http://www.ck12.org Chapter 14. Understanding Biodiversity: Animals: Invertebrates
still be found here, though.
Biology
Cell Biology
Like all animals, the dimorphic jumping spider has eukaryotic cells, which have a nucleus and organelles. When
producing new cells, existing cells will divide, known as mitosis or meiosis. The cell created via mitosis has the
same chromosomes as the original cell. Meiosis makes a cell with only half the chromosomes of the original cell.
Meiosis makes gametes for reproduction.
Evolution
Spiders have been evolving for almost 400 years. The trigonotarbids were some of the first. They were very similar
to spiders, with two legs for feeling, and 8 for walking. Then the Attercopus evolved, along with orb-weaving spiders
in the Jurassic period, which then evolved into the spiders of today over time.
Ecology
The dimorphic jumping spider eats flying insects, including bees and flies. Instead of making a web, it jumps on its
prey. However, it uses a string of silk to protect itself while jumping. It is prey to wasps, who eat it for food.
Anatomy and Physiology
The dimorphic jumping spider, like all other spiders, has eight legs, and two parts of the body, the cephalothorax
and the abdomen. All jumping spiders a have great sense of sight. They use that to catch prey and attract mates.
The dimorphic jumping spider uses all eight of its legs to jump. The spider has fangs, along with two feelers in its
mouth, used for feeling. When it lands on its prey, the dimorphic jumping spider uses its fangs to kill the prey. It
also creates a web to ride on. The dimorphic jumping spider has better eyesight than a cat. They have eight eyes,
with two on the back of the head. The spider stores its gonads in the abdomen, used for mating.
Behavior
The dimorphic jumping spider is a solitary animal. The male dimorphic jumping spider attracts mates by pushing
himself as high as he can with three legs, swinging the abdomen side to side. If the female accepts, she will extend
her front legs and tap them. Then both commence in leg clapping and zig-zag dancing. The male makes these mating
attempts at least nine centimeters away from the female.
References
- Maevia inclemens, http://eol.org/pages/1212635/overview.
- CK-12, http://www.ck12.org.
- Nature Bytes Video, http://naturebytesvideo.com.
- Milne, Lorus and Margery. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders.
New York: Alfred A. Knoph, 1980.