Kima variabilis Peckham & Peckham, 1903

Wesolowska, Wanda & Haddad, Charles R., 2009, Jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) of the Ndumo Game Reserve, Maputaland, South Africa, African Invertebrates 50 (1), pp. 13-103 : 53

Kima variabilis Peckham & Peckham, 1903

Fig. 246

Kima variabilis: Peckham & Peckham 1903: 253 , pl. 29, fig. 4; Wesolowska & Szeremeta 2001: 227, figs

39–44.

See Wesolowska & Szeremeta (2001) for description of male. General appearance of male in Fig. 246. Female unknown.

Material examined: 1ơ Crocodile Farm, 26 ° 54.426'S: 32 ° 19.185'E, broadleaf woodland, under tree bark, 12.i.2007 ( NCA 2007 /3074); 1ơ 26 ° 51.908'S: 32 ° 14.458'E, subtropical bush, Mahemane thicket, low foliage, 18.i.2006 ( NCA 2008 /2740) .

Distribution: Species known from South Africa only.

Habitat and biology: This large species is a distinctive mimic of Polyrachis gagates ants, which were common and widespread in floodplain and savannah habitats in the reserve. Despite this, K. variabilis was rarely collected. This species generally moved slowly when disturbed, and rarely moved its legs up and down to imitate the antennal movements of ants, behaviour that is usually encountered in other salticid ant mimics ( Cushing 1997). Morphological adaptations to resemble P. gagates include the elongate carapace with a median depression, the globose abdomen, long legs, and the iridescent silver-grey setae that cover the entire body. It is not known whether K. variabilis preys on its model or on other ants.