Salsa is an Australasian genus of orb-weaver spiders.[1][2]
| Salsa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Salsa fuliginata | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Araneidae |
| Genus: | Salsa Framenau & Castanheira, 2022 |
| Type species | |
| Epeira fuliginata L. Koch, 1872
| |
Description
editSpiders of this genus have total length 3.2-6.1 mm (males) or 6.5–10.5 mm (females). The carapace ranges in colour from yellowish brown to reddish brown, and is normally covered with yellowish white setae. The dorsal surface of the abdomen is pale brown to beige and has a variable darker folium (leaf-like) pattern. The ventral surface is variable but is usually darkest in the middle and has lateral pale bands that may be elongate, ovoid, or spindle-like in shape.[2]
Salsa can be distinguished from similar spider genera by the abdomen having a single posterior tubercle and ventral pale bands. In males, the pedipalp has a C-shaped median apophysis and teeth-like tubercles inside its basal arch. In females, the epigyne has a transparent scape that is generally shorter than the epigyne plate.[2]
Habitat
editSalsa occur in a range of different habitats, including forests (rainforests, dry sclerophyll and open forest), lagoon vegetation, swamps and gardens.[2]
Species
editMany of these species were previously assigned to other genera, such as Araneus, Cyclosa or Epeira.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "NMBE - World Spider Catalog". wsc.nmbe.ch. Retrieved 2023-01-12.
- ^ a b c d Framenau, Volker W.; Castanheira, Pedro de S. (2022-05-20). "Revision of the new Australasian orb-weaving spider genus Salsa (Araneae, Araneidae)". ZooKeys (1102): 107–148. doi:10.3897/zookeys.1102.82388. ISSN 1313-2970. PMC 9848856. PMID 36761153.