Wasaka imitatrix, Haddad, Charles R., 2013

Haddad, Charles R., 2013, Taxonomic notes on the spider genus Messapus Simon, 1898 (Araneae, Corinnidae), with the description of the new genera Copuetta and Wasaka and the first cladistic analysis of Afrotropical Castianeirinae, Zootaxa 3688 (1), pp. 1-79 : 63-65

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3688.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DB84C679-C2AA-41CC-816E-83E2F6DCA391
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6153967
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03DB8445-FFA4-FFF2-FF2A-FCE0302BFACB
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Wasaka imitatrix
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Wasaka imitatrix View in CoL sp. nov.

Figs 154, 155 View FIGURES 154 – 161 , 162 View FIGURES 162 – 165 , 166–169 View FIGURES 166 – 169

Etymology: The species name is Latin for “resembling”, referring to the similarity in genitalic morphology of this species and W. occulta sp. nov..

Diagnosis: This species is most closely related to W. occulta sp. nov., from which the males can be separated by the more longitudinally compressed coils and more transversely orientated embolus tip (compare Figs 162 and 164 View FIGURES 162 – 165 ). Females can be separated from W. occulta sp. nov. by the longer coiled epigynal ridges that nearly meet medially (clearly separated in W. occulta sp. nov.) and the less strongly curved copulatory openings (strongly curved in W. occulta sp. nov.) (compare Figs 168 View FIGURES 166 – 169 and 176 View FIGURES 174 – 177 ). In terms of internal structure of the epigyne, W. imitatrix sp. nov. females have a distinct separation between ST II and ST I, ST II that are as long as broad, and distinct entrance ducts that are clearly separated from the ST I and II ( Fig. 169 View FIGURES 166 – 169 ), while W. occulta sp. nov. females have a broad fusion between ST I and II, ST II that are nearly twice as long as broad, and very short entrance ducts that are continuous with ST II and partly hidden beneath ST I ( Fig. 177 View FIGURES 174 – 177 ).

Remark: The paratype female is darker than the holotype and has more distinct mottling on the legs and markings on the chelicerae, endites, labium and sternum, similar to those described for the male.

Male (paratype, Uzungwa , USNM). Measurements: CL 4.38, CW 3.34, AL 4.72, AW 2.95, TL 8.90, FL 0.51, SL 1.86, SW 1.78, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE–ALE 0.63, PME–PME 0.22, PME–PLE 0.16, PLE–PLE 0.98, PERW 1.29, MOQAW 0.60, MOQPW 0.69, MOQL 0.73.

Length of leg segments: I 4.43 + 1.70 + 4.20 + 4.10 + 2.20 = 16.63; II missing; III 4.10 + 1.52 + 3.40 + 3.70 + 1.80 = 14.52; IV 4.85 + 1.60 + 4.15 + 5.20 + 2.08 = 17.88.

General appearance as in Fig. 154 View FIGURES 154 – 161 . Carapace bright yellow-orange, eye region grey; paired mediolateral markings comprising large black blotches corresponding to each coxal pair, fused between coxae III and IV; narrow black mottled marking along midline from PME to fovea; orange-brown striae with faint black mottling radiating from fovea, directed between coxae; lateral margins of carapace with narrow mottled black fringe from cephalic region to posterior margin; cephalic region with small black spot beneath each ALE and lateral of each PLE; markings covered with black feathery setae, areas between them in white feathery and short straight setae. AME separated by distance equal to 2⁄5 their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance less than 1⁄5 AME diameter; clypeus height slightly less than 1 1⁄5 AME diameter; PME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to ¾ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 2.59:1. Chelicerae bright orange-brown with black mottling; promargin with three adjacent teeth, distal tooth smallest, median tooth largest; retromargin with two teeth separated by basal width of proximal tooth, distal tooth larger, close to fang base. Endites yellow-brown with black mottling, cream prolaterally distally; labium red-brown proximally with black mottling, fading to orange and cream distally; sternum yellow with black mottling, orange-brown around margins, with large black spots at each coxa. Legs (both leg II missing) with cream femora, remaining segments yellowbrown, with black mottling and markings and black spots at spine bases; markings and mottling densely covered in black feathery setae, with yellowish feathery setae between them; femora I, III and IV with black distal band dorsally; patellae I, III and IV with dorsal line proximally, dark mottling laterally and ventrally; tibiae and metatarsi I and III with broken bands proximally, medially and distally; tibiae and metatarsi IV with proximal and median bands fused, distal end with narrow band; tarsi I, III and IV yellow with black mottling. Leg spination (both leg II missing): femora: I pl 3 do 3 rl 3, III pl 3 do 3 rl 3, IV pl 2-3 do 3 rl 2; all femora with scattered erect ventral setae; patellae: I, III and IV with fine proximal and distal do setae; tibiae: I pl 2 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 3, III pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 1, IV pl 2-3 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, III pl 3 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3, IV pl 3 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3. Palpal spination: femora: pl 1 do 2, with rlv 5 erect setae; patellae: pl 1 do 2; tibiae: pl 1 do 1 plv 1; tarsi: pl 1 plv 2. Abdomen with small anterior dorsal scutum extending only to 1⁄10 abdomen length, dorsum mottled grey behind scutum, with several narrow cream chevrons along midline; markings densely covered in black and yellow-brown feathery setae, with scattered brown short straight setae between them; spinnerets surrounded by narrow black ring; venter mottled grey with cream spots, covered in yellow-brown feathery setae and brown short straight setae; epigastric scutum, ventral sclerite and inframamillary sclerite yellow. Male palp bright yellow with dorsal and lateral mottled black spots, cymbium dark yellow-brown; tegulum orange, with black ducts; embolus with broad, nearly transverse oblique base, proximal coil strongly compressed and narrowly separated from base, embolus tip triangular, nearly transverse, directed retrolaterally ( Figs 162 View FIGURES 162 – 165 , 166, 167 View FIGURES 166 – 169 ).

