Cispius (spider)

Cispius
C. kimbius in Pretoria
female C. variegatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Pisauridae
Genus: Cispius
Simon, 1898[1]
Type species
C. variegatus
Simon, 1898
Species

9, see text

Cispius is a genus of African nursery web spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1898.[2]

Distribution

All species are found in Africa, from South Africa up to Tanzania and Ivory Coast.[1]

Description

Cispius species have a total size of 7 to 8 mm. The carapace is slightly longer than wide and narrower in the eye region. The eyes are arranged in two rows, with the anterior row more or less recurved. The anterior eyes are smaller than the posterior eyes. Most species have three cheliceral teeth. The abdomen is oval and decorated with patterns. The legs are strong and frequently banded.[3]

Taxonomy

The genus Cispius was described by Simon in 1898 and has been revised by Blandin (1987). Blandin remarked that Charminus and Cispius are morphologically very similar.[3]

Species

As of October 2025, this genus includes nine species:[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Genus Cispius". World Spider Catalog. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  2. ^ Simon, E. (1898). "Descriptions d'arachnides nouveaux des familles des Agelenidae, Pisauridae, Lycosidae et Oxyopidae". Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique. 42: 5–34.
  3. ^ a b Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Pisauridae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 19. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7157775. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.