Rundstedt B. Rovillos
White-moustached Portia
Portia labiata are long-legged Jumping Spider, recognised by conspicuous fans of hairs on the legs, and ornate tufts of hairs on the body, especially on the abdomen. These features distort the body outline and enhance its resemblance to a lump of debris, especially when it folds its first three pairs of legs close to the body in its normal resting position. The camouflage is further enhanced by behavioural modifications: they walk in a slow and deliberate manner. Rushing about like other Jumping Spiders would have defeated the purpose of camouflaging itself as a piece of detritus.
These unusual Jumping Spiders of the sub-family Spartaeinae have a different eye arrangement compared to other Jumping Spiders. Whereas the posterior median eyes (i.e., the eyes in the second row) of most Jumping Spiders are tiny, there is a category of Jumping Spiders whose posterior median eyes are fairly big. These include spiders in the genera Cocalus, Phaeacius, Portia and Spartaeus.
Best viewed LARGE:
White-moustached Portia
Portia labiata are long-legged Jumping Spider, recognised by conspicuous fans of hairs on the legs, and ornate tufts of hairs on the body, especially on the abdomen. These features distort the body outline and enhance its resemblance to a lump of debris, especially when it folds its first three pairs of legs close to the body in its normal resting position. The camouflage is further enhanced by behavioural modifications: they walk in a slow and deliberate manner. Rushing about like other Jumping Spiders would have defeated the purpose of camouflaging itself as a piece of detritus.
These unusual Jumping Spiders of the sub-family Spartaeinae have a different eye arrangement compared to other Jumping Spiders. Whereas the posterior median eyes (i.e., the eyes in the second row) of most Jumping Spiders are tiny, there is a category of Jumping Spiders whose posterior median eyes are fairly big. These include spiders in the genera Cocalus, Phaeacius, Portia and Spartaeus.
Best viewed LARGE: