Ballus chalybeius
{{Short description|Species of spider}}
{{Speciesbox
|image = Ballus chalybeius 28578602 cropped.jpg
|image_caption = Adult male
|taxon = Ballus chalybeius
|authority = (Walckenaer, 1802)
|range_map = Distribution.ballus.chalybeius.1.png
|range_map_upright = 1.1
|synonyms =
Aranea depressa
Aranea chalybeia
Attus chalybeius
Salticus annulipes
Attus annulipes
Salticus brevipes
Salticus heterophthalmus
Euophrys suralis
Euophrys brevipes
Marpissa brevipes
Attus heterophthalmus
Salticus obscurus
Ballus heterophthalmus
Attus brevipes
Attus quinquefoveolatus
Attus biimpressus
Balla heterophthalma
Dendryphantes annulipes
Dendryphantes brevipes
Attus seguipes
Ballus depressus
Ballus obscurus
}}
Ballus chalybeius is a jumping spider. It is the type species of the genus Ballus.
Appearance
Image:Salticid.061116.in.retreat.jpg
This flattened spider can reach a length of {{convert|3|–|4|mm}}. The prosoma is dark brown in females, with irregular lighter markings. The lightly yellow legs have dark rings in both sexes. In males, which are generally darker, the first legs are dark and thickened. The species is similar to Ballus rufipes, which is smaller and much darker.Bellmann, H. (1997). Kosmos-Atlas Spinnentiere Europas. Kosmos. pX
Habits
Habitat
It can be found mostly on the fringes of deciduous forests, on broad-leaved bushes and trees, particularly oaks, and in the grass. In Central Europe, they are widely distributed and in most areas quite common.
Distribution
Ballus chalybeius occurs in Europe, North Africa to Central Asia.Platnick, N. I. (2006). [http://research.amnh.org/entomology/spiders/catalog/index.html The world spider catalog], version 7.0. American Museum of Natural History.
Name
The species name is derived from Ancient Greek chalyb- "steel".
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- [http://salticus.zoology.ubc.ca/salticid/diagnost/ballus/chal-holst-ph.htm Photography of Ballus chalybeius]
- [http://www.fkohl.de/en_tree_-0-0-2-0-0-4-6-0-0-2-1-0-0_0_mixed.html#-0-0-2-0-0-4-6-0-0-2-1-0-0 Many pictures of Ballus chalybeius]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1758710}}