Micrommata ligurina

Micrommata ligurina
Female M. ligurina near Livorno, Tuscany, Italy
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Section: Entelegynae
Family: Sparassidae
Genus: Micrommata
Species: M. ligurina
Binomial name
Micrommata ligurina
C. L. Koch, 1845
Synonyms
  • Micrommata ligurinum
  • Sparassus ligurinus
  • Sparassus pilosus

Micrommata ligurina is a species of huntsman spider. [1] It was first described by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1845.[1][2][3]

Description

In the females of Micrommata ligurina the body length can reach 9–14 millimetres (0.35–0.55 in), while in the males it is about 6–9 millimetres (0.24–0.35 in).[4] The carapace is long and narrow and the abdomen is elongate. The cephalothorax and the long legs of the females are bright green, with a lighter green abdomen showing an almost indistinct median band. [4]

This spider is very similar to the green huntsman spider (Micrommata virescens), but the females have a black dot on the carapace. Moreover the adult males of M. ligurina have a dark brown median band on abdomen with whitish or gray sides. [4]

The eight eyes are arranged in two rows and surrounded by white hairs. Adults can be found in late winter and in early spring.

Distribution

Micrommata ligurina occurs from the Mediterranean Basin to Central Asia. [1][2] The range of this species includes Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Malta, Portugal, Romania and Spain. [4][5]

Habitat

These huntsman spiders live on herbaceous vegetation. [4]

Bibliography

References

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