Thomisops lesserti

Both male and female T. lesserti are distinguished from other Thomisops species by their distinctive opisthosoma shape, which is slightly longer than wide with parallel sides.

Female. Females have a total length of 4.3 mm, with a cephalothorax length of 1.7 mm and width of 2.0 mm. The cephalothorax is pale yellow with a reddish tint towards the edges, marked by two thin, broken, yellowish-white longitudinal lines stretching from the posterior lateral eyes to the posterior edge. The eyes are circled with white. The abdomen is pale brown to white, decorated dorsally with several brownish-black concentric circles, which may fade to brown patches in some specimens. The mouthparts, sternum, and legs are pale yellow, with the metatarsi and tarsi appearing slightly darker. The cephalothorax is convex and slightly sloping anteriorly, being 1.4 times wider posteriorly than anteriorly, with distinct rims along the posterolateral edges.

Male. Males are smaller than females, with a total length of 3.12 mm, cephalothorax length of 1.36 mm, and width of 1.64 mm. …

Thomisops lesserti has been recorded from Senegal, Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Africa. In South Africa, it is known from three provinces: the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal. The species has been collected from elevations ranging from 87 to 1,086 metres above sea level.

The species is named after Swiss arachnologist Roger de Lessert (1878–1945), who made significant contributions to African spider taxonomy.