Enoplomischus pulcher sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 1EC5AF3E-3F4B-42A1-B69A-C92051E4EAEE

Figs 14–15

Diagnosis

The species shares some characters with the type species of the genus – Enoplomischus ghesquierei: the same pattern of cheliceral dentition (two teeth on the promargin and a toothless retromargin), the presence of dense long hairs on the front of the lateral sides of the carapace (forming a brush-like structure), the presence of a small femoral apophysis of the male palp. The two species are easily distinguished by their genitalia structure, colouration and lack of outgrowth on pedicel in E. pulcher sp. nov.

Etymology

The name is Latin, meaning ‘beautiful’.

Material examined

Holotype

UGANDA • ♂; Entebbe; Jul. 2001; FSCA.

Paratypes

UGANDA • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; FSCA • 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀; same locality as for holotype; Apr. 1999; FSCA .

Description

Male

General appearance as in Fig. 14A–C, ant-like spider.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 1.8, width 1.2, height 0.6. Eye field length 0.9, anterior width 1.0, posterior width 1.1. Abdomen length 2.0, width 1.0.

CARAPACE. More or less rectangular, with shallow constriction behind eye field, cephalic part slightly higher than thoracic part. Carapace pitted (both cephalic and thoracic regions), dark brown darkening marginally, anterior part of eye field almost black. Very dense, long hairs form ‘brush’ on lateral sides anteriorly. Mouthparts dark brown. Chelicerae massive, with two small fused teeth on promargin, retromargin toothless (Figs 14D, 15A). Labium and endites slightly elongated, sternum oval.

ABDOMEN. Pear-shaped, widest posteriorly, with constriction in middle. Colouration of abdomen black, with some very small light points in anterior half, two creamy triangular patches in constriction laterally, extending to venter. Spinnerets yellow.

LEGS. Coxae creamy. First leg slightly thickened, femora dark brown, patella and tibia light brown with blackish line along prolateral sides, distal segments light brown. Leg II similar to I, other legs with femora and patellae blackish dorsally, tibiae and metatarsi dark basally. Sparse white scales on thoracic part of carapace, at anterior margin of abdomen (denser on light area of constriction) and on femora.

PALP. Blackish, bearing very dense dark hairs, some white scales on tibia and cymbium. Palpal femur with small ventral apophysis (Fig. 14F). Tibial apophysis very short, placed ventrally, bulb oval, embolus stiletto-like (Figs 14E, 15B–D).

Female

Body shape and colouration as in male. Palps flattened, hairy.

Measurements. Cephalothorax length 1.8–1.9, width 1.2–1.3, height 0.6. Eye field length 0.9, anterior width 1.0–1.1, posterior width 1.1–1.2. Abdomen length 2.1–2.5, width 1.1–1.4. General appearance as in Fig. 14G–H.

EPIGYNE. With V-shaped posterior border and shallow oval depression (Figs 14J, 15E). Internal structure as in Fig. 15F. Very long accessory glands connected to copulatory ducts before they enter into spermathecae. Spermathecae long, tubuliform, forming a few loops, first of them biggest.