Taxonomy

Frigga is a South American genus. One species, Frigga crocuta has extended its range across the Pacific to Australia. Further information on the genus and described species can be found in Richardson and Żabka (2017).

Description

Frigga spp. are medium-sized spiders, length 8 to 9mm, with an ovate abdomen. The head, viewed from above, is pear-shaped, widest well behind the posterior lateral eyes. The carapace is very high. Chelicera have a single (unident) retromarginal tooth and two promarginal teeth. The first leg is similar in shape to the other legs. The fourth pair of legs are longest.

The male’s palp is distinctly different from those of other Australian genera. The tibia has a pair of long, sharp apophyses with hooked tips. The tegulum is very long and narrow with lateral and posterior lobes. A long, thin embolus arises on the distal edge of the tegulum.

The female’s epigyne is covered by a shield with the copulatory openings towards the centre. The spermathecae are roundish, located near the epigastric fold. There is a median cleft in the epigastric fold with a distinctive narrow lobe on the midline.

Biology

Little is known of the biology of this trans-Pacific species.

Distribution

Frigga crocuta is found from Ecuador and Peru, through the islands of the south Pacific to New Caledonia. It has been reported from Australia only once, from Cooktown, the lack of further sightings suggesting it may have been a vagrant.

References

Berry, J.W., Beatty, J.A. & Proszynski, J. 1997. Salticidae of the Pacific Islands. II. Distribution of nine genera, with description of eleven new species. Journal of Arachnology 25, 109-136.

Davies, V.T. & Żabka, M. 1989, Illustrated keys to the genera of jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) in Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 27, 189-266.

Galiano, M.E. 1979. Revision del genero Frigga C.L. Koch, 1851 (Araneae, Salticidae). Acta Zoologica Lilloana 33, 113-135.

Raven, R.J. 1984. Phiale crocuta (Taczanowski, 1879), a Pacific salticid. Australian Arachnology 16, 5-7.

Richardson, B.J. & Żabka, M. 2016. Salticidae. Arachnida: Araneomorphae. Canberra, Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study, at https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/SALTICIDAE.

Żabka, M. 1990. Remarks on Salticidae (Araneae) of Australia. Acta Zoologica Fennica 190, 415-418.

* The information sheet should be read in the context of the associated diagrams and photographs. A glossary and diagrams explaining anatomical terms can be found on the ‘Salticidae’ pages at the beginning of the list of genera.