Colonus pallidus
Colonus pallidus is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. It is found throughout Central and South America.
Etymology
The specific name pallidus is derived from Latin meaning "pale", referring to the spider's coloration.Distribution
C. pallidus has been recorded from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Colombia, Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.Description
Colonus pallidus is a small jumping spider with a body length of approximately 3-5 mm.Females
Females show some variation in coloration. One form described by Holmberg has a totally black head dorsally, featuring a five-rayed star of almost white color that divides the head into five parts. The opisthosoma displays a double longitudinal row of dark stripes directed obliquely outward and backward.Males
Males have a reddish-brown cephalothorax with black eyes positioned in a darker shadow. They display yellowish-white scales, particularly covering the sides, with exposed areas being strongly glossy. The chelicerae are somewhat hidden under the head and dark rust-brown in color. The pedipalps are ochre-yellow with the terminal segment being somewhat darker, and the genitalia are blackish-brown.The cephalothorax is broad and high, with the thoracic region narrowed posteriorly and strongly roof-shaped. The opisthosoma is thin, long, and cone-shaped at the posterior end.
The opisthosoma is beautifully olive-yellow with two longitudinal stripes extending over the sides that are bright yellowish-white. On the posterior half, there is a row of black dots, with two of these extending further inward. The ventral surface is bright yellow with a whitish coating on both sides and a bright yellowish-white longitudinal stripe.
The legs are yellow, with the femora of the four anterior legs being brown at the tips. The knees and tibiae have a rust-brown coating, while the tarsal tips are finely black.