Menemerus niangbo

Menemerus niangbo is a medium-sized spider with unique physical features. The spider's body is divided into two main parts: the cephalothorax, which measures typically 2.6 mm (0.10 in) long and 1.7 mm (0.07 in) wide, and the abdomen, which measures 2.9 mm (0.11 in) long and 2.2 mm (0.09 in) wide. Females of this species have a pear-shaped flattened carapace, the hard upper part of the cephalothorax, that is brown with covered in dense brown hair. There is a black line on the sides. The eye field is black with some light bristles visible near the eyes. The underside, or sternum, is brown, as is the spider's face or clypeus. The mouthparts, the chelicerae, labium and maxilae. are also brown but there are white fringes to the labium and maxilae.^[3] In contrast to the carapace, the abdomen is dark grey on top with a pattern of lighter spots that is mirrored left to right. The patches are less distinct and darker in the middle.^[13] It is covered in dense brown hairs. The underside is yellowish with a broad grey stripe running across the middle. The spider's spinnerets are grey while the legs are brownish-grey with rings that are lighter and brown hairs.^[3] The male has not been described.^[1]

Spiders of the Menemerus genus are difficult to distinguish without a study of the copulatory organs.^[14] The spider's epigyne is particularly characteristic. It has a large entrances which are framed by bowl-like structures, which is similar to Menemerus carlini, but can be distinguished by the existence of twin pockets in the epigastric fold, which is found at the back of epigyne separating it from the rest abdomen. Internally, the copulatory openings lead to relatively narrow and looped insemination ducts that are connected to long accessory glands and bean-shaped spermathecae.^[13]

Menemerus spiders are found throughout Africa and Asia, and have been identified as far as Latin America.^[15] Menemerus niangbo is endemic to Ivory Coast.^[1] The holotype was found on Mount Niangbo in 1975. It is recorded by Jean-Claude Ledoux as being found at the summit of the mountain in alpine grass. The species thrives in montane grasslands and shrublands.^[3]