Brancus Simon, 1902

Kanesharatnam, Nilani & Benjamin, Suresh P., 2018, A new genus and three new species of jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) from Sri Lanka, European Journal of Taxonomy 444, pp. 1-24 : 8-9

Genus Brancus Simon, 1902

Type species

Brancus muticus Simon, 1902 , by original designation.

Diagnosis

Body with slightly oval or pear-shaped prosoma and elongated narrow abdomen. A pair of tear-shaped spots on the area of fovea (sometimes poorly visible in dark-coloured specimens) is also characteristic ( Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2011; Wesołowska & Haddad 2013). In most species, abdomen with contrasting pattern of transverse bands or median light band. Chelicerae unidentate. First two pairs of legs substantially stouter and longer than the rest, with numerous spines. Bulbus generally rounded and oval in some species ( Wesołowska & Edwards 2012), characterized by small, triangular flap. Thin and long embolus encircling bulbus partially or fully. Palpal tibia with short- or medium-sized apophysis. Epigyne with sclerotized egigynal grooves which are spiral, with strongly sclerotized flanges ( Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2011), sometimes partially divided by arches associated with the genital openings. CD simple, spermathecae oval or bent ( Prószyński 2016).

Distribution

These are the first records of the genus for Sri Lanka and India. Brancus was previously only known from Africa.