Borboropactus cinerascens
Litter Crab Spider
The body of a typical Borboropactus appears rough and warty, but a microscope will reveal that the body is covered by densely packed setae of different shapes and sizes, interspersed with bumps bearing many tiny peg- or blade-like outgrowths. In resting position, legs I and II are always directed forward. Legs I of Borboropactus are particularly long and robust, with some segments flat (rather than cylindrical), when viewed from above. Each femur I carries a couple of short spines on its side. From above this gives the impression that the spiders are knock-kneed. The tibiae and metatarsi of legs I and II are each armed with 3–5 pairs of strong spines ventrally. The cymbium (cover of the male palp) is covered with a dense and even layer of short hairs resembling a brush.
| Length | ♀ 9 mm; ♂ 6 mm. |
| Habitat | Among the litter layer of primary or mature secondary forests but they are sometimes seen at higher levels in the vegetation. |
| Biology | In the evening, the spider moves from its hiding place in forest litter to station itself at the foot of a small tree with its front legs outstretched, to intercept arthropods (including crickets) moving from the ground to the forest canopy. It can also walk underwater in forest streams, staying submerged for as long as 10 minutes. |
| Type Locality | Java, Indonesia. |
| Distribution | Indonesia (Sumatra, Java), Malaysia (Perak, Johor), Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore. |