Jumping spider shadowboxes

July 30, 2012 • 3:55 am

This YouTube video of a jumping spider and a mirror shows several things: inter-male aggression, lack of self-recognition (no surprise in this species, but see Wikipedia‘s article on the mirror test for seeing which species have individuals that self-recognize), and, especially, the species’ keen eyesight.  The video’s caption identifies the beast:

An adult male of the jumping spider (Carrhotus xanthogramma, family Salticidae) showing combat displays against his own reflection on the mirror again and again. Mid-May 2009 in Japan.
Soundtrack (audioswapped): “Into The Mirror” by Spencer Brewer.

h/t: Rebecca Cadorette

11 thoughts on “Jumping spider shadowboxes

  1. I’ve seen displays like that with a bodybuilder in front of a mirror. I always thought they had self-recognition.

  2. I just wish the titmouse that lives outside my office could recognize itself, instead of flying into the window over and over and over and over…

  3. It looks like a certain points the spider goes round the back of the mirror to see if he can find his imaginary opponent.

      1. Well, the mirror being moved might have played a role in the jumping back part.

  4. I love jumping spiders. Although I have a question. It seems that he realizes something is wrong at the end…kind of…wait a minute!!?… Am I right?
    Cheers! ;D

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