Rhene eximia sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9DAA69D0-4B3A-49AC-B0A8-F11D2CACA08C

Figs 75–76

Diagnosis

This species differs from other species of Rhene in the shape of the carapace, which is oval with a relatively short eye area, while most species have a round or trapezoidal carapace, and the eye field occupies most of it. The male can be recognized by the embolus, which is twisted and accompanied by a functional conductor with a spike-like tip. The twisted embolus also occurs in Rene kenyaensis Wesołowska & Dawidowicz, 2014 and Rhene sulfurea (Simon, 1886), but it is much longer in the two latter species and lacks a conductor. The female differs from its congeners in having very long, strongly sclerotized tail-like structures at the copulatory openings.

Etymology

The name is Latin, meaning ‘unique’, and refers to the exceptional structure of the epigyne.

Material examined

Holotype

UGANDA • ♀; Entebbe; Apr. 1999; FSCA.

Paratypes

UGANDA • 1 ♂, 10 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; FSCA • 1 ♀; same locality as for holotype; Apr. 2001; FSCA .

Description

Male

General appearance as in Fig. 75A

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.5, width 1.9, height 0.8. Eye field length 1.0, anterior and posterior width 1.3. Abdomen length 2.8, width 1.7.

CARAPACE. Oval, flattened, dark brown, slopes and vicinity of eyes black. Eye field occupying third of length of carapace, guanin crystals translucent through integument. Short whitish hairs on thoracic part, long bristles near eyes. Sternum and mouthparts dark brown.

Abdomen ovoid, flattened, dark yellow with two pairs of brown spots and trace of dark median streak. Long whitish bristles at anterior edge of abdomen, white hairs form two patches submarginally at the end of abdomen. Venter yellow.

LEGS. First pair thicker than other legs, dark brown, bearing dense dark brown hairs, some white hairs on prolateral surface of femur. Leg II dark brown, III and IV yellow with brown femora.

PALPS. Dark brown with dense brown hairs. Palpal structure as in Figs 75B, 76A–B. Embolus twisted, functional conductor with sharp tip (Fig. 75C–D).

Female

General appearance as in Fig. 75C–D. Similar to male.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.3–2.5, width 1.8–1.9, height 0.8. Eye field length 0.9, anterior and posterior width 1.4. Abdomen length 3.2–3.5, width 1.7–1.9.

ABDOMEN. Colouration different from male, greyish brown with thin light band on anterior margin stretches to sides, serrated median light belt on dorsum. Venter with large brown streak and two lines composed of light dots.

EPIGYNE. As in Figs 75E, 76E, with characteristic two long sclerotized ridges running from copulatory openings towards posterior epigynal border. Copulatory ducts straight, spermathecae heavily sclerotized, with first chamber spherical and second thick-walled, curved to sides (Fig. 76F).

Remarks

We designate the female as the holotype because its unique epigyne allows a quick and correct identification of the species. The other features are not so conspicuous.