Salticidae Padillothorax

Padillothorax semiostrinus Simon, 1901

Slingshot Jumper

Spiders of the genus Padillothorax are related to Bavia. with both having stout legs I, an elongated abdomen, and a pair of lobed endites. They differ from Bavia by having a distinctly flattened carapace with the fovea located well behind the PLE. The femora I of both males and females are each armed with one or two spines on the prolateral surface.

The P. semiostrinus male may be recognised by the distinctive striped patterns over its body. Its slender abdomen, coupled with its habit of out-stretching its elongated legs I, conveys the image of a slingshot. The female has not been collected, but it is assumed to be red and yellow, like the juvenile pictured on the lower right.