Cocalus (spider)

{{Short description| Genus of spiders}}

{{Distinguish|Eudocima cocalus}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| taxon = Cocalus

| image = SGM05-3088_Cocalus_male.jpg

| image_caption = Adult male Cocalus

| authority = C. L. Koch, 1846

| type_species = C. concolor

| type_species_authority = C. L. Koch, 1846

| subdivision_ranks = Species

| subdivision = 6, see text

}}

Cocalus is a genus of jumping spiders that was first described by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1846, and is named after Cocalus, a Sicilian king of Greek mythology.{{cite book| last=Koch| first=C. L.| year=1846| title=Die Arachniden| author-link=Carl Ludwig Koch}}

At least one species, Cocalus gibbosus, does not adhere to spider silk and will sometimes invade the webs of other spiders and stalk across the webs to feed on them, preferring spiders over insects in its diet.{{Cite journal|last=Jackson|first=Robert R.|date=2000-01-01|title=Prey preferences and visual discrimination ability of Brettus, Cocalus and Cyrba, araneophagic jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) from Australia, Kenya and Sri Lanka|journal=New Zealand Journal of Zoology|volume=27|issue=1|pages=29–39|doi=10.1080/03014223.2000.9518206|issn=0301-4223|doi-access=free}} However, unlike other araneophagic jumping spiders like Portia, Cocalus gibbosus does not pluck on the webs of other spiders.{{Cite journal|last=Jackson|first=Robert R.|date=1990-10-01|title=Predatory and nesting behaviour of Cocalus gibbosus, a spartaeine jumping spider (Araneae: Salticidae) from Queensland|journal=New Zealand Journal of Zoology|volume=17|issue=4|pages=483–490|doi=10.1080/03014223.1990.10422947|issn=0301-4223|doi-access=free}}