Mexcala inopinata, Wiśniewski & Wesołowska, 2024

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 : 68-69

Mexcala inopinata sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:6275454D-07EF-417E-BA56-BD17BEFBE6DF

Fig. 45

Diagnosis

This species is related to Mexcala macilenta Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000 . In the newly described species, the male has a large semicircular lobe below the base of the embolus, which is absent in males of M. macilenta (compare Fig. 45A with Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2000: fig. 181). The female has a large oval epigynal depression with the copulatory ducts visible on the sides of the depression, while the depression in females of M. macilenta is trapezoidal and the copulatory ducts are visible within this depression.

Etymology

Specific name is Latin, meaning ‘unexpected’.

Material examined

Holotype

UGANDA • ♂; Apr. 1999; FSCA.

Paratypes

UGANDA • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; FSCA • 2 ♀♀; same locality as for holotype; Apr. 2001; FSCA .

Description

Male

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 3.1, width 2.3, height 1.2. Eye field length 1.2, anterior and posterior width 1.5. Abdomen length 3.2, width 1.8.

CARAPACE. Pear-shaped, black, eye field short.

ABDOMEN. Black, its anterior edge and posterior two third covered with russet hairs. Sparse black hairs on carapace. Spinnerets black.

LEGS. Long, black, bearing black hairs.

PALPS. With white scales on cymbium and tibia. Palpal organ as in Fig. 45A–C , tibial apophysis long and thin, its tip bent towards palp (in ventral view); bulb without triangular posterior lobe (present in majority of congeners); at base of embolus large semicircular lobe.

Female

Shape of body and colouration as in male.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 3.2–3.5, width 2.3–2.4, height 1.2. Eye field length 1.2, anterior and posterior width 1.5. Abdomen length 3.8–4.0, width 1.9–2.1.

EPIGYNE. With large oval depression ( Fig. 45D ). Copulatory openings placed laterally, at edges of depression, copulatory ducts running outside depression ( Fig. 45E ).

Figures

Fig. 45. Mexcala inopinata sp. nov. A–C. Holotype, ♂ (FSCA). A. Palpal organ, ventral view. B. Palpal organ, ventrolateral view. C. Palpal organ, lateral view. D–E. Paratype, ♀ (FSCA). D. Epigyne. E. Internal structure of epigyne.