Vicirionessa peckhamorum (Lessert, 1927)

Figs 103–104

Viciria peckhamorum Lessert, 1927: 455, fig. 30.

Viciria peckhamorum – Berland & Millot 1941: 378, 387, fig. 76e–f.

Brancus peckhamorum – Wesołowska & Edwards 2012: 743, figs 38–40, 121.

Vicirionessa peckhamorum – Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2022: 130.

Diagnosis of male

This species is related to Vicirionessa fuscimana (Simon, 1903) . The male can be recognized by the form of tibial apophysis that has more serrated tip (cf. Fig. 103B–C with Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2022: fig. 79b–c).

Material examined

UGANDA • 3 ♀♀; Entebbe; Jul. 2001; FSCA • 1 ♀; Entebbe, Botanical Gardens; 2 Apr. 1995; D. Penney leg.; NHM • 1 ♀; Ruwenzori, Bundibugyo; 0°43′ N, 30°03′ E; 1050 m a.s.l.; 1952; G.O. Evans leg.; NHM • 1 ♀; Masindi distr., Budongo Forest; 1°45′ N, 31°25′ E; dry season; 1–10 Jul. 1995; T. Wagner leg.; ZFMK 2888 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 2871 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 2928 • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 21–30 Jul. 1995; ZFMK 2972 • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 15–25 Jan. 1997; ZFMK 2992 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 2878 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 2917 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 2872 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 2849 • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 5–15 Jan. 1997; ZFMK 2895 • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 5–12 Feb. 1997; ZFMK 3827 • 1 ♂; Kampala, Namulonge Research Station; 28 Nov. 1997; in office; A. Russell-Smith leg.; MRAC 236 125 .

Redescription

Male

General appearance of male as in Fig. 103A.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 4.1, width 3.8, height 2.1. Eye field length 1.8, anterior and posterior width 2.4. Abdomen length 4.7, width 2.6.

CARAPACE. Rounded, widest behind mid its length, dark brown, eyes with black rings. Anterior eyes surrounded by white hairs. White hairs cover center of eye field and form two bands on carapace laterally from eye field. Dense long white hairs on clypeus. Mouthparts dark brown, only chewing margins of endites whitish.

ABDOMEN. Oval, narrowing posteriorly, fawn with median yellowish streak, sides blackish. Venter dark grey. Dorsum of abdomen covered by long thin transparent hairs. Spinnerets yellowish grey.

LEGS. Light brown, first pair dark brown, bearing very dense brown hairs (especially tibia I on ventral side). Spines long.

PALPS. Small, dark brown. Palpal organ in Fig. 103B–F, bulb oval with large posterior lobe, tibial apophysis wide, short, serrated, its shape is variable.

Description

For description of female see Wesołowska & Edwards (2012). General appearance of female as in Fig. 104A, epigyne in Fig. 104B–C, its internal structure as in Fig. 104D.

Distribution

Previously known from Guinea, Nigeria and Congo, this is the first record of this species from Uganda.