Thiratoscirtus bwindi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 530A78A8-532A-47A3-B619-7DCB938CFB57

Fig. 84

Diagnosis

The female is characterized by the form of the epigyne, which is elongated, with a large shallow depression in the anterior half. Long, poorly sclerotized, ribbon-like appendages of unknown function fall into the copulatory ducts (Fig. 84D).

Etymology

The name is a noun in apposition, derived from the type locality.

Material examined

Holotype

UGANDA • 1 ♀; Bwindi Impenetrable Forest; forest; 22 Apr. 1992; C. Dewhurst leg.; MRAC 236 079.

Description

Male

Unknown.

Female

General appearance as in Fig. 84A.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.0, width 1.6, height 1.0. Eye field length 1.0, anterior width 1.5, posterior width 1.4. Abdomen length 2.5, width 2.0.

CARAPACE. Oval, high, with steep slope starting not far behind the eye field. Colouration of carapace dark brown, eye field almost black. Anterior eyes encircled by small fawn scales, sparse white hairs on dorsum, posteriorly along lateral slopes poorly contrasted white streak. Chelicerae unidentati, fang short. Mouthparts brown with lighter tips, sternum dark brown.

ABDOMEN. Oval, grey with light median band composed of few pairs of spots. Short thin transparent hairs on whole abdomen, long bristles at anterior edge. Venter grey, two thin light streaks laterally. Spinnerets whitish grey with black lines laterally.

LEGS. Light brownish with dark rings, femora I dark brown. Tibia I with three pairs of long ventral spines. Leg hairs transparent. Palp with short retrolateral tarsal spine.

EPIGYNE. Large, oval, its anterior half occupied by shallow depression (Fig. 84B–C). Internal structure simple, spermathecae thick-walled. Long, ribbon-like, s-shaped protrusions connected to seminal dusts (Fig. 84D).