Hovops Benoit, 1968

Crews, Sarah C. & Harvey, Mark S., 2011, The spider family Selenopidae (Arachnida, Araneae) in Australasia and the Oriental Region, ZooKeys 99, pp. 1-104 : 14

Genus Hovops Benoit, 1968 Fig. 108

Hovops Benoit 1968: 117. Type species: Selenops pusillus Simon, 1887, by original designation.

Diagnosis.

Hovops can be easily separated from all other genera by having the ventral tibial and metatarsal spination 2-2, as well as iridescent scales on the cephalothorax and abdomen.

Description.

Cephalothorax: Carapace with dark marks contrasting with white setae, longer than wide in most specimens. Fovea short and broad. Setae variable, iridescent scales present on cephalothorax and abdomen, some setae long and thin, some short and stiff. AER straight, PER slightly recurved. AME notably larger than PME, double in certain species. Chelicerae slightly geniculate, robust, with 3 prolateral and 2 retrolateral teeth. Legs: Tibial and metatarsal ventral spination is 2-2. Tarsal scopulae absent. Female copulatory organs: Epigynum variable. Male copulatory organs: Palpal tibia with 2 tibial apophyses, larger one curved, smaller one bent or dilated at base.

Distribution.

Known only from Madagascar and the island of Réunion.

Composition.

There are currently six described species of Hovops : Hovops dufouri (Vinson, 1863), Hovops legrasi (Simon, 1887), Hovops madagascariensis (Vinson, 1863), Hovops mariensis (Strand, 1908), Hovops modestus (Lenz, 1886) and Hovops pusillus (Simon, 1887). This genus is in need of revision, as the newest species description is over 100 years old, with the other descriptions being 120-150 years old. The majority of species are described in separate publications and there are only two diagnostic drawings.