Prilog poznavanju hrvatskih pauka skakača (Araneae: Salticidae) iz Dalmacije i Kvarnera

During a survey carried out between 1994 and 2002 165 specimens of jumping spiders (29 species) from 15 localities in Croatia were recorded and investigated. For most species, short ecological data are given. A new combination is proposed: Saitis imitata (Simon, 1862) ex Pseudeuophrys. The epigyne and its internal structure of S. imitata are described in detail and illustrated for the first time. The species Saitis sanctaeeufemiae Kolosváry, 1938 was excluded from the fauna of Croatia. Marpissa nivoyi is reported as new for the territory of Croatia.Tijekom istraživanja od 1994. do 2002. godine na 15 lokaliteta zabilježeno je 165 primjeraka pauka skakača (29 vrsta). Za većinu vrsta daju se kratki ekološki podaci. Predlaže se nova kombinacija: Saitis imitata (Simon, 1862) ex Pseudeuophrys. Po prvi put se detaljno opisuje epiginij i njegova unutrašnja struktura kod S. imitata. Vrsta Saitis sanctaeeufemiae Kolosváry, 1938 odbacuje se za faunu Hrvatske, a kao nova za Hrvatsku zabilježena je Marpissa nivoyi

A Field Study of Wild Echidna Responses to Conspecific Odour

Mammalian olfactory cues play a crucial role in coordinating matingbehaviour as they contain pertinent information on sex, reproductive status andreceptivity to mating. Males of many species are particularly attentive tochanges in female odour cues, as these can be used to find potential mates andmonitor changes in reproductive condition. Such sensitivity is likely to beespecially important for usually solitary or seasonally breeding individuals. Weused remote scent trials in the field to examine if wild short-beaked echidnas areattracted to conspecific female odour. Our results are consistent with thehypothesis that male echidnas use olfactory cues during the breeding season tolocate females: Echidnas were only observed investigating female odour samplesand not empty camera trap stations, more echidnas (including knownindividual males) were attracted to female odours during the breeding season,than during the non-breeding season and we noted olfactory behaviours such assniffing and tongue-flicking at the odour source. Male echidnas increase theirmating opportunities by engaging in scramble competition and being sensitive tovolatile and non-volatile female odour components, allowing them to locatepotential mates and minimise search costs. Consequently, male ability to locatefemales may be sexually selected, but further bioassays, along with geneticinformation, is needed to investigate this further