Female (holotype, Amani, CAS, CASENT 9033285). Measurements: CL 3.38, CW 2.58, AL 3.75, AW 2.25, TL 7.00 (7.00–9.45), FL 0.31, SL 1.49, SW 1.38, AME–AME 0.11, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE–ALE 0.51, PME– PME 0.16, PME–PLE 0.10, PLE–PLE 0.76, PERW 1.00, MOQAW 0.48, MOQPW 0.55, MOQL 0.56.

Length of leg segments: I 3.15 + 1.24 + 2.80 + 2.65 + 1.45 = 11.29; II 3.05 + 1.18 + 2.63 + 2.58 + 1.37 = 10.81; III 3.00 + 1.20 + 2.40 + 2.67 + 1.30 = 10.57; IV 3.73 + 1.30 + 2.95 + 3.90 + 1.25 = 13.13.

General appearance as in Fig. 155 View FIGURES 154 – 161 , female more robustly built than male. Carapace cream, markings and setae as for male but slightly smaller. AME separated by distance slightly less than ½ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance approximately 1⁄10 AME diameter; clypeus height slightly less than AME diameter; PME separated by distance equal to ¾ their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to ½ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 2.58:1. Chelicerae cream, dentition as for male. Endites, labium and sternum cream, without markings. Legs cream, with black mottling and markings and black spots at spine bases; markings and mottling covered in black feathery setae, with yellowish feathery setae between them; femora I–IV with faint black mottled band distally; patellae I–IV with black mottling laterally, ventrally and distally; tibiae I–III with black mottling between spine pairs, IV with broad median black band, absent from proximal and distal ends; metatarsi I–IV with faint proximal, median and distal bands; tarsi I–IV cream. Leg spination: femora: I pl 3 do 3 rl 2, II pl 3 do 3 rl 3, III pl 3 do 3 rl 3, IV pl 2 do 3 rl 1; all femora with scattered erect ventral setae; patellae: I–IV with fine proximal and distal do setae; tibiae: I pl 2 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 3, II pl 2 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 3, III pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 1, IV pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, II pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, III pl 3 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3, IV pl 3 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3. Palpal spination: femora: pl 2 do 1 rl 1, with rlv 8 erect setae; patellae: pl 1 do 2; tibiae: pl 1 do 2 plv 1; tarsi: pl 1 rl 1 plv 3 rlv 1. Abdomen with tiny creamy-yellow dorsal scutum on anterior surface; dorsum cream, densely covered in golden feathery setae with scattered patches of black feathery setae, giving mottled appearance, posterior 1⁄5 of abdomen covered in black feathery setae with scattered yellowish feathery setae; dorsum cream along midline, with a few short narrow chevrons, paired black spots medially just posterior to midpoint; spinnerets surrounded by black ring dorsally and laterally, absent ventrally; venter cream, covered in white feathery and short straight setae, with many long erect straight setae; epigastric scutum weakly sclerotised, creamy-yellow; inframamillary sclerite yellow-orange. Epigyne with large strongly sclerotised 6-shaped ridges laterally in posterior half of epigyne, nearly meeting along midline, with curved copulatory openings ( Fig. 168 View FIGURES 166 – 169 ); copulatory ducts short, slightly longer than broad, directed anteriorly, entering anterior ST II posterolaterally; ST II more than twice as broad as ST I, narrowly joined, clearly separate structures; ST I narrow and elongate, situated posteriorly ( Fig. 169 View FIGURES 166 – 169 ).

Type material: Holotype Ƥ: TANZANIA: Tanga Region: East Usambara Mountains, Amani, 05°05.7'S, 38°38'E, 950m a.s.l., leg. C.E. Griswold, N. Scharff & D. Ubick, 27.X–9.XI.1995 (forest) ( CAS, CASENT 9033285).

Paratypes: TANZANIA: Iringa District, Uzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve, 11km SE Masisiwe, Kihanga stream, 08°22'05.7"S, 35°58'41.6"E, 1800m a.s.l., leg. ZMUC & USNM expedition, 17–27.V.1997 (canopy), 13 1Ƥ ( USNM); same data, 2Ƥ ( ZMUC).

Additional material examined: None.

Distribution: Known only from two localities in eastern Tanzania ( Fig. 182 View FIGURE 182 ).

Biology: Collected in forests but details of the sampling methodology are unknown.