Distribution Records
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Vetting Levels |
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Adult phenology:
High Mountains (HM) ≥ 4,000 ft.
Low Mountains (LM) < 4,000 ft.
Piedmont (Pd)
Coastal Plain (CP)
Click on graph to enlarge
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| synonym | |
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Edwards (2006) noted that “Metacyrba floridana is proportionately more slender than [the sympatric—but not syntopic—in Florida] M. taeniola, and, among other differences, has most of its leg segments bright reddish orange rather than dark like eastern M. taeniola.
“The three putative species of the taeniola group [taeniola, floridana, & M. t. similis; the third being a western species] were characterized primarily by details of their color patterns and/or by their body proportions. The genitalia of these three species, according to Barnes (1958), were indistinguishable...”
Nonetheless, Edwards was able to differentiate species by the relative size and shape of the male embolus, but this seems very difficult to discern without special equipment owing to the black coloration. Similarly, the female floridanas' epigyna are narrower than those of taeniola specimens, a character most useful when specimens of each species are to hand.
While his "final species determinations were based on, in order, traditional genitalic characters (shape and placement of structures), measurements of external genital structure, and supporting somatic characters," those somatic characters seem consistent enough to distinguish between floridana and taeniola. |
| total_length |
Female 5.1-6.6mm, Male 4.5-4.6mm |
| structural_features |
Look for orange-red legs II-IV, including trochanters. M. taeniola's legs are typically black through the femora at least. |
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| fld_guide_descriptions |
Rose, Sarah. 2022. Spiders of North America. Princeton University Press; Princeton, New Jersey, USA. |
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| behavior |
Often found under bark, but also on walls of buildings. |
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| technical_reference |
Barnes, R. D. (1958). North American jumping spiders of the subfamily Marpissinae (Araneae, Salticidae). American Museum Novitates 1867: 1-50.
Edwards, G. B. (2006). A review of described Metacyrba, the status of Parkella, and notes on Platycryptus and Balmaceda, with a comparison of the genera (Araneae: Salticidae: Marpissinae). Insecta Mundi 19: 193-226.
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| adult_id | 1 identifiable by photo 2 identifiable by photo of specific features and/or supplementary info 3 identifiable from specimen only |
| abundance |
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| distribution_comments |
NC & west to Texas along the Coastal Plain |
checklist_mt_high
>=4,000 ft. | |
checklist_mt_low
<4,000 ft. | |
checklist_pd
Piedmont | |
checklist_cp
Coastal Plain | |
| habitat |
Purportedly xeric, but NC specimens—including those on iNaturalist—have been mostly mesic. |
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Photo Gallery for Metacyrba floridana a jumping spider |
 | Recorded by: F. Williams
Gates Co.
Comment: MEMI |  | Recorded by: Michael P. Morales
Cumberland Co.
Comment: Crawling on an old Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) in my front yard during the day. |
 | Recorded by: Donald Zepp
Pamlico Co.
Comment: On my son's arm, just outside RV |  | Recorded by: Donald Zepp
Pamlico Co.
Comment: On my son's arm, just outside RV |
 | Recorded by: Donald ZEPP
Johnston Co.
Comment: Wandering on exterior wall of house. |
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