Ligonipes semitectus

Fact Box Species: Ligonipes semitectus (QM) (or a close relative) Family: Salticidae Body length: female: 3-5 mm male: 2-4 mm Habitat: Being an ant mimic this species may be found in the vicinity of streams of ants, on which it feeds Toxicity: Probably too small to present a significant hazard to any human

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This species, though very small, is relatively easy to recognise because of of the unusual shape of its cephalothorax and because its abdomen is partly divided into two sections, giving this spider the appearance of an ant. The spider presumably uses this disguise to ambush ants and other insects. Another distinctive anatomical feature of this species is the fact that the first pair of legs are much stouter than the other legs and have a stiff brush of hairs on the underside of the tibia.

Known range: Comparatively rare but recorded as being in South-east Queensland and down as far as Ballina, and in Melbourne.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: While the appearance of this spider is distinctive, several other similar and closely related genera, including Rhombonotus gracilis and Myrmarachne erythrocephala, as well as some other Ligonipes species exist. Note that some of the images above could actually be of a Rhombonotus species, those species that are now listed as belonging to the Rhombonotus genus originally being known as Ligonipes species.

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