Taxonomy

Hasarius includes four Australian species: Hasarius adansonii H. inhonestus, H. mulciber and H. obscurus. Hasarius adansonii is cosmotropical, found in warmer areas around the world. The remaining Australian species are known only from the type material, lost in two cases. It seems doubtful these species actually belong in Hasarius.

Description

Hasarius adansonii is a medium-sized spider, body length 4 to 7 mm, with an elongate-ovate abdomen. The head, viewed from above, is rectangular with rounded sides, widest behind the posterior lateral eyes. The carapace is high, rounded, with a steep thoracic slope. Chelicerae have a divided (fissident) retromarginal tooth and two promarginal teeth. The third pair of legs is longest in the females and the first pair of legs longest in the males.  All legs are slightly built.

The male’s palpal tibia has a thick brush of white hair and a short and sharply-pointed retro-lateral tibial apophysis. The tegulum is rounded with no proximal lobe and a short embolus arising on the distal surface.  

The female’s coiled spermathecae can be seen externally, immediately anterior to the epigastric fold which has a median pocket.

Biology

Hasarius adansonii is a cosmopolitan species found around the world in warmer climates. It can also be found in hothouses in more temperate areas overseas. It is a tramp species often occurring around port cities.

Distribution

In Australia Hasarius adansonii is found in coastal regions, especially near ports, from Sydney to Darwin.

Note:

Species name as in the World Spider Catalogue http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/search 

References

Davies, V.T. & Żabka, M. 1989 Illustrated keys to the genera of jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) in Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 27, 189-266.

Richardson, B.J. & Żabka , M. 2016. Salticidae. Arachnida: Araneomorphae. Canberra, Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study, at https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/SALTICIDAE.

Whyte, R. & Anderson, G. 2017. A Field Guide to Spiders of Australia. CSIRO Publishing: Clayton.

* The information sheet should be interpreted in the context of the associated diagrams and photographs. Diagrams explaining anatomical terms can be found in the ‘Salticidae’ pictures at the beginning of the list of genera.