Menemerus pallescens
Menemerus pallescens is a medium-sized jumping spider found in Yemen. It was first described in 2007 by Wanda Wesołowska and Antonius van Harten. Some specimens have also been reported from Dubai.
Description
Females have a dark brown carapace with white stripes toward the back, about 2.5–3.1 mm long and 1.8–2.2 mm wide. The abdomen is 3.4–4.2 mm long and 2.3–3.5 mm wide, usually yellowish-beige or light grey, sometimes with lines and spots. The legs are yellow, and the face has white hairs. The spider is generally hard to tell apart from other Menemerus species without examining its reproductive organs. The female epigyne has a shallow notch at the rear edge, and the long accessory glands are notable. The male of the species has not been described.
Taxonomy and name
Menemerus pallescens belongs to the genus Menemerus, a group of jumping spiders that are common in Africa and Asia. Like other species in this genus, it is often difficult to distinguish without studying the copulatory organs. The species name pallescens refers to a distinctive spike (an apophysis) on part of the spider’s copulatory apparatus.
Distribution and habitat
The holotype was found near Al-Goel and Al Hajar in 2000. Other sightings include Taiz in Yemen, with some records from the United Arab Emirates (Dubai).
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 07:34 (CET).