Tmarus foliatus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Short bum Tmarus crab spider | |
|---|---|
 | |
| female | |
 | |
| juvenile male | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Thomisidae |
| Genus: | Tmarus |
| Species: | T. foliatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Tmarus foliatus Lessert, 1928 | |
Tmarus foliatus is a species of crab spider in the family Thomisidae. It is widely distributed across Africa, from Senegal in the west to South Africa in the south.[1] The species is commonly known as the short bum Tmarus crab spider due to its distinctive opisthosoma shape.[2]
The specific name is from Latin foliatus "leafy, having leaves", referring to the spider's "folium", a broad leaf-like marking along the medial line of the top of the abdomen.
Distribution
Tmarus foliatus has been recorded from nine African countries: Senegal, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, South Africa, and the Comoros.[1] In South Africa, the species is found across eight provinces and is considered of Least Concern conservation status.[2]
Habitat
The species is free-living on plants and is usually found on trees. It has been sampled from various biomes including Fynbos, Forest, Grassland, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, and Savanna, as well as in sugar cane fields.[2] Adults have been collected from grass, sugar cane, and soil, particularly during June to December on Grande Comore Island.[3]
Description
female
female
juvenile male
juvenile male
Female
Females have a total length of 3.7–4.0 mm with a cephalothorax length of 1.3–1.8 mm. The carapace is fawn-colored with black tinting and features two brown submarginal lines, while the chelicerae are fawn-colored. The opisthosoma is pinkish white and ornamentally decorated with a tan folium that is punctuated with brown markings, occupying almost the entire dorsal area.[3]
The carapace is longer than wide with lateral sides that are almost parallel. Both eye rows are recurved, with the median eyes smaller than the lateral eyes. The chelicerae, clypeus, and carapace are equipped with strong spine-like setae. A distinctive feature of the species is the abdominal tubercle, which when viewed in profile shows the abdomen is truncated posteriorly with a blunt projection situated well above the spinnerets. The abdomen is dorsally folium-shaped with angular scallops along the edge, each scallop bearing a small tubercle with a strong seta.[3]
The epigyne is not very distinct, and the spermathecae are sclerotized and visible externally, though difficult to distinguish from the epigynum.[3]
Male
Males are slightly smaller than females, with a total length of 3.6–3.8 mm and cephalothorax length of 1.4–1.5 mm. Males are morphologically very similar to females in coloration and general appearance. The male pedipalp features a thin embolus and a hook-like tibial apophysis. The tegulum has an apophysis that is more centrally situated and directed retrolaterally, distinguishing it from related species such as T. africanus.[3]
