Moved from Marpissa.

I just posted a photo of the ventral epigynum. It is very similar to both M. lineata and M. obtusa (see the links I included on the epigynum photo page). One clear difference is that the copulatory openings in lineata aim away from each other. It may not be exactly clear in this epigynum shot, but here they are aimed slightly towards each other, as in the Barnes 1978 drawing.

I have already collected two male M. obtusa from my yard, so the females are very likely in my yard too. This specimen here was also collected in my yard, and I have another identical to this one still alive in a jar, from my yard, which I haven't decided about collecting. And I have never seen a male lineata. This seems like additional, if circumstantial, evidence that we're looking at M. obtusa.

Furthermore, the female here has a different abdominal pattern than the one consistently being shown here on bugguide for M. lineata: . The female still alive in the jar has an identical pattern to the above-shown specimen -- broken dashes.

I think it's M. obtusa. Barnes 1978 describes M. obtusa as a new species apparently from only two specimens: one male, one female. I have found two males and two females so far in my yard.

Note: I just took a look at the additional live female I have. Her copulatory openings are also aimed slightly towards each other.

I just found another one of these, an adult female. My landscaper has been laying cardboard over the yard to block weeds. I pulled up a sheet of cardboard that had been there for months, and the little lady was on the underside of the cardboard. I wonder if this might be the mysterious female Marpissa obtusa, supposedly never collected. I found the male in my yard last year. I've gotta key this one out.

Joe,

Did you ever get a closer look at the epigynum?

Moved from Jumping Spiders.

My hunch is M. lineata. But do take a look!

-Kevin

Moved from ID Request.