''Cocalus'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

jumping spiders Jumping spiders are a group of spiders that constitute the family Salticidae. As of 2019, this family contained over 600 described genera and over 6,000 described species, making it the largest family of spiders at 13% of all species. Jumping ...

that was first described by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1846, and is named after Cocalus, a Sicilian king of Greek mythology. At least one species, ''Cocalus gibbosus'', does not adhere to

spider silk Spider silk is a protein fibre spun by spiders. Spiders use their silk to make webs or other structures, which function as sticky nets to catch other animals, or as nests or cocoons to protect their offspring, or to wrap up prey. They can a ...

and will sometimes invade the webs of other

spiders Spiders (order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species di ...

and stalk across the webs to feed on them, preferring spiders over insects in its diet. However, unlike other araneophagic

like '' Portia, Cocalus gibbosus'' does not pluck on the webs of other spiders.

Species

it contains six species, found only in Asia, Australia, and

Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...

: *''

Cocalus concolor :'' Cocalus is also a genus of jumping spiders''. In Greek mythology, Cocalus ( grc, Κώκαλος) was a king of Camicus ( grc, Κᾰμῑκός) in Sicily, according to Diodorus Siculus (book iv). Myth After the escape of Daedalus and h ...

'' C. L. Koch, 1846 (

type Type may refer to: Science and technology Computing * Typing, producing text via a keyboard, typewriter, etc. * Data type, collection of values used for computations. * File type * TYPE (DOS command), a command to display contents of a file. * Ty ...

) –

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

, New Guinea *''

Cocalus gibbosus :''Cocalus is also a genus of jumping spiders''. In Greek mythology, Cocalus ( grc, Κώκαλος) was a king of Camicus ( grc, Κᾰμῑκός) in Sicily, according to Diodorus Siculus (book iv). Myth After the escape of Daedalus and hi ...

'' Wanless, 1981 – Australia (

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

) *''

Cocalus lacinia :''Cocalus is also a genus of jumping spiders''. In Greek mythology, Cocalus ( grc, Κώκαλος) was a king of Camicus ( grc, Κᾰμῑκός) in Sicily, according to Diodorus Siculus (book iv). Myth After the escape of Daedalus and h ...

'' Sudhin, Nafin, Sumesh & Sudhikumar, 2019 –

India India, officially the Republic of India ( Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the ...

*''

Cocalus limbatus :''Cocalus is also a genus of jumping spiders''. In Greek mythology, Cocalus ( grc, Κώκαλος) was a king of Camicus ( grc, Κᾰμῑκός) in Sicily, according to Diodorus Siculus (book iv). Myth After the escape of Daedalus and hi ...

'' Thorell, 1878 – Indonesia *''

Cocalus menglaensis :''Cocalus is also a genus of jumping spiders''. In Greek mythology, Cocalus ( grc, Κώκαλος) was a king of Camicus ( grc, Κᾰμῑκός) in Sicily, according to Diodorus Siculus (book iv). Myth After the escape of Daedalus and hi ...

'' Cao & Li, 2016 – China *''

Cocalus murinus :'' Cocalus is also a genus of jumping spiders''. In Greek mythology, Cocalus ( grc, Κώκαλος) was a king of Camicus ( grc, Κᾰμῑκός) in Sicily, according to Diodorus Siculus (book iv). Myth After the escape of Daedalus and h ...

'' Simon, 1899 – India, Indonesia, Singapore ( Sumatra)

References

Fauna of Queensland Salticidae Salticidae genera Spiders of Asia Spiders of Australia Spiders of Oceania Taxa named by Carl Ludwig Koch {{Jumping-spider-stub