EPIGAMIC DISPLAY IN JUMPING SPIDERS (ARANEAE , SALTICIDAE) AND ITS USE IN SYSTEMATIC S

A study was made of visual epigamic displays in representative species of North American jumping spiders, with a special emphasis on determining the value ofusing such displays in systematics . Several presumed homologies in courtship behavior were described which largely support the most recen t subfamilial arrangement on morphology. Courtship was found to be of more use in some generic and specific level problems, especially with closely related sympatric species . Agonistic displays were found to be of less use in systematics than courtship, because of the similar ways in which males engage in combat display, even in distantly related genera .