Homalattus

Homalattus is an African genus of the spider family Salticidae (jumping spiders).^[1]

Homalattus
female H. punctatus
female H. punctatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Salticidae
Subfamily:	Salticinae
Genus:	Homalattus White, 1841
Type species
Salticus pustulatus White, 1841
Species
See text.

Distribution

All but one of the described species are found in South Africa, four of them endemic. H. coriaceus is also found in Sierra Leone, and the type species H. pustulatus has only been found in Sierra Leone.^[1]

Description

Members of this genus have a total length of 3–5 mm.^[2]

The carapace is flat and transverse, not as wide as the body, and covered with papillae. The eyes are located on short elevations of the thorax and are arranged in three rows, with the front row comprising four eyes placed on the front margin of the carapace at nearly equal distances from each other. The two intermediate eyes are the largest.^[2]

The abdomen is flat and compressed, as broad as long, somewhat convex above in front and straight, somewhat pointed behind with rounded sides.^[2]

The leg formula is 4123, with the first pair being the stoutest.^[2] The tibia I is longer than the patella and armed, while the metatarsus I is longer than the tarsus.^[2]

Lifestyle

Homalattus species are free-living plant dwellers.^[2]

Taxonomy

The genus Homalattus has not been revised.^[2]

Species

As of October 2025^[update], this genus includes six species:^[1]

• Homalattus coriaceus Simon, 1902 – Sierra Leone, South Africa
• Homalattus marshalli G. W. Peckham & E. G. Peckham, 1903 – South Africa
• Homalattus obscurus G. W. Peckham & E. G. Peckham, 1903 – South Africa
• Homalattus punctatus G. W. Peckham & E. G. Peckham, 1903 – South Africa
• Homalattus pustulatus (White, 1841) – Sierra Leone (type species)
• Homalattus similis G. W. Peckham & E. G. Peckham, 1903 – South Africa