Rhene timidus is a species of jumping spider in the genus Rhene that lives in South Africa. Only the female has been described, in 2013. The spider is typical of the genus, but larger than Rhene facilis, with a relatively large abdomen measuring 3.5 mm (0.14 in) in length. It has a distinctive epigyne featuring spiralling ridges.

Rhene timidus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Salticidae
Subfamily: Salticinae
Genus: Rhene
Species:
R. timidus
Binomial name
Rhene timidus
Wesołowska & Haddad, 2013

Taxonomy

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Rhene timidus was first identified by Wanda Wesołowska and Charles Haddad in 2013.[1] It was allocated to the genus Rhene, which is named after the Greek female name, shared by mythological figures.[2] The genus is part of the subtribe Dendryphantina in the tribe Dendryphantini, and is related to the genera Dendryphantes and Macaroeris.[3] The species name means cautious and is in reference to the very delicate sclerotization of the epigyne.[4]

Description

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Only the female of Rhene timidus has been described. It is a small spider, typical for the genus, but larger than the similar Rhene facilis. The cephalothorax is 2.4 mm (0.094 in) long and 2.5 mm (0.098 in) wide. The carapace is brown, broadened and covered with small white hairs. The abdomen is larger, 3.5 mm (0.14 in) long and 2.8 mm (0.11 in) wide, and lighter in colour. The clypeus is very low and dark.[4] The epigyne is distinctive, with spiralling sclerotized ridges around the copulatory openings.[5] It is similar to the related Rhene ferkensis found in Ivory Coast but differs by having longer seminal ducts and the ridges surround the copulatory openings.[6]

Distribution

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The spider has been only identified at one location, in the Amathole Mountains, East Cape, South Africa.[1][5]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ a b World Spider Catalog (2017). "Rhene timidus Wesolowska & Haddad, 2013". World Spider Catalog. 18.0. Bern: Natural History Museum. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  2. ^ Thorell 1869, p. 37.
  3. ^ Maddison 2015, p. 245.
  4. ^ a b Wesołowska & Haddad 2013, p. 226.
  5. ^ a b Wesołowska & Haddad 2013, p. 227.
  6. ^ Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2022, p. 100.

Bibliography

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