Tusitala barbata Peckham & Peckham, 1902

Wesolowska, Wanda & Haddad, Charles R., 2009, Jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) of the Ndumo Game Reserve, Maputaland, South Africa, African Invertebrates 50 (1), pp. 13-103 : 92-93

Tusitala barbata Peckham & Peckham, 1902

Figs 203, 204

Tusitala barbata: Peckham & Peckham 1902: 330 ; 1903: 243, pl. 28, fig. 2; Prószyński 1984: 149; Wesolowska & Russell-Smith 2000: 110, figs 307–309; Wesolowska & Cumming 2008: 222, figs 192–195.

Tusitala hirsuta: Peckham & Peckham 1902: 330 ; 1903: 244, pl. 28, fig. 3; Próchniewicz 1989: 225, figs 59–66.

Monclova brauni: Peckham & Peckham 1902: 331 .

Tusitala sansibarica: Strand 1908: 219 .

Tusitala emertoni: Lessert 1925 a: 514 , figs 98–100.

See Wesolowska & Cumming (2008) for description of both sexes.

Redescription:

Female.

Measurements: Carapace length 2.3–3.0, width 1.7–2.3, height 1.1–1.2.Abdomen length 2.4–4.1, width 1.6–3.2. Eye field length 1.4–1.5, anterior width 1.9–2.0, posterior width 2.1–2.2.

Carapace oval, high, brown, black in vicinity of eyes; dense white hairs on carapace, long brown bristles near eyes; clypeus clothed in white hairs. Chelicerae fissidentate; endites and labium brown with whitish tips; sternum brown. Abdomen ovoid, brown, with poorly defined lighter area medially; venter yellowish with grey streak; brown hairs cover abdomen; spinnerets yellow. Legs yellow, bearing brown spines and hairs. Epigyne rounded, copulatory openings placed anteriorly ( Fig. 203); seminal ducts spirally coiled, receptacles two-chambered ( Fig. 204).

Material examined: 1^Between Crocodile Farm and Main Camp, 26 ° 54.431'S: 32 ° 19.045'E, broadleaf woodland, beats, short shrubs, 4.vii.2000 (NMSA 21887); 2^Crocodile Farm, 26 ° 54.426'S: 32 ° 19.185'E, broadleaf woodland, beats, short bushes, 2.xii.2000 (NMBA 11605); 1^1 imm. Crocodile Farm, Pongola R. floodplain, 26 ° 54.426'S: 32 ° 19.185'E, A. xanthophloea bark, 8.vii.2004 (NCA 2008/616); 3^3 imm. same data but 20.vi.2005 (NCA 2008/626); 1^Eastern shore of Shokwe Pan, 26 ° 52.516'S: 32 ° 12.407'E, A. xanthophloea bark, 16.vi.2005 (NCA 2008/1857); 1^Fontana Camp, 26 ° 51.911'S: 32 ° 09.586'E, under A. xanthophloea bark, 3.vii.2003 (NMSA 21888); 1^Near Fontana Camp, Quarry, 26 ° 52.321'S: 32 ° 09.616'E, A. tortilis savannah, leaf litter, 27.vi.2003 (NMSA 21889); 1ơ 1^Main Camp, 26 ° 54.581'S: 32 ° 18.798'E, broadleaf woodland, leaf litter, 20.vi.2005 (NCA 2005/983); 1^Near Nyamiti Bird Hide, Pongola R. floodplain, Ezikebheni, 26 ° 53.362'S: 32 ° 18.892'E, leaf litter, 9.ii.2005 (NMSA 21890); 1ơ Southern shore of Hotwe Pan, 26 ° 52.730'S: 32 ° 18.452'E, A. xanthophloea bark, 10.vii.2004 (NCA 2008/637); 2^same data but 7.ii.2005 (NCA 2008/641); 1ơ same data but 22.vi.2005 (NCA 2008/648); 1^South-western shore of Banzi Pan, 26 ° 53.118'S: 32 ° 16.927'E, A. xanthophloea bark, 11.vii.2004 (NCA 2008/657); 1^same data but 5.ii.2005 (NCA 2008/661); 1ơ 1^same data but 23.i.2006 (NCA 2008/1846 & 2008/1849); 1^ 26 ° 51.908'S: 32 ° 14.458'E, subtropical bush, Mahemane thicket, beats, foliage, 2.xii.2000 (NMSA 21891). Distribution: Widely distributed in eastern and southern Africa.

Habitat and biology: This species was quite frequently collected from the foliage of herbaceous and woody plants in savannah habitats ( AS, BW and ST). Often collected from fever tree bark, although in low numbers.