Talaus limbatus
Talaus limbatus is a species of crab spider in the family Thomisidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is known only from the type locality at Makapan in Limpopo Province.
Taxonomy
Talaus limbatus was first described by Eugène Simon in 1895 based on a juvenile specimen. The species has been suggested to be possibly misplaced in the genus Talaus and requires taxonomic revision. The holotype is presumed to be deposited at the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris, France, as is typical for Simon's collections.Distribution and habitat
Talaus limbatus is known only from its type locality at Makapan in Limpopo Province, South Africa, at an elevation of 1433 meters above sea level. The species is a plant dweller and lives freely on vegetation.Description
As with other members of the genus Talaus, this species is a very small spider measuring less than 4 mm in total length. The cephalothorax is very high and as wide as long, with a truncated front and sloping posterior end. It has a shiny appearance with black eyes arranged in two rows - the front row is straight and broader than the curved back row. The opisthosoma is round and yellow with a white spot.The legs are almost equal in length and not particularly robust, with few bristles. The leg segments called tarsi are thin and shorter than the preceding metatarsi.
Only juvenile specimens are known, so the adult morphology and any differences between males and females remain unknown.