Eleleis


Eleleis is a genus of spiders in the family Prodidominae. It was first described by Eugène Simon in 1893, and is only found in southern Africa.

Description

Species in the genus Eleleis have a total length of 1.98–3.72 mm in females and 1.72–3.90 mm in males. The carapace is longer than wide, slightly narrow at the cephalic region, and almost oval. The fovea is absent to very long and oblique, with clavate setae present on the thoracic area. Eight eyes are present with the posterior eye row strongly procurved and the anterior eye row approximately straight.
The sternum is longer than wide with an anterior margin that is straight and rebordered anteriorly and laterally. The posterior region strongly protrudes between coxae IV with numerous long and erect setae. The abdomen is oval and longer than wide, with the posterior region having large and robust clavate setae. Scales are absent but large and robust clavate setae are present on the posterior region of the abdomen.
Six spinnerets are present, with anterior lateral spinnerets longer than wide and separated from each other by less than their diameter. The legs have clavate setae resembling spines with a leg formula of 4123.

Species

it contains nine species:Eleleis crinita Simon, 1893 – South Africa Eleleis etosha Rodrigues & Rheims, 2020 – NamibiaEleleis haddadi Rodrigues & Rheims, 2020 – South AfricaEleleis himba Rodrigues & Rheims, 2020 – NamibiaEleleis leleupi Rodrigues & Rheims, 2020 – South AfricaEleleis limpopo Rodrigues & Rheims, 2020 – Zambia, South AfricaEleleis luderitz Rodrigues & Rheims, 2020 – Cabo Verde, NamibiaEleleis okavango Rodrigues & Rheims, 2020 – Namibia, BotswanaEleleis solitaria Rodrigues & Rheims, 2020 – Cape Verde