Rhene flavicomans
| Wasp-mimic jumping spider | |
|---|---|
| male from India | |
| female from Hong Kong | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Salticidae |
| Genus: | Rhene |
| Species: | R. flavicomans
|
| Binomial name | |
| Rhene flavicomans | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Rhene flavicomans, known as the wasp-mimic jumping spider,[2] is a species of spider in the genus Rhene. It is found in Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.[1]
Taxonomy
Rhene flavicomans was first described by Eugène Simon in 1902 based on a male specimen.[3] The species was later redescribed by Prószyński in 1984, who provided detailed diagnostic drawings and first described the female.[4]
In 1991, Song and Chai described Rhene biembolusa from Hainan, China.[5] This species was later synonymized with R. flavicomans by Caleb et al. in 2022, who demonstrated that R. biembolusa represented the same taxon.[6]
Description
Rhene flavicomans exhibits sexual dimorphism typical of jumping spiders. Males measure 4.76–5.90 mm in body length, while females are slightly smaller at 3.40–5.00 mm.[7]
The cephalothorax is described as dark brown with a glossy appearance, covered with yellowish setae. The eye arrangement follows the typical salticid pattern, with the anterior median eyes being the largest. The abdomen is oval-shaped with distinctive coloration patterns that vary between sexes.[7]
The male of the species shows adaptations has a wasp-mimicking pattern, which may provide Batesian mimicry protection from predators.
Distribution
R. flavicomans has a broad distribution across South and Southeast Asia. The species has been recorded from Bhutan, China (including Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Yunnan provinces), India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.[1] This wide distribution suggests the species is well-adapted to various tropical and subtropical habitats across the region.
Type specimens
The holotype male is deposited in the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle (MNHN) in Paris, France. Additional type material from the synonymized R. biembolusa is housed in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IZCAS) in Beijing, China.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d "Rhene flavicomans Simon, 1902". World Spider Catalog. Archived from the original on 12 January 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
- ^ "Wasp Mimic Jumping Spider". Project Noah. Archived from the original on 24 June 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
- ^ Simon, E. (1902). "Description d'arachnides nouveaux de la famille des Salticidae (Attidae) (suite)". Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique. 46: 24–56, 363–406.
- ^ Prószyński, J. (1984). "Atlas rysunków diagnostycznych mniej znanych Salticidae (Araneae)". Zeszyty Naukowe Wyższej Szkoły Rolniczo-Pedagogicznej w Siedlcach. 2: 1–177.
- ^ Song, D. X.; Chai, J. Y. (1991). "New species and new records of the family Salticidae from Hainan, China (Arachnida: Araneae)". In Qian, Y. W. (ed.). Animal Science Research. Beijing: China Forestry Publishing House. pp. 13–30.
- ^ Caleb, J. T. D.; Sanap, R. V.; Tripathi, R.; Sampathkumar, M.; Dharmara, J.; Packiam, S. M. (2022). "Taxonomic notes on some South and Southeast Asian members of the genus Rhene Thorell, 1869 (Aranei, Salticidae, Dendryphantini)". Zootaxa. 5125 (4): 389–407. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5125.4.3. PMID 36101207.
- ^ a b Peng, X. J.; Xie, L. P.; Kim, J. P. (1994). "Descriptions of three species of genera Dendryphantes and Rhene from China (Araneae: Salticidae)". Korean Arachnology. 10: 31–36.