Taxonomy

Ohilimia, closely related to Diolenius and Chalcolecta, is found in Australia, Papua New Guinea (O. albomaculatus, O. laensis) and Indonesia (O. albomaculatus).  Australia has one species, O. scutellata which it shares with Papua New Guinea.

Description

Ohilimia scutellata is a medium-sized spider, body length 4 to 9 mm, with an elongate, almost parallel-sided abdomen.  The head, viewed from above, is elongate-rectangular to pear-shaped, widest just behind the posterior lateral eyes which are on distinct tubercles. The carapace is high, the thoracic slope starting immediately behind the posterior lateral eyes. Chelicerae have a single, bicuspid (fissident) retromarginal tooth and two promarginal teeth. The first legs are exaggerated in length, with greatly enlarged tibia, coxae and trochanters. Three pairs of well-developed spines on the first metatarsi separate this genus from related ones. The remaining legs are shorter and more slender than the first pair of legs.

The male’s palpal tibia has a single, very broad retro-lateral tibial apophysis curving towards the ventral side. The tegulum is rhomboid, as broad as long, with no proximal lobe. The short, twisted embolus arises on the distal edge of the tegulum.  

The female has two epigynal atria with distally sclerotised guides leading to copulatory openings close to the median line. The insemination ducts, with well-developed chambers, lead through narrow tubes to the spermathecae. The spermathecae are pear-shaped, posterior to the atria, but still far from the epigastric fold.

Biology

Ohilimia is found in tropical rainforest, thought to be fly mimics, moving backwards with their first, very elongate, legs giving the appearance of fly’s wings.

Distribution

Ohilimia scutellata is found in far north Queensland and Papua New Guinea.

References

Gardzinska, J. 2006. A revision of the spider genus Ohilimia Strand, 1911 (Araneae: Salticidae). Annales Zoologici, Warszawa 56, 375-385.

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.