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Salticidae Diplocanthopoda

Diplocanthopoda marina Abraham, 1925

Marine Jumper

Although this species lacks the vivid colours displayed by many jumping spiders, it is readily recognised as the only jumpers known to live exclusively in the intertidal zone along Singapore’s coastline and that of its outlying islands. Both sexes are dully coloured, but the male has a thicker mane of white hairs on the clypeus and more distinct spots on the abdomen than that of the female.

Newly hatched spiderling

An underwater chamber exposed during low tide. It is made of sealing valves of oyster shells with thick silk. Spiderlings were hatched within the underwater nursery.

Length♀ 7 mm; ♂ 5 mm
Type LocalityPort Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
DistributionSingapore, Malaysia (Negeri Sembilan).
HabitatAmong rocks, coral rubble and oyster and barnacle beds.
BiologyThe spider can sit, run and even hop on the water surface. It forages for marine creatures during low tide and hides in an underwater chamber sealed by thick silk during high tide. The chamber may be built between rock crevices, within dead barnacle shells, or between the valves of dead oysters. Eggs are laid within the chamber and serve as an underwater nursery before the spiderlings disperse.

Taxonomy

Distribution Map for Diplocanthopoda marina Abraham, 1925

Singapore, Malaysia (Negeri Sembilan).

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