About Pellenes geniculatus (Simon, 1868)
Pellenes geniculatus is a small jumping spider, a size that is typical for members of the Pellenes genus. Females of the species are larger than males, with a total body length ranging from 4.2 to 5 mm (0.17 to 0.20 inches), while males measure between 3.35 and 3.7 mm (0.132 to 0.146 inches) in total body length. Specimens show noticeable variation, especially between populations found in Africa, and populations found in Europe and Asia. For Asian specimens, the carapace is typically 1.75 mm (0.069 inches) long. In Asian males, the abdomen is a similar length to the carapace, colored brown and marked with either a longitudinal white stripe or cross-shaped pale markings. Asian females have a larger abdomen, approximately 2.5 mm (0.098 inches) long, that is brownish yellow. African specimens are smaller overall: their carapace ranges from 1.3 to 1.7 mm (0.051 to 0.067 inches) long, and their abdomen ranges from 1.4 to 1.6 mm (0.055 to 0.063 inches) long. While most African specimens have a brown abdomen, some individuals are a lighter orange-yellow with white stripes. All specimens have a distinctive pattern of white scale lines on the head. This species was first described from specimens collected in France, which marks the western edge of its known range. Its distribution extends across Southern Europe, Africa, and Central Asia. The easternmost confirmed record of the species is in Mongolia, and the southernmost confirmed record is in southern Africa.
