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Jumping Spider-Cytacea Vitiensis

Fijian Name: Rikarikayame

Cytacea Vitiensis. 2012. [Online image] Accessed 2 April 2012 from<http://www.flickr.com/photos/art our_a/1108637092/sizes/o/in/photostr eam/>

Classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Arachnida Order: Araneae Family: Salticidae Genus: Cytacea Species: C.vitiensis (Berry and Beatty 1998: 149-189) Description Cytacea are thought as being dull-coloured salticids by tropical standards. The cephalothorax of this genus is usually high, typically flat on top with the back and sides being square. Looking from the top, it has a U shape, rather longer than broad and somewhat shortened at the rear. The abdomen is oval and slightly squareshouldered. The legs are quite long and hairy. (Polish Academy of Sciences 2006).

Lab Description This particular species of spider had a rectangular shaped cephalothorax and abdomen. It also had eight eyes. Four of these eyes were situated on the squared front of its carapace, with the two bigger ones being in the middle and the smaller ones on the side. The other two pairs of eyes were situated on the dorsal surface of the cephalothorax. The four pairs of walking legs seemed to differ from each other abit.The front pair of walking legs were strongly built and slightly longer than the second and third pairs of legs which also was slighter longer than the fourth pair of walking legs. This spider had a light brown overall body colour with black or dark brown lines running along the sides of the abdomen on the dorsal side and also on

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the cephalorothax but for only half its length. Geographical Range Jumping Spiders of the Genus Cytacea can be found in the tropics from the Andaman Islands to Australia and some Pacific Islands. (Polish Academy of Sciences 2006) .Some of the Jumping Spiders belonging to the Genus Cytacea that are found in Fiji are Cytaea koronivia, Cytaea nausori and Cytaea vitiensis. (Berry and Beatty 1998: 149-189) Life History Courtship When male and female jumping spiders come into contact, it is the male that takes the initiative to seduce her. If the female remains passive she will assume a crouching position, if not the male will know by her aggressive behavior. The male performs a range of movements with his front pair of legs and moves about in a number of dance sequences. When the female has finally been transfixed with his display and they are face to face, he extends his front legs to the females and touches her, if she is still receptive, the male will climb onto her back and inseminate her with his palps. (Forster and Forster 1973:123-124) Birth Spiderlings come out from the egg sac looking like tiny versions of their parents. They undergo moulting to reach adulthood. The female Cytacea jumping spider protects her eggs by building a silk case around them and will often stand guard over them until they hatch. Nutrition The jumping spider makes full use of its eyesight to catch prey, feeding mostly on small insects. When suitable prey comes within 12 inches of the spider, it is immediately detected. It will then slowly stealthily stalk this prey, following slowly its unwitting victim. When its within 2 inches of its prey it will suddenly pounce, lightening fast with outstretched fangs stabbing the victim with its fangs and holding it in a deadlock grip until it is immobile. The prey is then carried off to be eaten or is wrapped up in a silk case and kept for later. (Forster and Forster 1973:123) General Abundance In Suva this species is seen quite often, preferring light colored backgrounds when not hiding, such as unpainted cement walls and light colored boulders or dark corners in the house. They are also seen in forested areas as well. (Berry and Beatty 1998: 149-189) Predators It would have a few predators such as birds, centepids, and larger spiders but still continues to remain common, no doubt because its excellent camouflage and hiding skills.

Ecology This Cytacea jumping spider was found on a light colored boulder which had a few crevices on it. These crevices were covered with silk, mostly probably breeding sites where the egg sacs might be kept. They seem to be more seen early in the mornings and late in the afternoons. Most probably for warming up in the sun and for hunting.
Responses to environmental Variation When captured and placed in the vile, the spider moved and stayed underneath the lid which was not transparent as the other parts of the vile. This showed it has a liking for dark places only coming out from hiding when it needed to warm up as it is cold blooded or for hunting and reproduction. Cultural Connection From my personal knowledge the Fijian name Rikarikayame which has two parts, rikarika which means to hop or jump about and yame tongue would mean jumping tongue, although the word yame could archaic meaning and mean something else apart from tongue. This shows that Fijian People of hold took enough notice of this remarkable creature to give it a specific name, no doubt derived from observing its movements.

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Bibliography
Berry, JW & Beatty JA. 1998. Salticidae of the Pacific Islands. III. Distribution of Seven Genera with Descriptions Of Nineteen New Species and Two New Genera, The Journal of Archeology, vol.5, pp.149-148 Cytacea Vitiensis. 2012. [Online image] Accessed 2 April 2012 from<http://www.flickr.com/photos/artour_a/1108637092/sizes/ o/in/photostream/>

Forster, R.R. and Forster L.M. Forster.1973. New Zealand Spiders: An Introduction. Dai Nippon Printing Co. (International) ltd, Hong Kong. Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences. 2006. Salticidae (Aranae) of the World. Accessed 2 April 2012 from<http://salticidae.org/salticid/diagnost/cytaea/cytaea.htm>