| Saitis barbipes | |
|---|---|
| male S. barbipes | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Suborder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Salticidae |
| Subfamily: | Euophryinae |
| Genus: | Saitis |
| Species: | S. barbipes |
| Binomial name | |
| Saitis barbipes (Simon, 1868) |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Attus barbipes |
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Saitis barbipes is a common jumping spider in the Mediterranean region, where it can be found on houses and rocks, as well as indoors.
The Australian "peacock spider", Maratus volans, has a range of superficial similarities to the species, such as green eyes, and an enlarged third pair of legs used for courtship. However, the genera Saitis and Maratus are in all likelihood not closely related.
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Females reach about 5 to 6 mm body length. While the female is of a dull brown color, the smaller male is strikingly colored when frontally viewed. With green eyes, black stripes on the four white frontal legs, and red color above the eyes, it is probably the most colorful species of jumping spiders in Europe. The most impressive feature however is the greatly enlarged third pair of legs. These are colored red near the body, fading into black, with white tufts at the end. These legs are used in courtship display. When the male spots a female, he raises these. As he approaches her, from time to time he audibly vibrates the legs. A receptive female will then collapse on her legs and turn her abdomen upward.
The species name is derived from Latin, and means "bearded foot".