Bellota
G. W. Peckham & E. G. Peckham, 1892
Bellota is a of jumping spiders (Salticidae) established by George and Elizabeth Peckham in 1892. The genus is distinguished from the similar genus Chirothecia by its narrower and shorter area. The type , Bellota peckhami, was designated by Galiano in 1978 from a male specimen previously misidentified by the Peckhams. The genus contains nine described species distributed primarily in the Americas, with two species described from Pakistan whose taxonomic placement remains questionable.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Bellota: /bɛˈloʊtə/
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Identification
Distinguished from the similar Chirothecia by possessing a narrower and a shorter area. The cephalothorax proportions and eye arrangement are the primary diagnostic features for genus-level identification.
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Distribution
Most occur in South America, with one species in Central America (Panama) and two in North America (United States). Two species described from Pakistan (Bellota fascialis and Bellota livida) have a notably disjunct distribution and their affinity to the is considered questionable.
Similar Taxa
- ChirotheciaSimilar in overall appearance but differs in having a wider and longer area compared to Bellota.
More Details
Type species designation
The type Bellota peckhami Galiano, 1978 was designated from a male specimen originally misidentified by the Peckhams as Bellota formicina (Taczanowski, 1878).
Questionable species
Two Pakistani described by Dyal in 1935 (Bellota fascialis and Bellota livida) have disjunct distributions that raise questions about their correct generic placement.