Dendryphantes sasa sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: C8B7B8FB-46AF-45A7-9460-87A1ABBE1C16

Fig. 12

Diagnosis

The species can be recognized from congeners by the structure of epigyne, which has a pair of troughshaped, vertical depressions. The seminal ducts are extremely short.

Etymology

The name is a noun in apposition, derived from the type locality.

Material examined

Holotype

UGANDA • ♀; Mt Elgon, Sasa [river]; 2990 m a.s.l.; 1°10′ N, 34°26′ E; dry season; Sep. 1997; T. Wagner leg.; ZFMK 4898.

Description

Male

Unknown.

Female

Body flattened, typical for members of the genus.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.0, width 1.5, height 1.1. Eye field length 0.9, anterior width 1.1, posterior width 1.2. Abdomen length 3.2, width 1.8.

CARAPACE. Oval, light brown, darkening marginally, covered with short white hairs. Eyes framed by black area, eye field with pair of blackish spots and silver patches (guanin crystals beneath translucent cuticle). Clypeus very low, dark. Chelicerae unidentati. Sternum and mouthparts pale brown.

ABDOMEN. Ovoid, light brown, trace of darker median band in anterior half, two pairs of small dark marks posteriorly. Venter and spinnerets yellow.

LEGS. Yellow, bearing brown hairs.

EPIGYNE. Oval, with pair of grooves, their mesial edges strongly sclerotized (Fig. 12A). Copulatory ducts very short, accessory glands present, spermathecae multi-chambered, first chamber largest (Fig. 12B).