Agelenids of the World

Systematics and Taxonomy of Agelenidae, a Worldwide distributed Spider Family

Social behaviour in a web-building lynx spider, Tapinillus sp. (Araneae: Oxyopidae)

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1994
Authors:L. Aviles
Journal:Biological Journal of the Linnean Society
Volume:52
Pagination:163-176
Date Published:1994
ISBN Number:0024-4066
Keywords:/ / ] [Ecuador / / Sucumbios, & communal feeding in communal webs, Animal, Behaviour, behaviour in communal webs]., communal webs, constructions, Cooperative, cooperative behaviour relationships] [Webs, Cuyabeno Nature Reserve, Ecology, Ecuador]., Feeding behaviour, first report, first report for, Foraging, Land zones, Neotropical region, Nutrition, Oxyopidae (Araneae)., Oxyopidae [Cooperative behaviour / / Prey capture & communal feeding in, Oxyopidae] [Food capture / / ] [Cooperative behaviour / / Prey capture, Population dynamics, Population structure, sex ratio / / Communal webs, Sex ratio relations] [Population, Social behaviour, South America, Tapinillus (Araneae)., Tapinillus [Food handling / / Communal feeding
Abstract:

Social behaviour involving cooperative prey capture and communal feeding is reported for the first time in the spider family Oxyopidae (lynx spiders), in a web-building species of the genus Tapinillus. This social spider inhabits communal webs that may contain several dozen individuals, including adults of both sexes and juveniles of different cohorts. Its colonies occur in clusters and appear to be long-lived, much like those of non-territorial permanently social species such as Anelosimus eximius (Theridiidae) or Agelena consociata (Agelenidae). However, unlike colonies of these other cooperative spiders, the colonies of the social Tapinillus do not have highly female-biased sex ratios. The possible explanations for this difference are discussed.

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Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith