Baryphas scintillans Berland & Millot, 1941

Figs 5–6

Baryphas scintillans Berland & Millot, 1941: 316, fig. 18.

Diagnosis

The species is similar to Baryphas jullieni Simon, 1902 . The male can be recognized by the curved tibial apophysis of the palp vs straight in the latter species. The female colour pattern is the same as in B. jullieni . The epigynes of both species are similar, but differ in their internal structure; a characteristic feature of B. scintillans is the presence of two large posterior pockets, while B. jullieni has a strongly sclerotized rim.

Material examined

UGANDA • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; Entebbe; Apr. 2001; FSCA • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Entebbe, Botanical Gardens; on vegetation; 2 Apr. 1995; D. Penney leg.; NHM • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; Aug. 1994; NHM • 1 ♂; Masaka distr., Lake Nabugabo; 0°22′ S, 31°54′ E; Aug. 1994; NHM • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 11 Apr.1995; NHM • 1 ♀; Pakai; Jul. 1994; NHM .

Redescription

Male

General appearance as in Fig. 5A.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.8, width 2.5, height 1.5. Eye field length 1.3, anterior width 1.8, posterior width 2.0. Abdomen length 3.2, width 1.9.

CARAPACE. Medium high, black coloured, shinning, covered with dense and long black hairs. Chelicerae unidentati, with white scales on dorsal surface.

ABDOMEN. Black with dense and long black hairs, some of them very long.

LEGS. Black with many small white scales (especially on femora).

PALP. As in Figs 5B–D, 6A–B, tibial apophysis curved, cymbium clothed in white scales.

Female

General appearance as in Fig. 5E.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.6–3.4, width 2.2–2.5, height 1.1–1.3. Eye field length 1.0–1.3, anterior width 1.3–1.6, posterior width 1.6–1.9. Abdomen length 2.7–5.2, width 1.7–3.7.

CARAPACE. Oval, black with metallic lustre, clothed in black hairs, white scale-like hairs on lateral slopes. Mouthparts and sternum black.

ABDOMEN. Ovoid, swollen, black, shinning, with poorly contrasting whitish golden arched stripes (Fig. 5E). Venter and spinnerets black.

LEGS AND PALPS. Blackish, bearing black hairs and white scales.

EPIGYNE. With oval deep depression in center (Figs 5F–G, 6C). Internal structures as in Fig. 6D–E, pair of large pockets at posterior border, copulatory ducts directed laterally, spermathecae multi-chambered.

Distribution

Previously known from Ivory Coast and Guinea, this is the first record in Uganda.

Remarks

The female is described for the first time.