Jumping spider

Fact Box Species: Opisthoncus mordax (identification based on an Australian Museum website image BUT SEE NOTE BELOW!) Family: Salticidae Body length: female: 10 mm male: 9 mm Habitat: Usually found on the leaves and bark of trees but sometimes found on walls and other structures Toxicity: Unknown; may bite if handled, this leading to local inflammation and pain

Front view Underneath male Oblique view Another specimen

NOTE: A salticid which appeared to be an almost mature female of Opisthoncus parcedentatus was recently observed to moult into an adult male identical in appearance to the male of O. mordax shown above. This observation plus the fact that it appears that only males of O. mordax and females of O. parcedentatus have been found in the field strongly suggests that the spider originally named Opisthoncus mordax in 1880 by L. Koch was actually the male of Opisthoncus parcedentatus, the female of which Koch also named in 1880. This also explains why males of O. mordax are often found in the vicinity of the retreats of females of O. parcedentatus.

This is one of the many salticid species that can be found anywhere on trees or in green vegetation because of its great mobility.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Sandalodes scopifer and several other salticid species with a similar body shape.