top) |
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The male Marpissa formosa from Toadsuck's rocks and sand stretches. Very skittish guy. Note the giant forelegs and the dotted rows on both sides of the abdomen. |
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Same male, white spot between the forward eyes and one beside each posterior eye. Fast and agile as with all these guys. |