Vicirionessa ignota sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 5D002862-7447-4820-B168-717BA9B06968

Fig. 102

Diagnosis

The female can be distinguished from its congeners by the form of the epigyne, especially by the middle part of the copulatory ducts, which are highly sclerotized and run mesially.

Etymology

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘unknown’ and referring to the fact that the species has remained undiscovered for so long.

Material examined

Holotype

UGANDA • ♀; Masindi distr., Budongo Forest; 1°45′ N, 31°25′ E; dry season; 15–21 Jan. 1997; T. Wagner leg.; ZFMK 2959.

Paratypes

UGANDA • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; ZFMK 2937 • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; ZFMK 2890 • 1 ♀; same locality as for holotype; 21–30 Jul. 1995; ZFMK 3034 .

Description

Male

Unknown.

Female

General appearance as in Fig. 102A.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 3.0–3.3, width 2.3–2.6, height 1.5. Eye field length 1.8–2.0, anterior width 2.1–2.3, posterior width 1.9–2.1. Abdomen length 3.1–4.0, width 2.1–2.3.

CARAPACE. Moderately high, pear-shaped, widest posteriorly. Anterior median eyes relatively large, their diameter more than twice diameter of anterior laterals. Distance between anterior lateral eyes slightly greater than between posterior laterals. Carapace light brown, eyes with black ring, a pair of black tearshaped spots laterally from fovea. White hairs laterally from eye field, also encircling anterior eyes, long thin transparent bristles on eye field.

ABDOMEN. Ovoid, slightly elongated, yellowish white, in some specimens with silver patches formed by translucent guanin crystals (Fig. 102B), venter light. Spinnerets whitish.

LEGS. Light brown, long, especially femora and metatarsi. Leg hairs thin, long, colourless, spines brown.

EPIGYNE. With large anterior depression (Fig. 102C–E). Inlet part of copulatory ducts very broad, distal part narrow, strongly sclerotized, spermathecae two-chambered (Fig. 102F–G).