Ballus segmentatus explained

Ballus segmentatus, is a species of spider of the genus Ballus. It is endemic to Sri Lanka.^[1] In 2022, it was suggested to be conspecific with Ballus sellatus.

Taxonomy

In 1900, Eugene Simon described two species of Ballus from Sri Lanka. The type of B. segmentatus was a male, the type of B. sellatus was a female. A study in 2022 suggested that although there is some variation in color pattern, markings, and size, this does not permit the recognition of two (or more) species.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ballus segmentatus Simon, 1900 . World Spider Catalog . Natural History Museum Bern. 23 May 2016.
2. Bopearachchi . D.P. . Eberle . J. . Benjamin . S.P. . 2022 . Molecular and morphological species delimitation suggests a single species of the beetle-spider genus Ballus in Sri Lanka . The Journal of Arachnology . 50 . 3 . 314–322 . 10.1636/JoA-S-21-040 . amp .