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Unidentified species of female and male jumping spiders
A female (left) and male jumping spider of an unidentified species (probably in the genus Paraphiddipus) from a tropical dry forest in Costa Rica within the Palo Verde Biological Station. The green male with the much-larger chelicerae (jaws) was found guarding the female.
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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