Thiratoscirtus silvestris, Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2022

Wesołowska, Wanda & Russell-Smith, Anthony, 2022, Jumping spiders from Ivory Coast collected by J. - C. Ledoux (Araneae, Salticidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 841 (1), pp. 1-143 : 110-114

Thiratoscirtus silvestris sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:536F5CDC-D0FE-4B6E-AC1B-991C85330F30

Figs 66–67

Diagnosis

The pedipalp is slightly similar to that in Thiratoscirtus torquatus Simon, 1903 , but may be distinguished by the presence of a triangular prolateral lobe on the bulb, a wider tibial apophysis and the lack of a swelling with a tuft of bristles on the retrolateral side of the tibia. The female has an epigyne very similar to that in Thiratoscirtus gambari , but without a tongue-shaped posterior part (compare Fig. 67E with Fig. 65D ).

Etymology

This name is Latin, meaning ‘forest’, and refers to the habitat of this species.

Material examined

Holotype IVORY COAST • ♂; Cavally Forest ; 6°05′ N, 7°36′ W; 15 Dec. 1975; “ branches en sous bois”; MNHN.

Paratype IVORY COAST • 1 ♀ (together with holotype); same collection data as for holotype; MNHN .

Description

Male

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.7, width 2.0, height 1.6. Eye field length 1.1, anterior width 1.9, posterior width 1.8. Abdomen length 2.3, width 1.4. General appearance as in Fig. 66A–B.

CARAPACE. Very high, dark brown, black near eyes. White hairs form two light bands running from posterior median eyes to posterior edge of carapace, anterior eyes encircled by fawn hairs, some long brown bristles on eye field anteriorly. Dense white hairs on clypeus ( Fig. 66C ). Chelicerae massive, dark brown, with two teeth on promargin and single tooth on retromargin. Labium and endites dark brown, sternum shield-shaped, brown.

ABDOMEN. Ovoid, blackish with traces of lighter marks medially, in fresh specimens, white hairs probably form wide median streak, but abdomen bald, only anterior stain remains ( Fig. 66A ), venter greyish. Spinnerets grey with black lines along external sides.

LEGS. I and II dark brown, III and IV with lighter basal halves in femora and tibiae.

PEDIPALPS. Brown, clothed in dense long hairs. Their structure as in Figs 66D–E , 67A–D , bulb small, rounded with triangular prolateral lobe.

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 3.2, width 2.5, height 1.5. Eye field length 1.4, anterior width 1.9, posterior width 1.8. Abdomen length 3.2, width 2.0. Slightly larger than male and lighter coloured.

CARAPACE. Brown, eye field darker, eyes with black rings. Some white hairs between anterior median eyes. Chelicerae as in male, massive, dark brown, also endites and labium very dark, contrasting with yellowish venter of body.

ABDOMEN. Ovoid, greyish with serrated light median band.

LEGS. Light brown.

EPIGYNE. As in Fig. 67E , copulatory openings hidden under sclerotized flaps. Internal structure of epigyne shown in Fig. 67F .

Distribution

Only known from the type locality, Cavally Forest, Ivory Coast.

Figures

Fig. 66. Thiratoscirtus silvestris sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (MNHN). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, dorsolateral view. C. Frontal view. D–E. Palpal organ, ventrolateral view.

Fig. 67. Thiratoscirtus silvestris sp. nov. A–D. Holotype, ♂ (MNHN). E–F. Paratype, ♀ (MNHN). A. Palpal organ, ventral view. B. Palpal organ, ventrolateral view. C. Palpal organ, lateral view. D. Tibial apophysis, dorsal view. E. Epigyne. F. Internal structure of epigyne.

Fig. 65. Thiratoscirtus gambari Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2011,♀ (MNHN). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Frontal view. C–D. Epigyne. F. Internal structure of epigyne.