Black-headed jumping spider

Description

Trite planiceps, commonly known as the black-headed jumping spider, is a common jumping spider (Salticidae) endemic to New Zealand and one of about 150 species of jumping spiders in New Zealand. Trite planiceps was first described in 1873 as Salticus minax from specimens collected from Riccarton Bush, Governor Bay and the North Island.Trite planiceps was later described again in 1899 as its current name by Eugene Simon.In 2011, T. planiceps was redescribed after DNA sequences were used to provide molecular evidence for the taxonomy of this species. The holotypes were stored at the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle but are thought to have been lost. Males and females range in body length from 6 to 13.5 mm. The cephalothorax and first pair of legs are jet black. The elongated abdomen is golden brown, with a central yellow stripe, and sometimes has a greenish sheen. In males, the first pair of legs is elongated, there is a row of dark hairs above the frontal eyes, and the chelicerae (mouthparts) are more robust.