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Photo#34622
Unique male - Phidippus regius - male

Unique male - Phidippus regius - Male
Okeechobee County, Florida, USA
February 10, 2005
Size: Immature
Undescribed variation. The brown coloration has only been noted on 2 of 25 "recessive" male specimens.

Recessive male P. Regius
Hi there! Amazing spider. I have a now mature recessive male and he’s amazing but I’m worried about his lifespan now. He’s doing so well. Would love to share pics of him

great male specimens
This and the other white male are very rare color variations. I love the brown in this one. If you take the "Revision of the Genus Phidippus" as the bible of Phidippus, which it is, then these "recessive" types that are here on bugguide are the only specimens that have ever been described, photographed, and recorded.
These "recessive" types can either be considered a product of introgression or as an uncommon (but not very rare) condition or "form" of P. regius and possibly other species. By finding these types in south Florida, it rules out any possibility of cross-breeding or introgression as being the reason for this condition. This seems to be a genetic condition that causes these specimens to have all of the "undesired" weaknesses that makes survival in the wild, and even in captivity, very difficult for these individuals.

Leave it to bugguide to give people a means and a place to share new and interesting discoveries with anybody who may be interested, wherever they may live.

Wow
These are beautiful specimens. Thanks for posting these variations, Jeff.

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