Biology:Cembalea

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Cembalea is a genus of African jumping spiders that was first described by Wanda Wesołowska in 1993.[1]

Life style

Apparently Cembalea is an exclusively ground-dwelling genus.[2]

Description

These are small spiders with a large eye field. The members of the genus have a high carapace. The first legs of males have long, bushy setae on ventral surface of the femora, with similar setae and scale-like hairs on the ventral surface of the metatarsi.[2]

This genus is characterized by the structure of the pedipalp and epigyne. A characteristic feature of males is the long embolus that easily breaks off in preserved specimens and is sometimes missing as a result.[2]

Species

As of October 2025, this genus includes five species:[3]

  • Cembalea affinis Rollard & Wesołowska, 2002 – Guinea
  • Cembalea heteropogon (Simon, 1910) – Namibia, South Africa
  • Cembalea hirsuta Wesołowska, 2011 – Namibia
  • Cembalea plumosa (Lessert, 1925) – Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa (type species)
  • Cembalea triloris Haddad & Wesołowska, 2011 – Namibia, South Africa

References

  1. Wesolowska, W. (1993). "On the genus Tularosa Peckham et Peckham, 1903 (Araneae, Salticidae)". Genus 4: 33–40. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Van der Walt, V.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2025). The Salticidae of South Africa. Part 1 (A-Den). Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 44. doi:10.5281/zenodo.15222559.  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  3. "Gen. Cembalea Wesołowska, 1993". World Spider Catalog. doi:10.24436/2. https://wsc.nmbe.ch/genus/2563. Retrieved 2025-10-07. 

Wikidata ☰ Q254584 entry