Mexcala torquata

Like all Mexcala spiders, the species is slender and medium-sized. The male has a cephalothorax typically 3.0 mm (0.12 in) long and 1.9 mm (0.075 in) wide. The medium-high chocolate-brown carapace is narrower at the front. It has a short black eye field and long brown bristles near to the eyes, some of which are surrounded by black rings. The carapace has white hairs on the slopes to the front. The clypeus is low and brown. The long chelicerae have a serrated front and single small tooth to the back, short sharp bristles and very small white scales on the outside. The remainder of the mouthparts are brown, as is the sternum. The slightly-lighter brown abdomen is typically 3.0 mm (0.12 in) long and 1.7 mm (0.067 in) wide. It is elongated in shape, narrower to the rear, with sparse dark hairs on the back and long brown bristles on the front edge. The underside is also brown. The spider has dark spinnerets. The long thing legs are brown, with light areas. The rearmost pair are longest. The yellow pedipalps have a dark line on the tibia and patella joint. The tibial apophysis, or spike, is very thin and the embolus is very small and reminiscent of a tiny spine. The female is generally larger than the male. It has a dark brown carapace that is between 3.1 and 3.3 mm (0.12 and 0.13 in) long and has dark hairs on its thorax. …

Mexcala spiders can be found across Africa and the Arabian peninsula. Mexcala torquata has been identified in Guinea and Ivory Coast. The female holotype was found near Kossou, Ivory Coast, in 1974. The first example discovered in Guinea was found near Lola in 1957. The first male specimen was collected in Lamto Scientific Reserve in Ivory Coast in 1975.

The spider is typical of the genus. It lives amongst the different species of ant and ant-like insect that it mimics and preys upon. Like other jumping spiders, it is a mainly diurnal hunter that uses its good eyesight to spot its prey. It attacks from the front and captures its prey behind the head. The chelicerae have short thick spines on them that may be used for digging holes to act as underground hiding places. It uses visual displays during courtship and transmits vibratory signals through silk to communicate to other spiders.