Afraflacilla-grayorum-whyte-A Field Guide to Spiders of Australia

''Afraflacilla'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of the

spider Spiders ( order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species ...

family

Salticidae Jumping spiders are a group of spiders that constitute the family Salticidae. As of 2019, this family contained over 600 described genera and over 6,000 described species, making it the largest family of spiders at 13% of all species. Jumping spi ...

(jumping spiders). Most species are distributed in Eastern to Northern

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

(including the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...

) and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, with two species (''A. epiblemoides and A. tarajalis'') found in

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

. This genus was for a time included in the genus ''

Pseudicius ''Pseudicius'' is a genus of the jumping spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1885. The name is combined of Greek ''pseudo'' "false" and the salticid genus name ''Icius''. The small genus '' Wesolowskana'' (formerly known as ''Luxuria'') sh ...

'', and the boundaries between both genera are disputed. In 2016 Jerzy Prószyński erected the genus ''Psenuc'' for some borderline species. The name ''Afraflacilla'' is combined from

, where most earlier described species were found, and ''Flacilla'' Simon, 1901, an obsolete salticid genus now called '' Flacillula'' Strand, 1932. This genus name is in turn derived from

Aelia Flaccilla Aelia Flavia Flaccilla (31 March 356 – 386), was a Roman empress and first wife of the Roman Emperor Theodosius I. She was of Hispanian Roman descent. During her marriage to Theodosius, she gave birth to two sons – future Emperors Arcadius ...

, wife of Roman Emperor

Theodosius I Theodosius I ( grc-gre, Θεοδόσιος ; 11 January 347 – 17 January 395), also called Theodosius the Great, was Roman emperor from 379 to 395. During his reign, he succeeded in a crucial war against the Goths, as well as in two ...

. ''Afraflacilla'', ''

'', '' Festucula'' and ''

Marchena ''Marchena'' is a genus of jumping spiders only found in the United States. Its only described species, ''M. minuta'', dwells on the barks of conifers along the west coast, especially California, Washington and Nevada.Maddison, Wayne. 1995. ...

'' are close relatives and form a

monophyletic In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic gro ...

group. Afraflacilla species have tubercles and bristles (on the sides of the carapace near the eyes and on their legs) which they rub together to make sounds used in courtship and possibly defence. The line of small tubercles (sharp knobs) under the eyes on the side of the carapace are usually visible to the naked eye.

''Afraflacilla'' in Australia

''Afraflacilla'' species in Australia include ''A. grayorum, A. gunbar'', ''A.'' ''huntorum'', ''A.'' ''milledgei'', ''A.'' ''stridulator'', ''A.'' ''vestjensi'' and ''A.'' ''yeni''. In Australia they occupy tree trunks in deserts, savanna woodland and in open

sclerophyll Sclerophyll is a type of vegetation that is adapted to long periods of dryness and heat. The plants feature hard leaf, leaves, short Internode (botany), internodes (the distance between leaves along the stem) and leaf orientation which is paral ...

forests from south west Western Australia to Cape York Queensland, mostly in warmer regions. There are many undescribed Australian species. ''Afraflacilla grayorum'' Grays' stridulating jumping spider, found in northern Australian deserts, was named in honour of Michael and Greta Gray. The male palpal organ of many Australian ''Afraflacilla'' species has a large, circling embolus (inseminating sclerite) and retro-lateral tibial apophysis (side spike). Some undescribed Australian ''Afraflacilla'' species have greatly enlarged segments of the first pair of legs, and sometimes massive spurs coming from underneath the tibia and metatarsus (third and second last leg segments). Enlarged leg-one segments are also a feature of ''

'', a genus widespread outside Australia.

Species

Afraflacilla-palps-whyte-A-Field-Guide-to-Spiders-of-Australia

, the

World Spider Catalog The World Spider Catalog (WSC) is an online searchable database concerned with spider taxonomy. It aims to list all accepted families, genera and species, as well as provide access to the related taxonomic literature. The WSC began as a series of ...

accepted the following species: * '' Afraflacilla altera'' (Wesołowska, 2000) –

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

* '' Afraflacilla antineae'' (Denis, 1954) –

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

* '' Afraflacilla arabica'' Wesołowska & van Harten, 1994 –

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...

Yemen Yemen (; ar, ٱلْيَمَن, al-Yaman), officially the Republic of Yemen,, ) is a country in Western Asia. It is situated on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, and borders Saudi Arabia to the Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, north and ...

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...

* '' Afraflacilla asorotica'' (Simon, 1890) –

Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the A ...

Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...

, Yemen * '' Afraflacilla ballarini'' Cao & Li, 2016 –

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...

