Thiratoscirtus africanus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9C1656E0-257B-45E9-9956-BC8346B6DB36

Figs 82–83

Diagnosis

The male has a palpal organ slightly similar to that in Thiratoscirtus patagonicus Simon, 1886 but it can be readily distinguished by the tibial apophysis, which is short, wide and blunt in the newly described species, while it is longer and narrower in the latter species. The male chelicera is unique, with a very long tooth on the retromarginal edge. The female has adelicate epigyne with large anterior atrium, unlike that in other thiratoscirtines.

Etymology

Specific name is derived from Africa, the continent where the species occurs.

Material examined

Holotype

UGANDA • ♂; Masindi distr., Budongo Forest; 1°45′ N, 31°25′ E; dry season; 15–25 Jan. 1997; T. Wagner leg.; ZFMK 2991.

Paratypes

UGANDA • 1 ♂; same locality as for holotype; 21–30 Jul. 1995; T. Wagner leg.; ZFMK 2893 • 1 ♀; same locality as for holotype; 5–15 Jan. 1997; ZFMK 2889 .

Other material

GABON • 1 ♂ (not examined); Ngounié, Waka National Park; 1°08′ S, 11°09′ E (see Bodner & Maddison 2012: fig. 2b MRB222) .

Description

Male

General appearance as in Fig. 82A. Slender spider.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 3.1, width 2.7, height 1.6. Eye field length 1.8, anterior width 2.4, posterior width 2.3. Abdomen length 4.2, width 1.8.

CARAPACE. Brown, eyes surrounded by black area, anterior median eyes large, encircled by white hairs. Some white hairs and long brown bristles laterally from eye field, small white patch at fovea. Wide light streaks along lateral margins of carapace. Chelicera big, dark brown with two teeth on promargin and single long tooth on retromargin (Fig. 82B). Sternum yellow, mouthparts light brownish.

ABDOMEN. Elongated, beige with wide light brownish median streak in anterior half, sparse long brown bristles on dorsum. Venter whitish yellow with two lines formed by dark dots, grey patch at base of spinnerets. Spinnerets light brownish.

LEGS. Dark yellow, first pair brown, long (especially tibiae). Leg hairs and spines brown.

PALPS. Light, clothed in long dense brown hairs, on base of cymbium and tibia white hairs. Structure of palpal organ as in Figs 82C–E, 83A–B. Tibial apophysis short, wide, with blunt tip (Figs 82D–E, 83B). Embolus base on prolateral side, wide proximally, forming lose loop distally (Figs 82C, E, 83A).

Female

Similar to male but lighter coloured. Chelicerae large, but retromarginal tooth smaller than in male. Palp with single retrolateral spine on tarsus. General appearance as in Fig. 82F.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.9, width 2.5, height 1.6. Eye field length 1.6, anterior width 2.3, posterior width 2.2. Abdomen length 3.9, width 2.2.

EPIGYNE. As in Figs 82G, 83C, with large atria placed anteriorly. Copulatory openings located laterally in atria, copulatory ducts very weakly sclerotized (visible after staining in Chlorasole black E), forming loop in atria, only spermathecae with stronger sclerotization (Fig. 83D).

Distribution

Species occurs in Uganda and Gabon.