Zenodorus orbiculatus (previously Pystira orbiculata) is one of the more recognizeable small brown-black Salticids due to the characteristic white fringing on the flattened circular abdomen of the female. The adult females (body length up to 9mm) have browner legs, the adult males (body length up 8mm) have darker legs. As with most spiders the males have a relatively smaller abdomen and larger cephalothorax than the females. They both have two white splotches on the cephathlothorax. These spiders eat ants in preference but also eat many other insects. They hunt during the day, either by ambush or active pursuit, on plants and scavenging in spider webs. Zenodorus was also an ancient Greek mathematician around 200-140 BC. This species was first described Hasarius orbiculatus by Keyserling 1881 from specimens obtained in Queensland and New South Wales but it is almost certainly more widespread. Simon changed it to Pystira in 1901 and so it remained until Davies & Zabka transferred it to Zenodorus in 1989.
- Female from above
- Male from above
- Female adult, 19609, from above
- Female adult 6510 from above in alcohol
- Male adult eating an ant
- Female adult 7610 in alcohol from above
- Female adult 7610 epigyne
- References
Female from above
Male from above
Female adult, 19609, from above
Collected mid June 2009 on the northern side of the junction of Fish and Enoggera Creeks, Walton Bridge Reserve, The Gap.
Female adult 6510 from above in alcohol
Male adult eating an ant
Female adult 7610 in alcohol from above
Female adult 7610 epigyne
This looks like some material resulting from copulation has remained in the female, to plug the epigyne from further entry.
References
Prey-capture techniques and prey preferences of Zenodorus durvillei, Z. metallescens and Z. orbiculatus, tropical ant-eating jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) from Australia, ROBERT R. JACKSON, DAIQIN LI, New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2001, Vol. 28: 299-341
Spiders of Australia: An Introduction to Their Classification, Biology & Distribution by Trevor J Hawkeswood ISBN: 9546421928