About Oxyopes heterophthalmus (Latreille, 1804)
Male Oxyopes heterophthalmus have a dorsally directed patellar apophysis on their palps, which is nearly as long as the male’s palpal tibia. The epigyne has a reddish-brown median section and is broadly rounded at its anterior end. The body of this species is dark brown, with a whitish pattern on the dorsal side. Its legs are black, covered in bright hairs and noticeably robust spines. Individuals of both sexes reach a total body length of 5–7 millimetres (1⁄5–3⁄10 of an inch). The abdomen is roughly triangular, ending in a pointed tip. This spider typically inhabits mature dry heathland, and prefers growing on heather and other low shrubs. It has a Palearctic distribution. Within Europe, it occurs in Central and Southern Europe, and is more common in the southern part of the region. In Great Britain, it is only found at a small number of sites in southern England.
