Thiratoscirtus gambari

Thiratoscirtus gambari is a medium-sized spider with unique physical features. The spider's body is divided into two main parts: the cephalothorax, which is ovoid, and the abdomen, which is a long and thin oval.^[12] Males of this species have a cephalothorax measuring between 3.4 and 4.7 mm (0.13 and 0.19 in) in length and 2.4 and 3.5 mm (0.09 and 0.14 in) in width. The carapace, the hard upper part of the cephalothorax, is a moderately high oval. It is generally brown with a covering of brown hairs and white hairs in the centre that cover its depression, or fovea. The spider's eye field is short and dark brown with brown hairs, amongst which are scattered longer bristles. Its eyes are surrounded by long bristles, and occasionally white hairs. The underside of the cephalothorax, or sternum, is brownish-orange with slightly darker sides. The spider's face, known as the clypeus, is very low and light brown.^[11]

The spider has robust chelicerae, which have three teeth, the one at the rear being particularly large, and a short stout fang. The fang is unusual in having small angular features near its base.^[13] Its other mouthparts include a dark brown labium. The spider's abdomen is an elongated ovoid that measures between 3.2 and 4.4 mm (0.13 and 0.17 in) in length and 1.8 and 2.3 mm (0.07 and 0.09 in) in width. The upperside is brownish-grey with a white streak to the front, a thin band that cuts across it from left to right about two-thirds down its length and indistinct spots towards the rear. There are a scattering of colourless hairs and longer bristles visible on it. In most of the examples found, the underside is a contrasting yellow, with a hint of grey, and four lines formed of light spots. In some, it is darker and closer to the sternum. The spider's spinnerets are brownish with yellow tips and its legs are yellow to brown with brown rings, leg hairs and spines. The forward pair are longer and darker than the rest. The pedipalps, sensory organs near the mouth, are brown and hairy.^[11]

The spider has particularly unusual copulatory organs. The male has a relatively wide club-like protrusion on its palpal tibia, or tibial apophysis. It has a narrow cymbium that has small wing-like protuberances near its base and a shape that curves around the palpal bulb. The bulb itself is small with a large lobe and a top that curves into the cymbium. A long thin embolus is attached to its top that curves following the edge of the cymbium.^[13] It resembles the related Thiratoscirtus minimus, although the tibial apophysis is larger.^[14] Only the male has been identified.^[1] Some female examples found near the males had been identified as members of the species, but these have been subsequently been allocated to the species Lictor pavidus.^[15]

Thiratoscirtus spiders generally live in Africa and are particularly common in the forests of Central and West Africa.^[3] Thiratoscirtus gambari is endemic to Nigeria. The male holotype was found in the Gambari Forest Reserve south of Ibadan, in 1974. Other examples have been found nearby.^[11] Some spiders in Ivory Coast had also been identified as members of the species.^[16] These are now allocated to Lictor pavidus.^[15] The spider thrives in forests. Some examples were found near water, whether streams or rivers. Others live in fallow bush and secondary forest.^[11]