Natures wonders: jumping spiders eat vertebrates (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, August 14, 2017, 19:00 (2656 days ago) @ David Turell

They attack frogs and lizards larger then they are:

https://phys.org/news/2017-08-tiny-spiders-preying-frogs-lizards.html

"In this new effort, the researchers report on evidence they have uncovered of the tiny, one-inch-long regal jumping spider killing and eating frogs and lizards that are much larger than they are. Notably, despite its tiny size, the regal is actually one of the largest of the jumping spiders.

"The study began as the researchers exchanged anecdotal evidence of tiny spiders feasting on various vertebrate.

"These searches resulted in the discovery of six reports (and pictures) of tiny regal jumping spiders killing and consuming frogs and lizards. The pictures showed the one-inch spiders dining on Cuban frogs that were one to 1.5 times their own size, and lizards such as the Carolina anole that were 1.5 to 2.5 times their own size. The tiny spiders do not have to engage in battles with their prey; instead, they simply inject them with venom and then wait for them to die. The paper offers the first documented case of jumping spiders killing and eating vertebrates.

"The researchers note that regal jumping spiders, which live in Florida, belong to a group known as generalist predators. They do not have a primary food source. Instead, they are opportunists, killing whatever happens to cross their path. Prior research has already shown that the spiders have excellent eyesight, allowing them to spot prey and assess the chances of being able to kill and eat it before they take action.

Comment: These spiders do not use webs. They had to have excellent eyesight from the beginning to have this predatory lifestyle, and therefore had to be developed in their body form all at once. Saltation.