The Habronattus coecatus Species Group
The H. coecatus group is the most species-rich group in the region, with a total of seven described and two undescribed species. Five of these taxa are endemic to the region. Like members of the H. clypeatus group, members of the H. coecatus group have modified third legs which are displayed prominently during courtship. Almost all major habitats will have some member of the H. coecatus group in any one of several different microhabitats (see below). In most of Baja, members of the species group are the dominant component of the Habronattus fauna.

H. ballatoris - near Sacramento
, Sacramento Co., CA
H. ballatoris - Third Leg. Orleans, Humboldt Co., CA
H. ballatoris - An endemic of California north of the central Sacramento Valley. The species has an interesting natural history, being apparently restricted to cobblestone microhabitats in stream or river valleys. The combination of a shiny black third femur and patella, burnt-orange fringes on the first leg, and a red face, distinguish the species.

H. schlingeri - La Bocana, B.C.N.
H. schlingeri - A species endemic to the coastal side of southern CA and northern Baja. With a characteristic third leg, including a large projection on the patella, and with the distal femur black and shiny. Natural habitats typically near water (e.g., streams, beach), but also common in southern California backyards (along with H. pyrrithrix).
H. schlingeri - Third Leg.
La Bocana, B.C.N.

H. festus - Third Legs. northern AZ
H. festus - northern AZ
H. festus - With a face most like that of H. schlingeri, but with very different third leg ornamentation. This species is found in California in the Great Basin desert of the eastern part of the state, with records from Inyo and eastern Siskiyou counties. Typically found in grassy microhabitats.

H. klauserii - A species with characteristic chelicerae (jaws), with a covering of long, white hairs. Found in the Sacramento Valley south from Redding, then continuing south into the deserts in wetter situations.
H. klauserii - Bishop, Inyo Co., CA

H. pyrrithrix - Irvine,
Orange Co., CA
H. pyrrithrix - Third Leg.
Irvine, Orange Co., CA
H. pyrrithrix - Collecting records indicate that the species is distributed primarily in artificial situations (around agricultural areas and in backyards) in southern California. The only records from Baja are from the Cape region, although the species might be found in suitable habitats (e.g., salt marsh and other estuarine situations) along both coastlines. MCH has collected populations which might represent geographical variants of H. pyrrithrix from the Pacific side, and WPM has made similar collections from the northern Gulf on the Sonoran side. More work is needed to document geographical variation in this species.

H.cf. pyrrithrix - near
San Carlos, B.C.S.
H.cf. pyrrithrix - Third Leg.
near San Carlos, B.C.S.
H. "cf. pyrrithrix" - Known from a single collection on the Pacific side of B.C.S., males from this population differ from "standard" H. pyrrithrix in lacking dark stripes on the first legs, lacking dark pigmentation on the lateral sides of the head, and in details of the third leg. As stated above, this variation might fall within a range of geographical variation for the species. The population was collected in low Sesuviam growing in sandy soils adjacent to mangrove.

H. anepsius - Temescal Wash, Riverside Co., CA
H. anepsius - south of
Loreto, B.C.S
.
H. anepsius - Isla Magdalena, B.C.S.
H. anepsius - Third Leg.
Isla Magdalena, B.C.S.
H. anepsius - Third Leg.
Riverside Co., CA
H. anepsius - Another geographically variable species, endemic to southern CA and all of Baja Peninsula. H. anepsius is the only H. coecatus group member in the region with predominantly dark face, although the extent of this darkness varies across populations (see Loreto example above). H. anepsius is most often collected in dry, short grass microhabitats on sloping hillsides.

H. ammophilus - coastal Sonora
H. ammophilus - Pichilingue, B.C.S.
H. ammophilus - This species has an interesting linear distribution along both sides of the Sea of Cortez, including some of the Gulf islands. This distribution reflects the microhabitat preference of the species for small rocks, shells, etc. on beaches, typically just above the high water line.

H. cf. ammophilus - Isla Magdalena, B.C.S.
H. cf. ammophilus - This population was collected in an H. ammophilus-like habitat on an island on the Pacific side of Baja, a considerable distant from any known population of H. ammophilus. Although males of this population have a face and third leg ornamentation close to H. ammophillus, we view this as a distinct species.