The complex communicatory behaviour of Marpissa marina, a New Zealand jumping spider (Araneae: Salticidae)

Abstract

This is the first study of the complex display repertoire of Marpissa marina, a New Zealand jumping spider. The adaptive significance of this species’ complex repertoire is discussed. Males are shown to employ two types of courtship and three mating tactics, depending on the location and maturity of the females they encounter. They court adult females outside nests with visual displays (type 1 courtship) and mate in the open (tactic No. 1). They court females inside nests with vibratory displays (type 2 courtship) and mate with adult females in their nests immediately after courtship (tactic No. 2); but build a second chamber on subadult females’ nests in which to cohabit, then mate with these females after they mature (tactic No. 3). Rotary waving of the abdomen, a display that is apparently unique to this species, is described. Only males perform this behaviour, and they do so only when touching a female in a nest. Displays during intrasexual interactions are distinct from courtship displays. M. marina’s most elaborate display is quadrapedal posturing, which is performed only during male-male interactions. New Zealand has a depauperate salticid fauna and no other salticid species were found sharing M. marina’s microhabitat, lending no support to the prevalent hypothesis that display complexity in spiders is related to species identification. We propose, instead, that sexual selection has been the major factor responsible for M. marina’s display complexity.

Keywords:

• Spiders
• Araneae
• Salticidae
• behaviour
• communication
• displays
• courtship
• Marpissa marina