#Simaethula

[creatureimages]

simaethula takes the classic jumping spider design and dares to ask: what if it was round and chubby?

[ljsbugblog]

of course, when I dont have my macro lens handy, I see the tiniest, shiniest little guy.

'Goldenbum' (Simaethula sp.).

[spiderappreciation]

Found this little spider hiding in one of the leaves I was feeding my Giant burrowing cockroaches. unsure exactly what it is but some kind of Simaethula sp I believe :)

[rattyexplores]

S. violacea, a very round species of jumping spider.

14/01/24 - Simaethula violacea

QLD:WET

[ardentguilt]

This incredibly tiny jumping spider is a full grown adult Simaethula opulenta

The Simaethula group of spiders consists of 7 species, all of which are tiny and native to Australia.

As far as I’ve been able to find this particular species I’ve encountered here has only had one other confirmed sighting since its initial description in 1879.

In person this spider was a metallic coppery gold color. All these photos have been taken with my phone’s camera on full zoom and the first image is a screenshot I took after zooming right in on a frame from a video I took of it.

The only photo that isn’t zoomed in at all is the one where I’ve circled the spider in red to show its tiny size in comparison to the screw on the bench.

I only spotted this tiny creature because it was crawling on my hand and bumped into one of the hairs on my hand which I felt move and looked down to see what was up.

This spider is that tiny that had it not bumped into that hair I’ve had no idea it was even there.

As such it wouldn’t surprise me if this species is more common but we just think it’s rare because it’s so tiny it’s very easy to just straight up not notice it al all even when it’s literally ON you.

I really hope one day I’ll encounter it again when I have my macro lens on me and can get some better photos.

((GUESS WHO JUST SAW AN INCREDIBLY RARE AND TINY JUMPING SPIDER))

[onenicebugperday]

@nulook4summa submitted: hello do you know who my tiny jumping friend is? on Galibal Country, Kyogle, Australia

Goodness they are TINY and ROUND. I'm thinking maybe the Simaethula genus, or poooossibly Simaetha, but at the very least, the Simaethina subtribe!

[jennrosefx]

The first jumper I found yesterday was this Simaethula sp. I’m mildly obsessed with it. Look at that face!!! #spider #jumpingspider #simaethula #australia

[dykegeology]

Look at this extremely cute spider I found on a fence post recently

[deakin-environment]

Today's little sweetie. Simaethula jumping spider from the southern Grampians. Salticids are diverse, the family containing all sorts of lovely little spiders. They're almost everywhere if you look closely. Open you eyes to the wonders of: #spiders #salticidae #biodiversity #Deakinenviro Fab image from @invertophiles from our second year field program in the Grampians. http://ift.tt/2uOwqSi

[dragimalsdaydreams]

I haven’t seen Into the Spiderverse yet, but I wanted in on the ‘sona action

so I ruined a perfectly good spider and gave her anxiety

[rattyexplores]

The very cute Simaethula violacea ❤ I can’t find much information about these spiders, but they’re small, black, and remind me of a Star Wars droid.

Simaethula violacea

28/05/22

[phidippusregius]

simaethula sp

[drhoz]

#473 - Simaethula Jumping Spider

Small (Simaethula means 'small Simaetha') but very robust, somewhat flattened jumping spiders, with small rear eyes, and frequently metallic.

Rob Whyte, who corrected my ID,  has further info from a Polish expert on Saltacid spiders

Marek Zabka says Simaethula and Simaetha should probably never have been split, and the characters for separating Simaethula are rather weak, including the posterior lateral eyes being further back on the head than those of Simaetha. To really know one must revise all known and unknown Simaethula and the problem is they are rather small, with simple genitalia which doesn't vary much between notional species, so it has to wait till a DNA lab and operator wants to spend about a year.

Coolbellup, Perth

[makotos-abs]

Salticidae > Simaethula sp by mj_stevo on Flickr.

Check out the colors on this little one!

[mrsmountainchicken]

I love her 🥹🖤

S. violacea, a very round species of jumping spider.

14/01/24 - Simaethula violacea

QLD:WET