Edwardsya is a genus of spiders in the family Salticidae (jumping spiders). It was first described in 2016 by arachnologists Ruiz & Bustamante. As of 2017, the genus contains two described species, both endemic to Brazil.
Taxonomy and Classification
The genus is placed within the subtribe Freyina, part of the Salticoida clade in the subfamily Salticinae. The type species is Edwardsya simoni (originally described as Attus simoni by Taczanowski in 1871).
Species
- Edwardsya igapo Ruiz & Bustamante, 2016 — known from the upper Amazon River basin, Brazil.
- Edwardsya simoni (Taczanowski, 1871) — known from the lower Amazon River basin, Brazil.
Morphology
Males of Edwardsya are similar to those of the related genera Kalcerrytus, Onofre, and Edilemma in possessing a developed femoral distal apophysis in the palp. However, Edwardsya can be distinguished by its developed, triangular terminal apophysis, a feature absent in the other three genera. Both species are ground-dwelling spiders restricted to the Amazon River basin.
Etymology
The genus name Edwardsya honors the arachnologist G. B. Edwards, who contributed to the study of Neotropical jumping spiders.
