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July 6, 2011

Adult male jumping spider performing courtship display for female

An adult male jumping spider (Habronattus pyrrithrix) (right) performs a courtship display for a female. Both were found in Phoenix, Arizona.

More about this Image
As part of her dissertation research, supported by a U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, Lisa Taylor of Arizona State University studied mimicry in the jumping spider family Salticidae. Salticidae are the largest family of jumping spiders in the world.

In biology, mimicry is the similarity of one species to another and may offer protection from predators for one or both of the species involved. The mimicking species may be similar to the mimicked in appearance, behavior, sound, scent and location. (Date of Image: 2005-2010)

Credit: Lisa Taylor, Arizona State University


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