Stenaelurillus nigricaudus SIMON, 1886

Szűts, T. & Scharff, N., 2005, Redescriptions Of Little Known Jumping Spider Genera (Araneae: Salticidae) From West Africa, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 51 (4), pp. 357-378 : 372-376

Stenaelurillus nigricaudus SIMON, 1886

( Figs 7 A-C, 8)

S. nigricauda SIMON, 1886: 351 .

S. nigritarsis SIMON, 1886: 351 syn. n.

S. nigritarsis : CAPORIACCO, 1936: 79.

S. nigricauda : BERLAND & MILLOT, 1941: 313, fig 14.

S. nigritarsis : CLARK, 1974:

Synonymy – The new synonymy was already suggested by CLARK (1974), although not formally established. He also noticed that one of the two females together with S. nigritarsis holotype represent another species ( Stenaelurillus sp. and Phlegra bresnieri (LUCAS, 1846) . SIMON described only the males of S. nigricaudus and S. nigritarsis . We compared the male palps of the type specimens and found them identical. We therefore suggest that S. nigritarsis is a junior synonym of S. nigricaudus . The females in the vials of S. nigricaudus and S. nigritarsis , however, have clearly different epigynes. CLARK (1974) suggested that the difference could reflect individual variation within the species, but in our opinion it could also reflect wrongly associated sexes. Additional females specimens found together with a S. nigricaudus male, also differ from each other and from the above mentioned females. Thus, matching males and females correctly are still problematic and must await discovery of more material. Females in holotype vial may not be conspecific.

Diagnosis – The species can easily be recognized by the shape and length of embolus: embolus with blunt tip and of medium length. Since the matching female of the species still in doubt, we cannot give diagnosis for the females.

Male holotype: Specimen in fair condition, but rather pale due to many years of storage in ethanol. Carapace reddish brown with two longitudinal stripes in the thoracic area, legs yellowish. Abdomen, with a poorly sclerotized reddish-brown scutum. Spinnerets pale yellow, with a black tip. Male from Gambia: specimen in good condition, carapace brown ocular area black. Thoracic area with two longitudinal white stripes, legs yellowish, densely covered with black hairs. Abdomen with three longitudinal stripes: the middle one is black, the lateral are white. Spinnerets yellow, with a black tip ( Fig. 7C ).

Measurements – Total length 4.0, carapace 2.0 long, 1.3 wide and 0.85 high at the PLE. Abdomen 2.0 long and 1.4 wide. AEW 1.17, PEW 1.1, OCA 0.78 long.

Male palp, with a slightly bent retrolateral tibial apophysis. Embolus of medium length and with a blunt tip.

Female from Dakar: Condition like male, but abdomen slightly damaged. Carapace reddish-brown, with two longitudinal whitish stripes on the lateral side of carapace, and two longitudinal stripes in the thoracic area. Abdomen damaged and dorsal pattern therefore difficult to reconstruct.

Measurements – Total length 5.5, carapace 2.25 long, 1.63 wide and 1.0 high. Abdomen 3.0 long and 2.25 wide. AEW 1.25, PEW 1.25, OCA 0.75 long.

Epigyne – is similar to that of S. kronestedti PRÓCHNIEWICZ et HĘCIAK, 1994 , but spermathecae are situated in front of copulatory openings. Vulva was not examined, due to lack of non-type material. However it must be emphasized there is no evidence, this female belongs to S. nigricaudus .

Distribution – Known from Senegal (Dakar) and Algeria (Bou Saada) and Gambia (Kiang West National Park).

