Tmarus natalensis
Tmarus natalensis is a species of crab spider in the family Thomisidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it was first described from Amanzimtoti in KwaZulu-Natal.
Etymology
The species name natalensis refers to Natal, the former province of South Africa where the type specimen was collected.Distribution
Tmarus natalensis is widely distributed across South Africa, having been recorded from five provinces: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Western Cape, with records ranging from 4 to 1,345 metres above sea level.Specific localities include Amanzimtoti, Richards Bay, Port Elizabeth, Coffee Bay, and various nature reserves and protected areas.
Habitat
Tmarus natalensis is a free-living spider typically found on plants, usually sampled from trees. The species inhabits multiple biomes including Fynbos, Forest, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, Savanna, and Thicket biomes. It has also been recorded in agricultural settings, particularly macadamia nut orchards.Description
The female of Tmarus natalensis remains unknown, as the single female specimen mentioned in early literature was subsequently lost.The male has a total length of 5.5 mm, with a cephalothorax length of 2.5 mm and width of 2.2 mm.
The carapace coloration ranges from fawn to dark brown, while the opisthosoma is dark brown with a white ventral surface marked by a dark broad median line. The legs are fawn-colored with black mottling. The carapace is slightly longer than wide, with an almost straight anterior eye row and a recurved posterior eye row.