Hyllus formosus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 615D6590-3759-49DF-BD18-C9F0AF0481F6

Fig. 33

Diagnosis

The female has an epigyne whose structure resembles that in Hyllus ignotus Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2022, consisting of very short copulatory ducts and large spherical spermathecae. The two species differ by the trajectory of the copulatory ducts, parallel to the body axis in H. ignotus but perpendicular in the newly described species.

Etymology

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘pretty’ and refers to the appearance of this spider.

Material examined

Holotype

UGANDA • ♀, Masindi distr., Budongo Forest; 1°45′ N, 31°25′ E; dry season; 5–12. Feb. 1997; T. Wagner leg.; ZFMK 3825.

Description

Male

Unknown.

Female

General appearance as in Fig. 33A.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 3.1, width 2.4, height 1.5. Eye field length 1.5, anterior width 2.0, posterior width 2.1. Abdomen length 2.5, width 2.0.

CARAPACE. Light brown, darker median streak on thoracic part, eyes with black rings. Sparse brown bristles on carapace, some white hairs near eyes. Mouthparts light brown, sternum yellow.

ABDOMEN. Generally dark brown, large whitish area with brown median line in anterior half, pair of small white round patches in the middle (Fig. 33A). Abdominal sides light. Some brown bristles on abdomen. Venter yellowish with three brown streaks. Posterior spinnerets blackish.

LEGS. Yellow with brown rings on distal ends of segments, leg hairs and spines brown.

EPIGYNE. With large central depression (Fig. 33B–C), copulatory openings placed in the depression posteromesially with adjacent membranous atria, copulatory ducts short directed to sides, spermathecae large, spherical (Fig. 33D).