Uncommon and interesting behaviour captured in images
User's notes
These two spiders danced around each other for several minutes with their three front pairs of legs together so they looked a flap. Eventually the one in the third photo attacked and saw the other one off.
Indeed it is Michael. I have not heard of this behaviour being described before but haven't really kept up with salticid behavioural literature in recent years. Normally the male will display to females with his front pair of legs. Clearly in these pics the first three pairs are 'consciously' combined to display to the other combative male. As with other spider behaviours we are trying to understand, put yourself in the position of the other male: what would you see? These are great informative pics here but if you get the opportunity next time, try and somehow take a pic from the same level of the spiders, as if you were an opposing spider!
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