Euophrys griswoldi

Euophrys griswaldi is a very small light spider with a body divided into two main parts: a broader oval cephalothorax and longer abdomen.^[14] The male has a cephalothorax that is typically 1.6 mm (0.06 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide.^[6] The carapace, the hard upper part of the cephalothorax, is moderately high and brown with wide streaks along the sides made of white hairs. The eye field is darker, nearly black, with two white stripes and fawn scales and brown bristles around some of the eyes themselves. The underside of the cephalothorax, or sternum, is a lighter brown. The spider's face, or clypeus, is brown. The chelicerae has two teeth to the front and one to the back, while the remainder of the mouthparts, including the labium, are light brown.^[15]

The spider's abdomen measures 1.4 mm (0.06 in) in length and 1.1 mm (0.04 in) in width.^[6] The topside is yellowish with a brown strip down the middle and a covering of brown and greyish hairs. There are vague greyish patches on the sides while the underside is yellowish. The spider has brown book lung covers and light yellow spinnerets. The legs are light brown with lights hairs and very long spines,. The pedipalps brownish with a covering of dark hairs, with white hairs on some of the small segments.^[15]

The spider has distinctive copulatory organs. Only the male has been described, but this is sufficient to be able to show how the species differs from other Euophrys spiders.^[1] The palpal bulb is unusually shaped with a pronounced angular bulge to the bottom and a very thin wiry embolus sprouting from near the top. The embolus follows a distinctive spiral path that loops back to the bulb and loops back to follow and ultimately pass over and around the cymbium. The palpal tibia is small with a complex of angular protrusions and a relatively blunt spike, or tibial apophysis, although it has a more pointed end..^[16][17] The palpal bulb is similar to Euophrys gracilis but has a smaller palpal bulb and a shorter thinner embolus.^[18]

Euophrys spiders live across the world, although those found in North America may have been accidentally introduced by humans and those in Central and South America misidentifications.^[19][20] In Africa, they are mainly found in the southern part of the continent.^[21] Euophrys griswaldi is endemic to South Africa.^[1][22] It has been only found in the province of Limpopo. The male holotype was discovered in 2012 in the Magoebaskloof at an altitude of 1,190 m (3,900 ft) above sea level. It was found in leaf litter.^[18] Like many species in the genus, it thrives in montane forest.^[23]