Halloween Bark Jumper
The male palps are conspicuous with a thick layer of long white hairs clothing the palpal cymbium. Compared with jumpers of the related Gedea. such long hairs are less dense on the palpal tibiae and palpal femora of Echeclus. Also, their cephalothorax is slightly longer than the abdomen. The chelicerae of Echeclus do not have the fringes of long hairs characteristic of Gedea.
The Singapore species depicted here is recognised by the black-and-orange colouration associated with Halloween. It can be further distinguished from others in the genus by the structure of its male palp.
| Length | ♀ unknown; ♂ 3 mm |
| Distribution | Singapore, Malaysia (Johor). |
| Habitat | Tree trunks in forests. |
| Biology | Running around over bark, this well-camouflaged spider is difficult to spot, but the male often reveals its presence by its habit of constantly flipping its palps in an up-and-down movement. However, when disturbed, it may disappear from view by swiftly retreating into cracks and crevices on the tree trunk. |
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
Order Araneae (Spiders)
Suborder Araneomorphae (Typical Spiders)
Singapore, Malaysia (Johor).