Stephanopoides simoni

Stephanopoides simoni is distributed across much of tropical South America and extends into Central America. It has been recorded from Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Guyana, and Brazil.^[1] Historical records include specimens from the Brazilian states of Pará and Amazonas, including localities such as Tefé, São Paulo de Olivença, and Tabatinga, as well as Peruvian locations including Pebas and Iquitos.^[6]

Stephanopoides simoni shows typical sexual dimorphism common in crab spiders.^[6] Females are larger, measuring 8.0 to 12.0 mm in body length. The dorsal surface of the abdomen is greyish with an inverted U-shaped marking at the front, from which oblique bands extend to two posterior fulvous (orange-brown) spots. Behind this U-marking are two large white triangular patches separated by a broad dark band that narrows posteriorly.^[6]

Males are considerably smaller, measuring 5.0 to 6.0 mm in body length. The cephalothorax and chelicerae are dark, similar to the first two pairs of legs, though these have yellow tarsi and a yellow ring around the middle third of the tibiae. The posterior legs are yellow. The abdominal pattern is similar to that of females but includes six fulvous spots arranged in a rectangular pattern that is much wider than it is long.^[6]