Material examined – Type material: Stenaelurillus nigricauda SIMON, 1886 , holotype (examined), male from Senegal. Handwritten labels in tube: “7032 Stenae nigricauda E. S., Dakar (Bl.)”; “7032” “TYPUS? M.E. GALIANO IX. 1959 ”. (MNHN 7032) [an adult female Stenaelurillus specimen also present in the tube however it is not mentioned in the original description, and therefore not type material]; Stenaelurillus nigritarsis SIMON, 1886 , holotype (examined), male from Alegeria, Bou-Saada. Handwritten labels in tube: “5415 Stenae nigritarsis E. S. B.Saada Marnio !” “5415” [2 adult females – one Phlegra bresnieri (LUCAS, 1846) and one Stenaelurillus specimen – and 1 juvenile also present in the tube – however they are not mentioned in the original description, and are therefore not type material.]

Other material: 1 male from Gambia, Kiang West National Park , leg: L. LAJOS, X. 2001 , det: T. SZŰTS.

Stenaelurillus cristatus WESOŁOWSKA et RUSSELL-SMITH, 2000

( Figs 7 D-E, 9)

Stenaelurillus cristatus WESOŁOWSKA et RUSSELL-SMITH, 2000: 96 , f. 261–268.

Diagnosis – The species can easily be recognized by the peculiar and strongly hirsute appearance of males and by the pin-shaped tibial apophysis of the male palp.

Description – Male: Carapace reddish-brown ( Fig. 9A ), without distinct longitudinal white stripes, ocular area hairy. In dorsal view, the hairy field brownish, extend from the second legs until the front eyes ( Fig. 9B ). As seen from the frontal view ( Fig. 9C ), the hairs below anterior eyes are black. Between the black stripes, the hairs are filled with air, working as a prisma, therefore rainbow coloured. Abdomen reddish-brow, with a reddish scutum and with three white dots on the dorsum.

Measurements – Total length 4.95, carapace 2.63 long, 1.63 wide and 2.13 high. Abdomen 2.13 long 1.50 wide. AEW 1.61, PEW 1.5, OCA 0.84 long.

Palp – Densely covered with white (prolateral side) and black (retrolateral side) hairs. Tibia with a straight pointed apophysis. Retrolateral side of the cymbium covered with thick strong setae. Embolus blunt almost hidden behind the tegular apophysis ( Figs 7 D-E, 9D).

Female: See WESOŁOWSKA & RUSSELL-SMITH, 2000: 96, f. 266–268.

Distribution – Known from Tanzania (Mkomazi Game Reserve – type locality) and Ghana (Banda-Nkwanta).

Material examined: Two males from Banda-Nkwanta, Ghana, 1–14.vii.1965, abandoned yams field, pitfall trap, ENDRŐDY-YOUNGA leg. ( HNHM 397 ) .

*

Acknowledgements – We are grateful Dr WANDA WESOŁOWSKA for the fruitful discussions about the salticid taxonomy, and her help getting old/rare literature, and the valuable remarks on the earlier version of the manuscript. We also thank for her support during a short, but fruitful visit to the Wrocław University during the autumn of 2002 for T. SZŰTS. We would like to thank Dr CHRISTINE ROLLARD (Musée national d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris), for giving access to the collection. This study was supported by a grant from the European Commission’s programme “Transnational Access to Major Research Infrastructures” to COL-PARSYST, which made possible a three-week visit in the Musée national d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris (in 2001 and 2005), to COBICE and SYNTHESYS for two months in the Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen (in 2001) for the first author. We would like to thank Drs D. LOGUNOV and W. WESOŁOWSKA for their valuable comments to an earlier version of this manuscript.

This study was supported by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA 038319) and the Danish Natural Science Research Council (21020502). ANDRÁS KUN gave useful advice concerning the digital photos, MIHÁLY FÖLDVÁRI translated the French text and Dr BRIAN TAYLOR helped to locate African collecting sites, we highly appreciate their help.

Figures

Fig. 7. Stenaleurillus species. Stenaelurillus nigricaudus A = palp, ventral view, B = same, retrolateral view. C = habitus, dorsal view; S. cristatus D = palp, ventral view, E = same, retrolateral view. Scales 0.1 mm for palps

Fig. 9. Habitus of male S. cristatus. A = lateral view, B = dorsal view, C = fronto-lateral view; D = palp, ventral view