PREDATORY BEHAVIOR OF JUMPING SPIDERS

Salticids, the largest family of spiders, have unique eyes, acute visi on, and elaborate vision-mediated predatory behavior, which is more pr onounced than in any other spider group. Diverse predatory strategies have evolved, including araneophagy, aggressive mimicry, myrmicophagy, and prey-specific prey-catching behavior. Salticids are also distinct ive for development of behavioral flexibility, including conditional p redatory strategies, the use of trial-and-error to solve predatory pro blems, and the undertaking of detours to reach prey. Predatory behavio r of araneophagic salticids has undergone local adaptation to local pr ey, and there is evidence of predator-prey coevolution. Trade-offs bet ween mating and predatory strategies appear to be important in ant-mim icking and araneophagic species.