Odontodrassus aphanes (Thorell, 1897)

Saaristo, Michael I., 2002, New species and interesting new records of spiders from Seychelles (Arachnida, Araneaea), Phelsuma 10, pp. 1-32 : 11

Odontodrassus aphanes (Thorell, 1897) ( Figs. 25-27 )

Drassus aphanes Thorell, 1897a: 218 (Df) .

Scotophaeus javanus Kulczyn’ski, 1911 b: 470, pl. 21, f. 21,24 (Df). Drassodes ciusi Berland, 1924a: 192 , f. 54-56 (Dm).

Drassodes ciusi, Berland 1929a: 393 , f. 3-4 (Df).

Odontodrassus javanus, Platnick 1981:332, f. 1-4 (Tf from Zelotes per Roewer, Sm).

Kamura, 1990: 32, f. 1-2 0).

Odontodrassus aphanes, Deeleman-Reinhold 2001: 530 , f.915-921 (Tf from Drassodes, Sm ).

Material examined: Bird , 1m, 06.04.2001, J. Gerlach leg. ( MZT AA 2.183 ) .

Diagnosis: This is a smallish (TL=5-5.8), light coloured species; carapace pale orange, abdomen dorsaily mouse-grey with a small, triangular dark coloured apical scutum covered with long, curved and thickened hairs, venter creamy white. Male palp with enlarged embolar base bearing a long, whip-like embolus running along the retrolateral edge of large, flat conductor. Female epigynum with a wide median ridge covering two long, parallel median ducts with laterally directed anterior ends.

Description: The species has been well described by Platnick (1981: Odontodrassus javanus) and Deeleman-Reinhold (2001).

Distribution: The species seems to be widely distributed in the tropics, probably partly due to human introductions ( Platnick 1981, Deeleman-Reinhold 2001). This is the first record of the species from Seychelles and so far found only from Bird.

Figures

Figs. 25 - 27. Odontodrassus aphanes (Thorell, 1897). - 25: Left male palp ventrally. - 26: Epigyne ventrally, - 27: Ocular area. - Scale bars - 0.2 mm. Orig.