Salticidae Epeus

Epeus sp. "Jade Legs Mohawk"

Jade Legs Mohawk Jumper

This is one of the two more common Epeus in Singapore, the other being E. sumatranus. The male appears superficially similar to Epeus B. with a pair of white patches between the PME and PLE, and a pair of longitudinal white lines sandwiching a brown posterior band on the dorsum. However, this species can be distinguished from Epeus sp. B and all other Epeus males in Singapore by the colouration (jade green) and translucence of the femora of all legs. It can also be recognised by the high, compact and almost prismatic crest of erect hairs on the carapace. There is a dense band of white setae below the anterior eyes, giving it the look of a white-moustached man sporting a mohawk hairstyle.

The female resembles those of Epeus spp. C, D, and E. all of which have a translucent green carapace and a green line on the anterior part of the dorsum. They may be separated only by microscopic examination of their copulatory organs.

This species may be closely related to, or identical with, E. flavobilineatus (Doleschall, 1859). However, it is not possible to identify it with certainty for two reasons. First, the male of E. flavobilineatus has never been formally described. Second, the "type" female (designated representative of the species) has never been illustrated. Nevertheless, the female copulatory organ tallies with that of the only illustration of the species based on a non-type. It is unclear if the secondary specimen is identical with described species.