Rothus vittatus Simon, 1898

Cruz Da Silva, Estevam L. & Sierwald, Petra, 2015, First description of the male of Rothus vittatus Simon, 1898 (Araneae: Pisauridae), with a review of the African nursery web spider genus Rothus Simon, 1898, African Invertebrates 56 (2), pp. 325-342 : 334-339

Rothus vittatus Simon, 1898

Figs 24–42

Rothus vittatus Simon, 1898 b: 15 ; Blandin 1977: 554, figs 13, 30.

Diagnosis: Specimens of R. vittatus , even subadults, can be distinguished from R. aethiopicus by the presence of rows of short, dark, stiff bristles ventrally on the metatarsi and tarsi, mainly on legs I and II ( Fig. 42). Adult specimens of R. vittatus are generally smaller than those of R. aethiopicus . The females of R. vittatus ( Fig. 30) resemble those of R. aethiopicus in the prominent lateral lobes ( Fig. 8) and by the excavated middle field of the epigynum. In R. vittatus females the excavation of the middle field extends posteriorly less than half the length of the epigynum; the trajectory of the lateral lobes is almost straight in the posterior half of the epigynum ( Figs 30, 31). The head of the spermathecae is elongated ( Figs 32, 33). Males can be distinguished from R. aethiopicus by the acute apex of the median apophysis ( Figs 36, 38, 39) and by the acute tips of the divided apex of the retrolateral tibial apophysis ( Figs 37, 40, 41).

Redescription:

Female ( South Africa, NCA 2002/989).

Total length 12.11. Prosoma 4.6 long, 3.7 wide, light brown with two wide lateral whitish bands ( Fig. 24). Clypeus light brown, 0.38 high ( Fig. 26). Anterior eye row straight, 1.24 wide ( Fig. 26); posterior recurved, 1.52 wide ( Fig. 24). Eye measurements: AME 0.15, ALE 0.26, PME 0.28, PLE 0.30; AME–AME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.20, PME–PME 0.27, PME–PLE 0.22, OQA 0.46, OQP 0.82, OQH 0.74. Chelicerae light brown with white bristles ( Fig. 26). Sternum light brown, bristly; 1.91 long, 1.95 wide ( Fig. 25). Labium dark brown, light brown distally, 0.24 long, 0.54 wide ( Fig. 25). Legs light brown, relative length: IV-I-II-III, I – femur 8.37/ patella-tibia 11.25/ metatarsus 7.50/ tarsus 4.62/ total 31.74; II – 9.35/ 11.75/ 7.87/ 4.87/ 33.84; III – 8.35/ 10.01/ 7.62/ 3.63/ 29.61; IV – 10.12/ 12.50/ 10.50/ 4.75/ 37.87. Ventral pairs of macrosetae on tibiae: I-4; II-4; III-3; IV-4. Superior tarsal claw with 11 teeth ( Fig. 34). Inferior tarsal claw with two teeth ( Fig. 35). Rows of dark, robust short bristles present ventrally on metatarsus and tarsus, mainly on legs I and II. Opisthosoma 7.10 long, light brown, with a dark brown band at the anterior portion ( Fig. 24). Venter light brown, with thin dark brown median band ( Fig. 25). Middle field with short anterior excavation ( Fig. 31). Lateral lobes prominent ( Fig. 30), anteriorly with wide lateral curve, almost straight in posterior section. Copulatory ducts strongly curved ( Fig. 32). Head of spermathecae elongated and with conspicuous pores ( Fig. 33).

Variation: Females (N=9) range in size from 3.5 to 5.0 in prosoma length, average 4.18. Coloration varying from light yellow-brown to dark grey-brown. The female epigyna are rather variable, with several of them being very similar to that of the single type specimen of R. auratus , indicating possibly synonymy (discussed below).

Male ( South Africa, NCA 2008/427).

Total length 6.6. Prosoma 3.7 long, 6.6 wide, light brown with two wide lateral whitish bands ( Fig. 27). Clypeus light brown, 0.16 high ( Fig. 29). Anterior eye row straight, 0.86 wide ( Fig. 29); posterior recurved, 1.02 wide ( Fig. 27). Eye measurements: AME 0.12, ALE 0.18, PME 0.20, PLE 0.26; AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.12, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.24, OQA 0.32, OQP 0.58, OQH 0.56. Chelicerae light brown, with white bristles ( Fig. 29). Sternum light brown, bristly; 1.28 long, 1.24 wide ( Fig. 28). Labium dark brown, light brown distally, 0.31 long, 0.46 wide ( Fig. 28). Legs light brown, relative length: I-II-IV-III, I – femur 3.10/ patella-tibia 4.10/ metatarsus 3.20/ tarsus 2.20/ total 12.60; II – 3.30/ 3.90/ 3.10/ 1.90/ 12.20; III – 2.80/ 3.10/ 2.90/ 1.20/ 10.00; IV – 3.50/ 4.00/ 3.20/ 1.50/ 12.20. Ventral pairs of macrosetae on tibiae: I-4; II-4; III-3; IV-4. Rows of dark, robust, short and almost bladelike bristles present ventrally on metatarsi and tarsi, mainly on legs I and II ( Fig. 42). Opisthosoma 3.7 long, light brown, with dark brown band at anterior portion ( Fig. 27). Venter light brown, with thin dark brown median band ( Fig. 28). Cymbium 1.3 long ( Figs 36, 37). Palpus with elongated bulbus. Distal tegular projection prominent ( Figs 36, 38, 39). Median apophysis with acute apex ( Fig. 39). Conductor short and translucent ( Fig. 36). Ventral tibial apophysis prominent ( Figs 39, 41). Retrolateral tibial apophysis short and divided ( Figs 40, 41). Variation: Males (N=10) vary in size from 2.75 to 4.2 in prosoma length, average 3.52. Male mostly lighter in colour than females and colour pattern less pronounced.

Type material (not examined): Syntypes: 1♂ 7♀ SOUTH AFRICA: Cape Province ( MNHN 9921 ) Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Mpumalanga: Ohrigstad, 14 km south of Belfast [25°31'S 30°30'E], 27–29.xii.1990, V.D. Roth & B. Roth, 1♂, 1♀ ( CASENT 9046708 ). Northern Cape: Prieska [29°38'S 22°57'E], 15.i.2001, C. Haddad, 2♂, 1♀ (NCA 2004/182). Western Cape: Borrelfontein, 8 km W of Gouritz Mouth [33°59'S 22°16'E], 15.v.2008, H. Leibel, 1♂, 1♀ (NCA 2009/5599); Jacobsbaai, Saldanha Bay district [33°00'S 18°04'E], 2.x.2007, R. Lyle & C. Haddad, 3♂, 3♀ (NCA 2008/427); Sedgefield [34°01'S 22°48'E], 30.xii.1986, A. Le Roy, 1♂ (NCA 1988/778); Swartberg Nature Reserve [32°59'S 22°55'E], 15.x.2001, Z. van der Walt, 3♂, 5♀ (NCA 2002/989); same locality, 15.iii.2003, Z. van der Walt, 2♂ (NCA 2003/1092). Remark: Males and females were found together at several localities in South Africa (NCA collection) .

Distribution: South Africa (Mpumalanga, Western Cape and Northern Cape) ( Fig. 1).