Cosmophasis


Cosmophasis is a genus of spiders in the family Salticidae. They are predominantly Southeast Asian, while some species occur in Africa and Australia. Although most species more or less mimic ants, there are also colorful species that follow a different strategy.
C. bitaeniata uses chemical mimicry to be accepted by the aggressive weaver ant species Oecophylla smaragdina.
One species, said to be not a particularly good ant mimic, was observed living near and preying on ants. According to, "to watch the spider stalking and killing its prey is an arachnological spectacular".

Description

Species in this genus are from 3.80 to 8.00 mm long. The cephalothoraxes are pear-shaped or rectangular.

Taxonomy

, the World Spider Catalog accepted the following species:Cosmophasis albipes Berland & Millot, 1941 – GuineaCosmophasis albomaculata Schenkel, 1944 – TimorCosmophasis ambonensis Hurni-Cranston & Hill, 2020 - Ambon IslandCosmophasis arborea Berry, Beatty & Prószyński, 1997 – Caroline IslandsCosmophasis baehrae Zabka & Waldock, 2012 - AustraliaCosmophasis bandaneira Hurni-Cranston & Hill, 2020 - Banda IslandsCosmophasis banika Żabka & Waldock, 2012 - Solomon Islands Cosmophasis bitaeniata – New Guinea, Australia, MicronesiaCosmophasis chlorophthalma – New HebridesCosmophasis chopardi Berland & Millot, 1941 – Ivory CoastCosmophasis colemani Żabka & Waldock, 2012 – Australia Cosmophasis courti Żabka & Waldock, 2012 – New Guinea Cosmophasis cypria – JavaCosmophasis darwini Żabka & Waldock, 2012 – Australia Cosmophasis depilata Caporiacco, 1940 – EthiopiaCosmophasis estrellaensis Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 – PhilippinesCosmophasis fazanica Caporiacco, 1936 – LibyaCosmophasis gemmans – SumatraCosmophasis harveyi Żabka & Waldock, 2012 – New GuineaCosmophasis hortoni Żabka & Waldock, 2012 – Solomon Is.Cosmophasis humphreysi Żabka & Waldock, 2012 – New GuineaCosmophasis kairiru Żabka & Waldock, 2012 – New GuineaCosmophasis kohi Żabka & Waldock, 2012 – New GuineaCosmophasis lami Berry, Beatty & Prószyński, 1997 – East Asia, South East Asia, Pacific islandsCosmophasis laticlavia – SumatraCosmophasis lucidiventris Simon, 1910 – GabonCosmophasis lungga Żabka & Waldock, 2012 – Solomon IslandsCosmophasis maculiventris Strand, 1911 – Aru IslandsCosmophasis masarangi Merian, 1911 – SulawesiCosmophasis micans – QueenslandCosmophasis micarioides – New Guinea, Queensland, Solomon IslandsCosmophasis miniaceomicans – Andaman IslandsCosmophasis modesta – QueenslandCosmophasis monacha – New GuineaCosmophasis motmot Żabka & Waldock, 2012 – New GuineaCosmophasis obscura – QueenslandCosmophasis olorina – Sri LankaCosmophasis ombria – Indonesia Cosmophasis orsimoides Strand, 1911 – Kei IslandsCosmophasis panjangensis Żabka & Waldock, 2012 – Indonesia Cosmophasis parangpilota Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 – PhilippinesCosmophasis psittacina – MyanmarCosmophasis pulchella Caporiacco, 1947 – EthiopiaCosmophasis quadricincta – SingaporeCosmophasis rakata Żabka & Waldock, 2012 – Indonesia Cosmophasis risbeci Berland, 1938 – New HebridesCosmophasis sertungensis Żabka & Waldock, 2012 – Indonesia Cosmophasis squamata Kulczyński, 1910 – Solomon Islands, SeychellesCosmophasis strandi Caporiacco, 1947 – East AfricaCosmophasis tavurvur Żabka & Waldock, 2012 – New GuineaCosmophasis thalassina – Malaysia to AustraliaCosmophasis tricincta Simon, 1910 – BiokoCosmophasis trioipina Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 – PhilippinesCosmophasis tristriatus – Palau Is.Cosmophasis trobriand Żabka & Waldock, 2012 – New GuineaCosmophasis umbratica Simon, 1903 – India to SumatraCosmophasis valerieae Prószyński & Deeleman-Reinhold, 2010 – Indonesia Cosmophasis viridifasciata – Sumatra to New GuineaCosmophasis waeri Hurni-Cranston & Hill, 2020 - Banda IslandsCosmophasis weyersi – Sumatra
  • Cosmophasis xiaolonghaensis Cao & Li, 2016
In 2012, Marek Żabka and Julianne Waldock proposed 5 new species groups, it being the C.thalassina species group, C. bitaeniata species group, C. micarioides species group, C. tristriatus species group, and the C. rakata species group.
Formerly placed in this genus include:Cosmophasis australis Simon, 1902 → Phintella australisCosmophasis caerulea Simon, 1901 → Mexcala caeruleaCosmophasis fagei Lessert, 1925 → Icius fageiCosmophasis nigrocyanea → Mexcala nigrocyaneaCosmophasis quadrimaculata Lawrence, 1942 → Mexcala quadrimaculataCosmophasis longiventris Simon, 1903 → Chrysilla lauta