Rhene facilis is a species of jumping spider in the genus Rhene. The spider, spotted in South Africa and Tanzania, is small with distinctive female and male forms. The female is light brown, with grey and red hints, and has a distinctive epigyne. The male is darker in colour, with an almost black carapace and a dark brown abdomen with a white patterns, and has a slightly curved embolus. The male was first described in 2000 and the female in 2013.
Rhene facilis is a member of the genus Rhene, which is named after the Greek female name, shared by mythological figures.[1] The species name, facilis, means easy.[2] The male was first described in 2000 by Wanda Wesołowska and Anthony Russell-Smith and the female by Wesołowska and Charles Haddad in 2013.[3]
Rhene facilis is a small spider, typical of the genus.[2] The male is distinguished from other Rhene spiders by the distinctive white pattern, a combination of white hairy patches and a fine white stripe, on the abdomen, and a fine, slightly curved embolus. The male looks flattened, with a carapace that is very dark brown, almost black, measuring 1.9mm in length and a dark brown abdomen that is 2.2mm long.[4]
With slightly larger abdomen and smaller carapace, measuring 2.5mm and 1.6mm respectively, the female can be distinguished by the anterior arch on the epigyne and S-shaped copulatory openings. The spider is generally lighter in colour. The carapace is reddish-brown and the abdomen greyish-brown and more elongated than the male.[4]
Rhene facilis has been found in South Africa and Tanzania.[3]