Sexual size dimorphism in burrowing wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae)

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of various aspects of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in the Lycosidae, with particular emphasis on burrowing wolf spiders. Three species of the genus Zyuzicosa Logunov, 2010 exhibit pronounced SSD, having typical dwarf males that are half or less than half the size of females. It is argued that although the reported case of extreme SSD could reasonably be explained by the differential mortality model, understanding the evolutionary origin of extreme SSD in wolf spiders is better elucidated by examining life-history theory integrated with aspects of whole organism ontogeny.