More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Spiders of Zihuatanejo
ORDER ARANEAE
Colonus Jumping Spiders
Colonus (Genus)
-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)
-Chelicerates Subphylum Chelicerata
-Typical Spiders (Suborder Araneomorphae)
-Entelegyne Spiders (Infraorder Entelegynae)
-Salticoid Spiders (Superfamily Salticoidea)
-Jumping Spiders (Family Salticidae)
-Typical Jumping Spiders (Subfamily Salticinae)
-Tribe Gophonini
-Genus Colonus
Colonus jumping spiders are agile, visually oriented hunters belonging to the family Salticidae and are found throughout the Americas, particularly in warm and temperate regions. These spiders are recognized for their compact bodies, strong legs, and large, forward-facing eyes that give them excellent depth perception and a curious, alert demeanor. Colonus species are typically active during the day, using their sharp vision to stalk and leap onto prey rather than relying on webs for capture.
Description
• Colonus is a genus of jumping spiders in the family Salticidae. These small, compact spiders have relatively large forward-facing eyes that provide excellent vision for locating prey and navigating their surroundings. They have short, strong legs and move through a series of quick steps and jumps. Like other jumping spiders, they do not use capture webs to catch prey, instead relying on their vision, agility and silk draglines.
Range
• Colonus occurs in the Americas, with species recorded in parts of North, Central and South America. The genus is present in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico.
Habitat
• Members of this genus inhabit terrestrial environments, including forests, woodland edges, scrubland and gardens. They are commonly found on leaves, stems, branches, tree trunks and other surfaces where they can search for prey. They often pause to visually inspect their surroundings before moving or jumping.
Diet
• Colonus species are predators that feed mainly on small insects and other arthropods. They stalk and pounce on prey, using their keen eyesight to judge distance and their strong legs to make accurate jumps. Before jumping, they often attach a silk safety line to the surface beneath them.