Pellenes cingulatus

Pellenes cingulatus is a hairy medium-sized spider.^[13] It has a body is divided into two main parts: a cephalothorax and an abdomen. The male has a carapace, the hard upper part of the cephalothorax, that is typically 1.9 mm (0.07 in) in length and 1.6 mm (0.06 in) in width.^[14] It is dark brown and covered short greyish hairs. The eye field is lighter with an orange area and brown bristles around the eyes themselves. The underside, or sternum, is brown. White hairs cover the clypeus. The chelicerae are brown and have white hairs at the bottom while the brown labium and maxillae have pale margins.^[15]

The male has an abdomen that is typically 2 mm (0.08 in) in length and 1.6 mm in width.^[14] It is brown and hairy with a marking of two white streaks crossing the middle and a stripe down the middle at the back. The underside is plain. The spider's spinnerets are similar, although the forward ones are lighter than those behind them. Its front legs are dark brown, the remainder orange, and all have brown leg hairs and spines. The third legs are the longest.^[15]

The spider's reproductive system is similar to others in the genus. It has orange pedipalps.^[15] The palpal bulb is a simple oval that has a narrow spike-like embolus projecting from it, which is accompanied by a thicker projection or apophysis that makes it look as if the spider has a double embolus. It projects slightly beyond the cymbium. The palpal tibia has a straight sharp apophysis that has a wide base and a slight curve to its end.^[14]

The female is similar in size to the male, with a carapace typically 1.8 mm (0.07 in) long and 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide and an abdomen typically 2.1 mm (0.08 in) long and 1.7 mm (0.07 in) wide.^[15] It is also similar in shape but is generally darker. Its abdomen is brown and has a different pattern to the male, consisting of two broad white stripes across the middle and three white patches near the spinnerets. As is typical for the genus, the epigyne has a pocket in the middle. The internal structure of the copulatory organs are, however, distinctive.^[15] The copulatory openings open to complex insemination ducts, with very visible accessory glands, that lead to multi-chambered spermathecae, or receptacles.^[14]

Pellenes spiders can be found across the Afrotropical, Holarctic and Indomalayan realms.^[16] Pellenes cingulatus is endemic to Tanzania.^[1] The holotype was found during 1996 living in Mkomazi National Park amongst bushland dominated by Commiphora trees. Other specimens have been collected in the local area.^[3]