Phyaces

Abstract: Interest in P. comosus stems from the unusual behaviour, cryptic appearance and bizarre ornamentation of this small salticid spider. They are detritus mimics in life and specimens have been collected from ground litter and litter trapped in the shrub layer of bushes. Several examples were preserved in spirit by the author before their unusual features were fully appreciated and it is unfortunate that only one live female was available for behaviour studies (see Jackson, 1986). The standard abbreviations and measurements are those used by Wanless (19780), but for the leg spination the system adopted is that used by Platnick and Shadab (1975).