Detalik is a genus of jumping spiders (family Salticidae), consisting of four described species. The genus was first circumscribed in 2021 by Wanda Wesołowska, along with descriptions of the type species Detalik anthonyi and three other species. Another species was described in 2022. The spiders were first found in Nigeria but have also been identified living in Ivory Coast. Overall, the members of the genus are very small spiders, between 3.5and long. They have distinctive mouthparts, consisting of a short fang visible on the chelicerae along with a two small teeth to the front and a large tooth to the back. The carapace is noticeable for its almost vertical sloping back and the front legs are characterised with very long spikes on the tibia and metatarsus. Although the copulatory organs are unique to each member species, there are some common features. The males have a spike towards the back of the palpal bulb called a retromarginal apophysis and the female copulatory organs are hidden in a depression in the epigyne.
Detalik is a genus of jumping spiders, a member of the family Salticidae, that was first circumscribed by the Polish arachnologist Wanda Wesołowska in 2021.[1] It was one of over 33 new genera described by the Polish arachnologist during her career. She was one of the most prolific describers of new jumping spider genera and species in history, only surpassed by the French arachnologist Eugène Simon. She named the genus for a Polish word that means "a fine detail".
The holotype for the type species was first found near Ibadan in Oyo State in 1974. Other examples have been identified in Cross River and Kwara State. These were all described in 2021, along with other members of the genus identified in the country, including on the Idanre Hills in Ondo State, after which the species Detalik idanrensis is named.
It is a member of the subtribe Thiratoscirtina. First identified by Wayne Maddison and Melissa Bodner in 2012, it is endemic to Africa and is one of the most diverse of all the salticid lines. In 2017, Jerzy Prószyński described a group of genera called Thiratoscirtines that overlapped with the subtribe. Wesołowska has been responsible for describing a large proportion of the genera and species in the subtribe. Other genera include Ajaraneola, Pochytoides and Ragatinus. It is a member of the tribe Aelurillini, in the subclade Simonida in the clade Saltafresia in the subfamily Salticinae . The subfamily is a member of the family Salticidae. The genus is particularly related to the genus Malizna, also first circumscribed by Wesołowska at the same time.
Cladogram for the genus based on the work of Maddison in 2015.
All Detalik spiders are very small, with a body length between 3.5and. Similar to other jumping spiders, they have a body that is divided into two main parts: the cephalothorax and the abdomen. The carapace, the hard upper part of the cephalothorax, is high with an almost vertical sloping back. The spider's front eyes are characteristically larger than the others. The mouthparts are distinctive with a short fang visible on the chelicerae. They have a two small teeth to the front and a large tooth to the back. The front legs are characterised with very long spikes, eight in pairs on the tibia and two on the metatarsus.
The copulatory organs are unique to each species, but have some common characteristics. There are large hairs on the female pedipalp, while the female copulatory organs are hidden in a depression in the epigyne. The males have a spike towards the back of the palpal bulb, or retromarginal apophysis, and a single medium-sized, pointed tibial apophysis, or spike on the palpal tibia.
The genus is similar to Malizna, but the two genera can be told apart on close examination. Female Detalik spiders have one long hair on their palpal tarsus, while the other genus has, unusually, two. The male can be most clearly identified by the presence of the retromarginal spophysis.
The genus contains four species in all:[1]
The type species is Detalik anthonyi, first described at the same time as the genus. It can be identified by its copulatory organs. The male has an irregular-shaped palpal bulb that has a large sickle-shaped spike towards the back, or retromarginal apophysis, and a very short embolus that emanates from the top. The tegulum has a short and blunt apophysis. While the hairy palpal tibia has a single short spike, or tibial apophysis. The female has copulatory openings to the sides of the epigyne and particularly long insemination ducts that lead to the spherical spermathecae or receptacles.
The other species are also most clearly distinguished by their copulatory organs. Detalik cavally can be identified by its small epigyne, which has copulatory openings more towards the back of the spider than other species. The male Detalik ibadan has a thinner and more pointed retrolareral apophysis. The female Detalik idanrensis has straight insemination ducts.
Detalik spiders are endemic to Africa. The first examples to be described were found in Nigeria in 1974 and described in 2021. The first to be found outside Nigeria was the holotype for Detalik cavally collected in Ivory Coast in 1975 and described in 2022. The spiders thrive in woodland environments. both fallow bush and secondary forests, and to find a home in woodland near to rivers, including areas where bamboo can be found growing wild. The spider also lives in areas of human habitation and has been found in areas where maize is sown.