Taxonomy

Mopsus has one species, Mopsus mormon, found in Australia and New Guinea. The genus is part of a clade related to Astia (Maddison et al 2008). Mopsus is closely related to Sandalodes and Mopsolodes (Maddison 2015). Further information on the genus and described species can be found in Richardson and Żabka (2023) and Whyte and Anderson (2017).

Description

Mopsus mormon is a large spider, body length 12 to 14 mm, bright green in colour when alive, with an elongated abdomen narrowing rearwards. The head, viewed from above, is round, widest well behind the posterior lateral eyes. The very high carapace rises to a peak at the posterior lateral eyes and then slopes gently to the rear. Each chelicera has a single (unident) retromarginal tooth. The first pair of legs is longest, the fourth pair of legs next longest.

The palpal tibia has a single, curved, tapering retro-lateral tibial apophysis with a sharp end. The tegulum is square with no proximal lobe. The long, thin embolus bends sharply clockwise and then gently curves back anticlockwise to end pointing anteriorly.

The female has two epigynal atria with lightly sclerotised guides. The copulatory openings are in the centres of the atria. The insemination ducts are short, traveling first anteriorly and then posteriorly to join the median edges of the rounded spermathecae. The spermathecae are rounded and are located posterior to the atria.

Biology

Mopsus mormon is found on grass and shrubs in a range of high to medium rainfall coastal habitats. The species is large and sometimes aggressive. Bites have been recorded with only mild symptoms. The behaviour of Mopsus has been studied by Jackson and his co-workers.

Distribution

Specimens have been collected in tropical regions from Broome across northern Australia to south-east Queensland, and in New Guinea. It has become extremely common in Brisbane in recent years and seems to be expanding its range southwards.

References

Isbister, G.K., Churchill, T.B., Hurst, D.B., Gray, M.R. & Currie, B.J. 2001. Clinical effects of bites from formally identified spiders in tropical Northern Territory. Australian Medical Journal 174, 79-82.

Jackson, R.R. 1983. The biology of Mopsus mormon, a jumping spider (Araneae Salticidae) from Queensland intraspecific interactions. Australian Journal of Zoology 31, 39-53.

Maddison, W.P. 2015. A phylogenetic classification of jumping spiders (Araneae Salticidae). Journal of Arachnology 43, 231-292.

Maddison, W.P., Bodner, M.R. & Needham, K.M. 2008. Salticid spider phylogeny revisited, with the discovery of a large Australian clade (Araneae Salticidae). Zootaxa 1893, 49-64.

Richardson, B.J. & Żabka, M. 2023. Salticidae. Arachnida Araneomorphae. Canberra, Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study, at https//biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/SALTICIDAE.

Whyte, R. & Anderson, G. 2017. A Field Guide to Spiders of Australia. CSIRO Publishing Clayton.

* The information sheet should be interpreted in the context of the associated diagrams and photographs. Diagrams explaining anatomical terms can be found in the ‘Salticidae’ pictures at the beginning of the list of genera.