Firmicus (spider)


Firmicus is a genus of crab spiders that was first described by Eugène Simon in 1895.

Distribution

Species in this genus are mainly found in Africa. One species is endemic to Vietnam, and another reaches into Spain and France from Algeria. F. dewitzi is found from Egypt to Iran.

Life style

Firmicus are free-living plant dwellers more commonly found on trees.

Description

Females and males are 4 to 6 mm in total length, with males only slightly smaller.
This genus can be recognised by their flattened body that is frequently elongated. The carapace is flattened and narrower in the eye region. The tubercles of anterior lateral eyes are shallow and clearly larger than posterior lateral eye tubercles. The anterior lateral eyes are larger than the other eyes. The anterior eye row is straight with the eyes equidistantly spaced while the posterior eye row is recurved. The posterior median eyes are distinctly closer to each other than to posterior lateral eyes.
The abdomen is flattened and slightly elongated. Legs I and II are long, thick and spinous.

Species

, this genus includes seventeen species and two subspecies:Firmicus abnormis – South AfricaFirmicus arushae Caporiacco, 1947 – TanzaniaFirmicus aurantipes Jézéquel, 1966 – Ivory CoastFirmicus biguttatus Caporiacco, 1940 – EthiopiaFirmicus bimaculatus – MadagascarFirmicus bipunctatus Caporiacco, 1941 – Ethiopia, Sudan, Cameroon, DR Congo, Angola, Mozambique, South AfricaFirmicus bivittatus Simon, 1895 – Spain, France, AlgeriaFirmicus bragantinus – Sudan, DR Congo, Angola, Mozambique, South Africa Firmicus campestratus Simon, 1907 – Gabon, DR Congo
  • * F. c. faradjensis – DR Congo
  • * F. c. ogoueensis Simon, 1907 – GabonFirmicus dewitzi Simon, 1899 – Egypt, Israel, IranFirmicus duriusculus Simon, 1903 – VietnamFirmicus haywoodae Jézéquel, 1964 – Ivory CoastFirmicus insularis – SeychellesFirmicus lentiginosus – DR Congo, near Zambezi River Firmicus paecilipes Caporiacco, 1940 – EthiopiaFirmicus strandi Caporiacco, 1947 – TanzaniaFirmicus werneri Simon, 1906 – Uganda
In synonymy:
  • F. marginatus Simon, 1897 = ''Firmicus insularis''