# Ballus

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***Ballus*** is a [spider](/source/Spider) [genus](/source/Genus) of the family [Salticidae](/source/Salticidae) (jumping spiders).

## Description

See also: [Glossary of spider terms](/source/Glossary_of_spider_terms)

*Ballus* are typically small, squat spiders.[1] The [carapace](/source/Carapace) is broad oval, almost as wide as long, flat on top with the sides and back almost vertical, and a rugose surface. The shield-shaped [opisthosoma](/source/Opisthosoma) is broadly truncated at the front.

In males, the femora, patellae and tibiae on the first pair of legs are swollen, and there is a fringe below the tibiae. Although they are often entirely mottled dark brown, some species are much more colorful.[1]

## Distribution

This genus has mainly a [Palearctic](/source/Palearctic) distribution, extending from Europe and North Africa to Central Asia.[2] There are two species from [Sri Lanka](/source/Sri_Lanka), and one species recorded from [Japan](/source/Japan). One species was described from [Myanmar](/source/Myanmar), though its taxonomic status remains uncertain.[1]

Several species formerly placed in *Ballus* have been transferred to other genera. *Ballus cinctipes* and *Ballus youngi* have been moved to *[Attidops](/source/Attidops)*, *Ballus decempunctatus* to *[Porius](/source/Porius)*, and *Ballus planus* to *[Rhene](/source/Rhene)*.[2]

## Species

As of 2025, the genus contains seven valid species:[2]

- *[Ballus armadillo](/source/Ballus_armadillo)* ([Simon](/source/Eug%C3%A8ne_Simon), 1871) – [France](/source/France) ([Corsica](/source/Corsica)), [Italy](/source/Italy), [Malta](/source/Malta)
- *[Ballus chalybeius](/source/Ballus_chalybeius)* (Walckenaer, 1802) – [Europe](/source/Europe), [North Africa](/source/North_Africa) to [Central Asia](/source/Central_Asia)
- *[Ballus japonicus](/source/Ballus_japonicus)* Saito, 1939 – [Japan](/source/Japan)
- *[Ballus piger](/source/Ballus_piger)* [O. Pickard-Cambridge](/source/Octavius_Pickard-Cambridge), 1876 – [Egypt](/source/Egypt)
- *[Ballus rufipes](/source/Ballus_rufipes)* (Simon, 1868) – Europe, [Turkey](/source/Turkey), [Armenia](/source/Armenia), [Cyprus](/source/Cyprus), North Africa
- *[Ballus segmentatus](/source/Ballus_segmentatus)* Simon, 1900 – [Sri Lanka](/source/Sri_Lanka)
- *[Ballus tabupumensis](/source/Ballus_tabupumensis)* [Petrunkevitch](/source/Alexander_Petrunkevitch), 1914 – [Myanmar](/source/Myanmar)
- *[Ballus variegatus](/source/Ballus_variegatus)* Simon, 1876 – [Portugal](/source/Portugal) to Italy

## Taxonomic notes

Several names previously associated with *Ballus* are now considered synonyms or have been transferred. *Ballus sellatus* Simon, 1900 is now considered a junior synonym of *B. segmentatus*.[2]

A number of names are considered *nomina dubia* due to insufficient original descriptions: *B. lendli*, *B. obscuroides*, *B. sociabilis*, and *B. vulpinus*.[2]

## References

1. Murphy, Frances & Murphy, John (2000). *An Introduction to the Spiders of South East Asia*. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Nature Society. p. 273.

1. ["Gen. Ballus C. L. Koch, 1850"](https://wsc.nmbe.ch/genus/2530/Ballus). World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 11 September 2025.

## External links

- [Photograph of *B. armadillo*](http://salticus.zoology.ubc.ca/salticid/diagnost/ballus/balar-ph.htm)
- [Photograph of *B. chalybeius*](http://salticus.zoology.ubc.ca/salticid/diagnost/ballus/chal-holst-ph.htm)
- [Photograph of *B. rufipes*](http://salticus.zoology.ubc.ca/salticid/diagnost/ballus/rufi-kph.htm)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ballus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.