Thyene verdieri (Berland & Millot, 1941)

Figs 97–98

Brancus verdieri Berland & Millot, 1941: 332, fig. 35a–b.

Thyene verdieri – Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2022: 121.

Diagnosis

The male of this species is easily distinguished by the curved tibial apophysis. The female has a strongly sclerotized epigyne (the sclerotization in other species is much weaker) and clearly shorter copulatory ducts than its congeners.

Material examined

UGANDA • 1 ♂; Masindi distr., Budongo Forest; 1°45′ N, 31°25′ E; dry season; 11–20 Jul. 1995; T. Wagner leg.; ZFMK 2930 • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 15–25 Jan. 1997; ZFMK 2954 • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 2920 • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 1–10 Jul. 1995; ZFMK 2982 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 2993 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 2879 • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 5–15 Jan. 1997; ZFMK 2990 • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 2999 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 3010 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 2896 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 2963 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 2915 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 3002 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 2998 • 2 ♂♂; same locality as for preceding; 19–30 Jun. 1995; ZFMK 2931 • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 21–30 Jul. 1995; ZFMK 2942 • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 15–30 Jun. 1995; ZFMK 2948 • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 5–12 Feb. 1997; ZFMK 3828 • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 3829 .

Redescription

Male

General appearance as in Fig. 97A. Big and flattened spider.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.0–2.3, width 1.8–1.9, height 1.0–1.1. Eye field length 1.1–1.2, anterior width 1.5, posterior width 1.6. Abdomen length 2.1–2.7, width 1.3–1.5.

CARAPACE. Rounded, chocolate brown, eyes surrounded by black rings, large black patch in center of eye field. Translucent shining scales scattered on eye field, some brown bristles in vicinity of eyes. Clypeus low, dark brown. Promargin of chelicerae with two teeth, retromargin with single tooth. Mouthparts and sternum brown.

ABDOMEN. Elongated, greyish brown. Longitudinal wide light median streak formed by silver scales of abdominal dorsum. Thin sparse hairs on abdomen, denser at anterior edge. Venter whitish with wide grey streak. Spinnerets yellowish grey.

LEGS. First and second pair brown with yellow metatarsi and tarsi. First legs thicker than others. Leg II and IV yellow with brown femora. Leg hairs and spines brown.

PALP. Brown, its structure shown on Figs 97B–E, 98A–B. Tibia with characteristic curved apophysis (Figs 97B, 98A). Bulb rounded, swollen, with large triangular appendix on prolateral side, embolus encircling bulb once (Fig. 98A).

Female

Shape of body as in male, colouration slightly lighter.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.0–2.3, width 1.4–1.8, height 0.8–0.9. Eye field length 1.0–1.1, anterior width 1.2–1.5, posterior width 1.3–1.6. Abdomen length 2.0–3.5, width 1.2–1.9.

ABDOMEN. Yellowish grey, venter whitish.

EPIGYNE. Strongly sclerotized (Fig. 98F) with trapezoid atrium. Copulatory ducts form one loop, spermathecae consisting of two chambers connected by thin canal, very long accessory glands (Fig. 99D). Two very deep pockets at posterior epigynal border.

Distribution

Previously known only from Guinea, this is the first record for Uganda.

Remarks

The female is described here for the first time.