Brancus mustelus (Simon, 1902) Wesołowska & Haddad, 2013

Wesołowska, Wanda & Haddad, Charles R., 2013, New data on the jumping spiders of South Africa (Araneae: Salticidae), African Invertebrates 54 (1), pp. 177-177 : 188

Brancus mustelus (Simon, 1902) , comb. n.

Viciria mustela: Simon 1902: 48 ; 1903: 743, figs 885, 886; Lessert 1936: 297, figs 94, 95.

Viciria morigera: Peckham & Peckham 1903: 232 , pl. 26, fig. 6.

Viciria parmata: Peckham & Peckham 1903: 234 , pl. 26, fig. 5.

Evarcha mustela: Wesołowska & Cumming 2008: 176 , figs 24–32; Wesołowska & Haddad 2009: 33 .

Wesołowska & Cumming (2008) described both sexes.

Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: 1♀ Idutywa, Dweza Forest Rest Camp [32°16'S 28°50'E], 20.xii.1980, P.G. Hawkes ( NMSA, 26459); 1♀ Kei Mouth, 32°41.206'S 28°22.497'E, coastal dune forest, beats, 8.xii.2005, C. Haddad ( NMBA) . KwaZulu­Natal: 1♂ Zululand, “Cascades” Farm, 10 km W of Eshowe, Kloof forest , 28°50'S 31°25'E, 520 m, 8.xi.1983, B. Digby ( NMSA, 26485) .

Distribution: Distributed in western and southern Africa; in South Africa only hitherto known from KwaZulu-Natal Province, recorded here from the Eastern Cape for the first time ( Fig. 49).

Remarks: This species was originally described in Viciria Thorell, 1877 and then provisionally included in Evarcha Simon, 1902 by Wesołowska and Cumming (2008), but is closely related to members of Brancus Simon, 1902 . It has a slender body with a slightly pear-shaped carapace, elongated narrow abdomen and long legs. The colouration of the female is pale with a contrasting pattern (transverse bands on abdomen and characteristic tear-shaped spots in the foveal area), consistent with other Brancus (see Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2011 and Wesołowska & Edwards 2012). The structure of the female genitalia is typical for Brancus (see Wesołowska & Cumming 2008: figs 30– 32: sub. Evarcha m.).