Salticidae Copocrossa

Copocrossa sp. "Cigar"

Cigar Jumper

Spiders of the genus Copocrossa belong to the tribe Ballini and are recognised by a pair of enlarged tibiae I, a flat carapace, a coiled embolus and other characteristics on their genitalia, like in the closely related Philates. Copocrossa differs from Philates by having much longer legs I and conspicuously elongated carapace and a cigar-like abdomen. The legs I are held out in the same fashion as a pseudoscorpion holds out its chelae.

This is the first record of the genus Copocrossa in Singapore. In the species featured here, the femora, patellae and tibiae of legs I are bilaterally compressed and two-toned in colouration. The basal part of the metatarsus of leg I is bent almost at a right angle. The scutum, which covers the tubular abdomen and overhangs the spinnerets, is spectacularly coloured with a purplish sheen.