* '' Afraflacilla bamakoi'' Berland & Millot, 1941 –

Mali Mali (; ), officially the Republic of Mali,, , ff, 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞥆𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭, Renndaandi Maali, italics=no, ar, جمهورية مالي, Jumhūriyyāt Mālī is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mali ...

* '' Afraflacilla banni'' Prajapati, Tatu & Kamboj, 2021 –

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

* '' Afraflacilla berlandi'' Denis, 1955 –

Libya Libya (; ar, ليبيا, Lībiyā), officially the State of Libya ( ar, دولة ليبيا, Dawlat Lībiyā), is a country in the Maghreb region in North Africa. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to Egypt–Libya bo ...

* '' Afraflacilla bipunctata'' (G. W. Peckham & E. G. Peckham, 1903) – South Africa * '' Afraflacilla braunsi'' (G. W. Peckham & E. G. Peckham, 1903) – South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Yemen,

United Arab Emirates The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...

Turkmenistan Turkmenistan ( or ; tk, Türkmenistan / Түркменистан, ) is a country located in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the sout ...

* '' Afraflacilla datuntata'' (Logunov & Zamanpoore, 2005) – Afghanistan * '' Afraflacilla elegans'' (Wesołowska & Cumming, 2008) - Zimbabwe, South Africa * '' Afraflacilla epiblemoides'' (Chyzer, 1891) –

Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

Eastern Europe Eastern Europe is a subregion of the Europe, European continent. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic connotations. The vast majority of the region is covered by Russ ...

Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...

Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...

* '' Afraflacilla eximia'' (Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000) –

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands and ...

* '' Afraflacilla fayda'' (Wesołowska & van Harten, 2010) – United Arab Emirates * '' Afraflacilla flavipes'' (Caporiacco, 1935) – Turkmenistan,

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

* '' Afraflacilla grayorum'' Żabka, 1993 –

Western Australia Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

* '' Afraflacilla gunbar'' Żabka & Gray, 2002 –

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

* '' Afraflacilla histrionica'' (Simon, 1902) – South Africa * '' Afraflacilla huntorum'' Żabka, 1993 – Western Australia,

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

* '' Afraflacilla imitator'' (Wesołowska & Haddad, 2013) – South Africa * '' Afraflacilla javanica'' (Prószyński & Deeleman-Reinhold, 2012) –

Java Java (; id, Jawa, ; jv, ꦗꦮ; su, ) is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea to the north. With a population of 151.6 million people, Java is the world's List ...

* '' Afraflacilla karinae'' (Haddad & Wesołowska, 2011) – South Africa * '' Afraflacilla kraussi'' (Marples, 1964) – Marshall Is., Cook Is.,

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands (Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands (Manono Island, Manono an ...

* '' Afraflacilla mikhailovi'' (Prószyński, 2000) – Israel * '' Afraflacilla mushrif'' (Wesołowska & van Harten, 2010) – Israel * '' Afraflacilla philippinensis'' (Prószyński, 1992) –

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

* '' Afraflacilla refulgens'' (Wesołowska & Cumming, 2008) – Zimbabwe * '' Afraflacilla reiskindi'' (Prószyński, 1992) –

Borneo Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and eas ...

* '' Afraflacilla risbeci'' Berland & Millot, 1941 –

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 � ...

* '' Afraflacilla roberti'' (Wesołowska, 2011) –

Kenya ) , national_anthem = "Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

* '' Afraflacilla scenica'' Denis, 1955 –

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesAfraflacilla similis'' Berland & Millot, 1941 – Senegal * '' Afraflacilla spiniger'' (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) – Egypt to

South Sudan South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the C ...

* '' Afraflacilla stridulator'' Żabka, 1993 – Western Australia * '' Afraflacilla tamaricis'' (Simon, 1885) –

North Africa North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...

, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Yemen * '' Afraflacilla tarajalis'' Miñano & Tamajón, 2017 –

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic ( pt, República Portuguesa, links=yes ), is a country whose mainland is located on the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, and whose territory also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of ...

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to ...

* '' Afraflacilla venustula'' (Wesołowska & Haddad, 2009) – South Africa * '' Afraflacilla vestjensi'' Żabka, 1993 –

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...

* '' Afraflacilla wadis'' (Prószyński, 1989) – Saudi Arabia, Israel, Yemen * '' Afraflacilla yeni'' Żabka, 1993 – Victoria * '' Afraflacilla zuluensis'' (Haddad & Wesołowska, 2013) – South Africa

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q117705 Salticidae Salticidae genera Taxa named by Lucien Berland Spiders of Africa Spiders of Asia Spiders of Australia