Epeus


Epeus is a genus of the spider family Salticidae. They are often found on broad-leaved plants or shrubs of rain forest, or in gardens of Southeast Asia.
The genus is similar to Plexippoides.

Description

Like most spiders, they exhibit sexual dimorphism. Females are 7–9 mm long, males 6–9 mm. They are long-legged with a long opisthosoma, and quite colorful. Males have a characteristic v-shaped crest of raised, long hairs on the head, resembling a mohawk.
E. glorius, described in 1985, has a pale orange carapace with a deep orange crest of hairs. The three rear eye pairs have black surrounds with white squamose hairs, the opisthosoma is pale yellow. The four frontal legs of the male are brown with yellowish tarsi at the end, the other four legs are light brown. The legs of the female are pale yellow with black tips.

Distribution

Members of this genus are distributed throughout southern Asia.

Name

The generic name is derived from Epeius of Greek mythology.

Species

, the World Spider Catalog accepts the following species:Epeus alboguttatusChina, Myanmar, VietnamEpeus albus Prószyński, 1992 – IndiaEpeus bicuspidatusChina, TaiwanEpeus chilapataensisIndiaEpeus daiqini Patoleta, Gardzińska & Żabka, 2020 – Thailand Epeus edwardsi Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 – PhilippinesEpeus exdomus Jastrzebski, 2010 – NepalEpeus flavobilineatusJavaEpeus furcatus Zhang, Song & Li, 2003SingaporeEpeus glorius Zabka, 1985 – China, Taiwan, VietnamEpeus guangxi Peng & Li, 2002 – China, TaiwanEpeus hawigalboguttatus Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 – PhilippinesEpeus indicus Prószyński, 1992 – IndiaEpeus mirusBorneoEpeus pallidus Patoleta, Gardzińska & Żabka, 2020 – ThailandEpeus sumatranus Prószyński & Deeleman-Reinhold, 2012 – Sumatra Epeus szirakii Patoleta, Gardzińska & Żabka, 2020 – Thailand Epeus tenerJavaEpeus triangulopalpis Malamel, Nafin, Sudhikumar & Sebastian, 2019 – India