Representation of different exact numbers of prey by a spider-eating predator
Working memory is important for Portia africana, a salticid spider that specialises in eating other spiders
Abstract
Jumping spiders (family Salticidae) have the capacity to see fine details related to their prey. Working memory is important for Portia africana, a salticid spider that specialises in eating other spiders, to survive and succeed in capturing prey.
皇冠体育app investigators hypothesised that the salticid spider relies on assessing specific cardinal numbers of prey. 皇冠体育appy used a method where a test subject is allowed to preview a scene, which is blocked out and returned with some elements altered. (In this case the number of prey.) 皇冠体育appy were able to determine that the immature stage (body length 5.0 mm) of Portia africana, has the capacity to figure out the exact number of spiders in its view, including those capable of eating it. 皇冠体育app findings suggest that Portia characterises 1 and 2 as separate, but 3 or more as a single category that the authors call 鈥榤any鈥�.
This is an output of the 鈥楽trategies by which Miniature Predators Use Highly Structured Working Memory鈥� project. It is partly funded by the UK Department for International Development, a core donor of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology.
Citation
Cross F. R. and Jackson R. R. (2017) Representation of different exact numbers of prey by a spider-eating predator. Interface Focus: A theme supplement of Journal of the Royal Society Interface 7, https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2016.0035