Hermotimus cornutus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 2617A7BF-D459-4E81-83AC-8A0627B92FB4

Figs 28–29

Diagnosis

This species is generally lighter than H. coriaceus . The male is easily recognized by the structure of the chelicerae that have long processes on the inner edges of the dorsal surface (Figs 28B, 29B), and lacks a dichotomous retromarginal tooth which is present in the other species. The embolus is clearly shorter and wider than in H. coriaceus (cf. Fig. 28D with Fig. 26D). The female differs from that of H. coriaceus by the lack of epigynal pockets.

Etymology

The specific epithet is Latin, meaning ‘horned’ and refers to the chelicera form.

Material examined

Holotype

UGANDA • ♂; Bundibugyo distr., Semliki; 0°44′ N, 29°57′ E; 670 m a.s.l.; 5–12 Feb. 1997; T. Wagner leg.; ZFMK 3832.

Paratypes

UGANDA • 1 ♂; Masindi distr., Budongo Forest; 1°45′ N, 31°25′ E; dry season; 1–15 Jan. 1997; T. Wagner leg.; ZFMK 3023 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; ZFMK 2892 • 2 ♂♂; Entebbe; Apr. 2001; FSCA .

Description

Male

General appearance as in Fig. 28A.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.5–3.7, width 2.1–3.0, height 1.1–1.7. Eye field length 1.4–1.6, anterior and posterior width 1.7–2.0. Abdomen length 2.9–4.2, width 1.9–2.4.

CARAPACE. Oval, elevated, with gently sloping thoracic part, widest at half-length of thoracic part, brown, darker at margins, eyes surrounded by black rings. Eye field with silver patches (translucent guanine cristals). Fovea clearly visible. Short brown hairs on carapace, whitish hairs on lateral slope. Chelicerae long, two teeth on promargin, single wide tooth on retromargin, long appendix with blunt tip on inner edge of chelicera dorsum (Figs 28B, 29B). White hairs on clypeus and dorsal surface of chelicerae. Endites and labium brown, sternum yellow.

ABDOMEN. Ovoid, greyish with thin brown median line and silver patches on dorsum. Venter whitish, with grey marks on sides. Spinnerets greyish beige.

LEGS. Brown, first pair stoutest.

PALPS. Brown, bearing dense hairs. Palpal organ as in Figs 28D, 29C, tibial apophysis wide at base and sharply pointed, bulb oval, embolus short and wide, arising from bulb tip (Figs 28D, 29C).

Female

Shape of body and colouration similar to male. Chelicerae not modified.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 3.0, width 2.0, height 1.2. Eye field length 1.4, anterior and posterior width 1.7. Abdomen length 3.4, width 2.2.

EPIGYNE. As in Fig. 29E, its internal structure as in Fig. 29F.