Is inaccurate mimicry ancestral to accurate in myrmecomorphic spiders (Araneae)?

Abstract

Batesian mimicry, in which a palatable organism resembles an unpalatable model, is widespread among taxa. Batesian mimics can be classified based on their level of accuracy (inaccurate or accurate). Using data on defensive strategies in more than 1000 species of spiders I investigated whether inaccurate myrmecomorphy is ancestral to accurate myrmecomorphy. I classified 233 myrmecomorphic species into four accuracy levels based on morphology, from poor inaccurate mimics to very accurate ones. I found that myrmecomorphy has evolved independently in 16 families and 85 genera. On the family‐level phylogeny, the occurrence of myrmecomorphy is confined mainly to families branching later on the tree, from the RTA clade. On the generic‐level phylogenies in Corinnidae and Salticidae, myrmecomorphy is not only of derived origin. Estimated ancestral state was non‐mimetic in Salticidae and poor inaccurate myrmecomorphy in Corinnidae. Thus, inaccurate myrmecomorphic spider mimics seem rather ancestral to accurate but additional analysis on species‐level phylogenies is needed to support this conclusion. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 113, 97–111.

Constraints on the jumping and prey-capture abilities of ant-mimicking spiders (Salticidae, Salticinae, Myrmarachne)

“…Furthermore, the resemblance between Myrmarachne spiders and ants can be achieved by not only body-form modifications but also combining a variety of morphological changes, all of which may potentially impose constraints on the mimics. For example, Myrmarachne spiders have thin legs like ants instead of the stout legs of typical salticids; however, thin legs were also found in non-myrmecomorphic salticids 28 . As salticid spiders usually use their legs to grasp and hold onto prey 29 , the thin legs of Myrmarachne spiders may also interfere with their prey-capture success rates.…”

Coral snakes predict the evolution of mimicry across New World snakes

“… 28 , refuted in ref. 33 ), despite phylogenetic reconstruction of mimetic coloration in Batesian systems as taxonomically widespread as butterflies 22 33 34 , hoverflies 3 and ant-mimicking spiders 20 35 . In fact, this lack of loss in insects has caused researchers to hypothesize that Batesian mimicry may be a one-way street, or directional trajectory, from which reversion to crypsis is not likely 34 36 .…”

Extension d’aire du saltique Synageles venator (Lucas, 1836) (Araneae : Salticidae) au Québec

“…On a répertorié plus de 2 000 espèces d'arthropodes myrmécomorphes dans le monde, dont plus de 200 espèces d'araignées (McIver et et Stonedahl, 1993). Chez les araignées, la myrmécomorphie aurait évolué indépendamment dans 16 familles (Pekár, 2014). La majorité des araignées myrmécomorphes sont membres de la famille des Salticidae (Pekár, 2014).…”

“…Chez les araignées, la myrmécomorphie aurait évolué indépendamment dans 16 familles (Pekár, 2014). La majorité des araignées myrmécomorphes sont membres de la famille des Salticidae (Pekár, 2014). L'évitement des espèces myrmécomorphes par les prédateurs est bien documenté (Durkee et collab., 2011;Huang et collab., 2011).…”