Microdiores violaceus, Nzigidahera & Jocqué, 2010

Nzigidahera, Benoît & Jocqué, Rudy, 2010, On new species of Microdiores (Araneae, Zodariidae) from Central and East Africa, ZooKeys 48 (48), pp. 11-19 : 15-18

Microdiores violaceus sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FB9B95FC-CB2B-4419-B238-9F5340A834E6

Figs 3A–C, 4

Material examined. Holotype male. BURUNDI: Parc National de la Kibira, Rwegura, Mt Musumba , 02.86455°S, 029.50427° E, site 4, forest with Macaranga ne-

Figure 3A–C. Microdiores violaceus sp. n. A Male palp, ventral view B Male palp, retrolateral view; C epigyne, ventral view. (Scale bars: 0.1mm)

omildbraediana and Polyscias fulva , 10.IX.2008, 2352m, pitfalls, Nzigidahera Benoît ( MRAC 226800).

Paratypes. All paratypes from BURUNDI, Zone of Kibira National Park , Rwegura, Mt Musumba, pitfalls, B. Nzigidahera, 02.86435°S, 029.49540° E, site 7, tea plantation adjacent to NP, 2100 m ; 1♁: 25.VIII.2008 ( MRAC 226799 ) ; 1♁: 25.XII.2008 ( MRAC 226801 ) ; 1♁: 10.I.2008 ( INECN) ; 1♁: 02.87149°S, 029.49641° E, site 3, 10.XI.2008, forest with Hagenia abyssinica, 2444 m ( INECN) ; 6♁: 25.VIII.2008 ( INECN) ; 1♁: 02.87696°S, 029.49709° E, site 1, 25. V.2008, mountain heather with Philippia benguelensis, 2650 m ( INECN) .

Diagnosis. The male of this species is recognized by the broad tibial apophysis with a rounded down curved tip and by the long embolus with broad base, its tip supported by the broad median apophysis with two short triangular prongs. The female is characterized by broadly oval spermathecae which are flask shaped in M. chowo .

Etymology. The specific name “ violaceus ”, refers to the colour of the abdomen which is violet.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 1.80, carapace 0.90 long and 0.70 wide. Carapace, sepia with greyish brown, with slightly darker radiating striae. Eyes AME very large, round, dark; others small, pale; anterior eye row straight, posterior eye row procurved; AME: 0.08; ALE: 0.06; PME: 0.06; PLE: 0.06; AME-AME: 0.02; AME-ALE: 0.00; PME-

PME: 0.08; PME-PLE: 0.02. Chelicerae yellowish brown. Sternum greyish brown. Labium yellowish brown, triangular. Legs yellowish brown, with many short hairs. Abdomen, Dorsum oval, sepia with some poorly marked pale chevrons; venter pale. Spinnerets pale. Palp (fig. 3AB): cymbium with distal spine and sub-distal row of three modified setae; tibial apophysis broad, with parallel sides pointing obliquely downward, with broadly rounded tip; embolus originating on posterior part of tegulum; its base pointing forward to distal tip of tegulum, broadly curved towards MA with two short, triangular prongs.

Leg measurements:

Leg F P T Mt t Total

I 0.68 0.24 0.52 0.52 0.50 2.46

II 0.60 0.22 0.44 0.41 0.40 2.07

III 0.60 0.24 0.40 0.46 0.40 2.10

IV 0.78 0.24 0.60 0.76 0.50 2.88

Female paratype (from site 3). Colour pattern similar to male. Total length 2.36, Carapace 0.90 long and 0.70 wide. Eyes, AME: 0.08; ALE: 0.06; PME: 0.06; PLE: 0.06; AME-AME: 0.02; AME-ALE: 0.00; PME-PME: 0.08; PME-PLE: 0.02.

Leg measurements:

Leg F P T Mt t Total

I 0.60 0.24 0.50 0.48 0.40 2.22

II 0.50 0.20 0.50 0.40 0.40 2.00

III 0.54 0.20 0.40 0.40 0.40 1.94

IV 0.70 0.24 0.50 0.70 0.52 2.66

Epigyne (figs 3C, 4) with a clearly sclerotised part on either side of the dark medi- an longitudinal lines; posterior margin poorly sclerotised; spermathecae oval, adjacent.

Variation. Carapace colour may vary from sepia to grayish brown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Key to the species (males only)

1. Embolus long, curved back and reaching RTA (A1)................................... 2 − Embolus shorter, curved back but not reaching RTA (B) .................. M. chowo

2. RTA in retrolateral view with large, rounded, downcurved tip (C1, D1); MA with sharp downpointing extremity at proximal end (C2, D2)....................... 3

− RTA in retrolateral view of different shape (A2); MA without downpointing tip.................................................................................................. M. rwegura

3 Ventral tibial apophysis with rounded tip (E1), provided with outward point-

ing macroseta (E2) ..................................................... M. aurantioviolaceus − Ventral tibial apophysis with truncated tip (F); without macroseta...............

................................................................................................ M. violaceus