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Mopsus mormon Karsch, 1878 Northern Green Jumping Spider

The genus Mopsus has only one spider - Mopsus mormon, previously Mopsus penicillatus. It is the largest Australian jumping spider, found throughout the warmer regions in the northern part of Australia down as far as Coffs Harbour. Green Jumping spiders are large, beautiful, fast spiders and aggressive predators. They hunt actively on foliage in the day time and can inflict a painful but not lethal bite with large fangs. Due to the whiskers on the sides of their faces and their big eyes the males have a strange baboon-like appearance. Females and males are about the same size, unusual in spiders where males are often smaller. Both males and females hunt during the daytime, camouflaged against green leaves. Often you can't spot them until they move. They are ready biters and can inflict severe pain. Females build their nests and egg sacs between leaves. They prey on insects and other spiders.

Female, closeup face on


Mopsus mormon Northern Green Jumping Spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male, closeup of face.


Mopsus mormon
Photo: Martin Stevens

Male, closeup face on


Mopsus mormon Northern Green Jumping Spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male, looking at camera


Mopsus mormon
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male from above


Mopsus mormon Northern Green Jumping Spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male side on


Mopsus mormon Northern Green Jumping Spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female dead by fungus


Mo
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female, preserved, details below


Mopsus mormon Northern Green Jumping Spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female epigynum


Mopsus mormon Northern Green Jumping Spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female teeth


Mopsus mormon
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male face on


Mopsus mormon Northern Green Jumping Spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female


Mopsus mormon Northern Green Jumping Spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female with prey (another spider)


Mopsus mormon Northern Green Jumping Spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female with prey (another spider) side view


Mopsus mormon Northern Green Jumping Spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Young Female


Mopsus mormon Northern Green Jumping Spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female, showing size (compared to fingers)


Mopsus mormon Northern Green Jumping Spider
Photo: Robert Whyte

Retreat


Mopsus mormon Northern Green Jumping Spider retreat
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female in retreat with eggs


Mopsus mormon Northern Green Jumping Spider retreat with eggs
Photo: Robert Whyte

A very large female body length 2cm


Mopsus mormon
Photo: Robert Whyte

Juvenile female from above


Mopsus mormon juvenile
Photo: Robert Whyte

Juvenile female side view, facing


Mopsus mormon juvenile
Photo: Robert Whyte

Juvenile female from above, facing down


Mopsus mormon juvenile
Photo: Robert Whyte

Juvenile female from above facing left


Mopsus mormon juvenile
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female from side NQ GJA-5830-f


Mopsus mormon
Photo: Dr Greg Anderson

 

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