Mikrus ugandensis Wesołowska, 2001

Wiśniewski, Konrad & Wesołowska, Wanda, 2024, Jumping spiders (Salticidae) of Uganda - revised list, new species and distributional data, European Journal of Taxonomy 952, pp. 1-171 : 70-71

Mikrus ugandensis Wesołowska, 2001

Fig. 46

Mikrus ugandensis Wesołowska, 2001: 586 , figs 1–7.

Diagnosis of female

The shape of body and colouration as in male; two pairs of round white spots on abdomen. The female may be distinguished by the strongly sclerotized of posterior part of epigyne ( Fig. 46B ), and the arrangement of copulatory ducts that are parallel to posterior rim of epigyne in their initial part.

Material examined

UGANDA • 1 ♂; Mt Elgon, Mbale, Bublo ; Eucalyptys ; 28 Jul. 2015; K. Vanderhaegen leg.; MRAC 245 141 • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; Grevillea ; 28 Jul. 2015; MRAC 245 190 • 1 ♂; Entebbe, Botanic Gardens ; 0°04′ N, 32°28′ E; in long grass; 12 May 1991; A. Russell-Smith leg.; MRAC 211 430 • 1 ♂, 4 ♀♀; Kampala, Namulonge Research Station ; 0°34′ N, 34°50′ E; grass; 12 Oct. 1987; A. Russell-Smith leg.; MRAC 236 126 .

Redescription

Description of male in Wesołowska (2001). General appearance in Fig. 46A . Characteristic white scales on palpal tibia.

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 1.2, width 1.0, height 0.4. Eye field length 0.5, anterior and posterior width 0.6. Abdomen length 1.5, width 1.2. Tiny spider.

CARAPACE. Dark brown with black eye field, bearing translucent hairs. Mouthparts and sternum brown.

ABDOMEN. Rounded, dark grey, clothed in greyish hairs, with two pairs of round light spots composed of white scales. Dorsum of abdomen clothed in brown hairs. Spinnerets grey.

LEGS. Light brown with darker hairs.

EPIGYNE. Strongly sclerotized ( Fig. 46B–C ). Copulatory openings placed laterally, near posterior border; copulatory ducts short, parallel to epigynal border, further directed anteriorly; spermathecae big, globular, thick-walled ( Fig. 46D ).

Distribution

Known from Kenya and Uganda.

Remarks

The female of this species is described here for the first time.

Remarks

Only one female is available, whose features show close relationship to other thiratoscirtines. However, due to the unusual dentition of chelicerae, we decided to create a new genus for it. This will need confirmation in the future, when males are discovered. The dentition of chelicerae does not reflect all relationships within the Salticidae , but remains a good diagnostic feature for some taxa.

Figures

Fig. 46. Mikrus ugandensis Wesołowska, 2001. A. ♂, general appearance, dorsolateral view (MRAC). B–D. ♀ (MRAC 236 126). B–C. Epigyne. D. Internal structure of epigyne.