Thomisus granulatus
Thomisus granulatus is a species of crab spider in the family Thomisidae. It is commonly known as the hairy Thomisus crab spider and is native to southern and eastern Africa.
Etymology
The specific epithet granulatus is derived from Latin granulum, meaning "small grain", referring to the granular or textured appearance of the spider's surface.Distribution
Thomisus granulatus has been recorded from six African countries: Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, and Eswatini. In South Africa, the species is found across six provinces, at elevations ranging from 4 to 1,842 metres above sea level.Within South Africa, the species has been documented from numerous locations including the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and the Western Cape. It has been recorded from various protected areas including Kruger National Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and several nature reserves.
Habitat
Thomisus granulatus is a free-living species found on plants and has been sampled from most floral biomes in South Africa, with the exception of the desert, Nama, and Succulent Karoo biomes. The species has also been documented in citrus orchards, indicating its adaptability to agricultural environments.Description
Thomisus granulatus exhibits the typical crab spider morphology with a flattened body and legs held in a crab-like posture. As the common name suggests, this species is characterized by its notably hairy appearance.Females are generally larger than males, as is typical for most spider species.
The species can be distinguished from other Thomisus species by specific morphological characteristics of both the male palp and female epigyne, though detailed identification typically requires microscopic examination.