Propiomarengo plana is a species of jumping spider in the genus Propiomarengo that lives in South Africa. Originally named Afromarengo plana when first described in 2013, the species was renamed 7 years later and made the type species of the new genus. The spider is small, with a grey-beige abdomen that is between 2.4 and 2.8 centimetres (0.94 and 1.10 in) in length and a brown carapace that is slightly smaller. Only the female has been described, which has a distinctive epigyne with two depressions flanking a ridge. It has only been found in Free State.
First described by Charles Haddad and Wanda Wesołowska in 2013, the spider was allocated to the genus Afromarengo.[1] The genus name derived from the root Afro, meaning from Africa, and the genus name Marengo.[2] It was the third species to be added to the genus.[3] In 2020, the species was transferred to the new genus Propiomarengo by Galina Azarkina working with Charles Haddad.[4] The name has a similar construction, once again recalling Marengo, but with a prefix recalling the Latin word for similar, propior. It was made the type species of the genus.[5] The species name is derived from the Latin word for flat.[6]
Only the female has been described.[7] It is small, with a brown carapace and a grey-beige oval abdomen that is covered in small brown hairs. The epigyne is distinctive and has a narrow ridge that is flanked by two large depressions shaped like beans.[8] The cephalothorax has a length that ranges between 1.7 and 1.8 centimetres (0.67 and 0.71 in), while the abdomen measures between 2.4 and 2.8 centimetres (0.94 and 1.10 in) long.[6] It differs from other members of the genus in the shape of the carapace, which is more rounded when viewed from the side.[9]
The spider has only been found in South Africa and has a limited range. The holotype was found at the Tussen-die-Riviere Nature Reserve in Free State.[6] It was first seen near to the river, in bushes on the edge of grassland.[8] It has also been seen in nearby farmland.[9]
Propiomarengo plana is a species of jumping spider in the genus Propiomarengo that lives in South Africa. Originally named Afromarengo plana when first described in 2013, the species was renamed 7 years later and made the type species of the new genus. The spider is small, with a grey-beige abdomen that is between 2.4 and 2.8 centimetres (0.94 and 1.10 in) in length and a brown carapace that is slightly smaller. Only the female has been described, which has a distinctive epigyne with two depressions flanking a ridge. It has only been found in Free State.
