Biology:Icius congener
| Icius congener | |
|---|---|
| |
| female from Spain | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Salticidae |
| Subfamily: | Salticinae |
| Genus: | Icius |
| Species: | I. congener
|
| Binomial name | |
| Icius congener (Simon, 1871)
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| Synonyms | |
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Icius congener is a species of jumping spider of the genus Icius. It is found around the western Mediterranean Basin.[1]
Taxonomy
The species has a complex taxonomic history involving misidentifications. Icius congener was first described by Eugène Simon in 1868 as Attus nebulosus, but this name was already occupied by a different species described by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1846 (now known as Dendryphantes nidicolens).[2] In 1871, Simon recognized this error and renamed the species Attus congener.[2] However, the first description that allows reliable identification of the male was provided by Simon in 1876.[2]
In 1955, Carl Friedrich Roewer listed this species as Icius nebulosus in his catalogue, treating congener as a synonym, but this choice was considered arbitrary by later researchers since Simon had already corrected the misidentification in 1871.[2]
Distribution
I. congener is distributed around the western Mediterranean region. It has been recorded from Portugal, Spain, Andorra, France (Corsica), Italy, Malta, Algeria, and Libya.[1] Simon (1937) also reported its presence in Sicily and Sardinia.[2] The species gravitates around the western Mediterranean Basin.[2]
Description
Male I. congener can be distinguished by the shape of the bulb's apex and the distinctive tibial apophysis. The tibial apophysis is elongate and triangular, directed outward with a short tip that turns inward, and has a thickening at its base without a process.[2] The embolus is moderately curved and very small, with the distal portion of the bulb much longer than wide.[2]
Females have straight, parallel copulatory canals that widen at the opening, where the diameter is greater than that of the canal itself.[2] This distinguishes them from closely related species like Icius hamatus, where the canals have a narrow apical portion that curves outwardly.[2]
Both sexes show a dark dorsal pattern on the opisthosoma (abdomen) with a central lighter pattern, which is more pronounced in females.[2] Males typically measure 3.5 mm in length, while females are larger at 5.2–5.3 mm.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Icius congener (Simon, 1871)". World Spider Catalog. https://wsc.nmbe.ch/species/30160. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 Alicata, P.; Cantarella, T. (1994). "The Euro-mediterranean species of Icius (Araneae, Salticidae): a critical revision and description of two new species". Animalia 20 (1993): 111–131.
Wikidata ☰ Q2135576 entry
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