Biting Jumping Spider - Opisthoncus mordax

FAMILY SALTICIDAE

This page contains pictures and information about Biting Jumping Spiders that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.


Body length 10mm

We usually found this jumping spider hunting on leaves during sunny day time. It body is shiny black to dark brown in colour, with a thick white line on the middle of its abdomen. As most other jumping spiders, the first pair of legs are long, strong and with spines.



This is a large size jumping spider. They are common in Brisbane gardens and backyards.



The spider usually found hunting on board green leaves of low plants.



We do not understand why they are called Biting Jumping Spiders, may be their relatively large jaws that are likely to bite. We did not have the being bitten experience and never heard about that. Of cause, as we always recommend: do not handle any spider with bare hands.

On Jan 2010 Robert Whyte send us a email said that : "Here's an odd thought. Have you ever seen a female Opisthoncus mordax? Can you keep an eye out for males and females in proximity?"



On Sep 2011, we found a male Opisthoncus mordax and a female O. parcedentatus on wattle leaves with retreat. They were having very close contact and touching each others. We did not exactly know what they were doing but sure they were not fighting. After a few seconds they knew they were being observed and the male alerted. We quickly took the a photo and the female ran and hided inside the retreat. The male were guarding the entrance. This may suggest they are the same species.

The Long-jawed Jumping Spider and the Colourful Biting Jumper we listed this this web site could be the different mature stage forms of the male.

Reference:
1. Jumping spider Opisthoncus mordax - The Find-a-spider Guide for Australian Spiders, University of Southern Queensland, 2007.
2. Opisthoncus mordax (Biting Jumping Spider) - by Robert Whyte, Save Our Waterways Now.
3. Jumping spiders Family Salticidae - by Ed Nieuwenhuys, 26 November 2006.
4. Species Opisthoncus mordax L. Koch, 1880 - Australian Faunal Directory, Australian Biological Resources Study.
5. Opisthoncus mordax moulting from sub-adult O. parcedentatus type - Robert Whyte, Save Our waterways Now, 2011.