Agyneta spinifera, Tanasevitch, 2020

Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2020, Linyphiid spiders collected by V. Mahnert in Kenya, with the description of a new genus and two new species (Arachnida: Araneae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 127 (2), pp. 349-360 : 350-351

Agyneta spinifera sp. nov.

Figs 16-26

Holotype: MHNG; male [sample KENYA-74/06]; KENYA, Lake Naivasha , 10 km from Fisherman’s Camp, under bark and stones; 5.XI.1974; leg. V. Mahnert.

Paratypes: MHNG; 1 male [sample KENYA-74/38]; Laikipia County, near Mukutan source , sifting in bushes; 22.XI.1974; leg. V. Mahnert . – MHNG; 1 male; TANZANIA, Arusha; 5.II.1981; leg. Chr. Burckhardt.

Etymology: The specific epithet is a feminine noun in apposition referring to the needle-shaped tooth at the base of the embolus in the male.

Description

Male holotype: Total length 1.65. Carapace slightly elongated, 0.75 long, 0.38 wide, brown, with a narrow grey margin. Chelicerae 0.28 long. Legs pale brown, femora with grey longitudinal darkening, tibiae darkened distally. Leg I 2.52 long (0.65 + 0.18 + 0.68 + 0.58 + 0.43), IV 2.52 long (0.68 + 0.18 + 0.68 + 0.63 + 0.35). Chaetotaxy 2.2.2.2, prolateral spine on TiI absent. Metatarsus IV without trichobothrium. TmI 0.22. Palp ( Figs 16-26 ): tibia apically with two projections: a small, rounded prolateral one, and a short, wide, keelshaped retrolateral one; cymbium with a small tubercle prolaterally; paracymbium relatively large, its posterior and anterior pockets poorly developed; distal suprategular apophysis with a small pit-hook; median membrane essentially reduced; lamella characteristica wide, apically notched, with small teeth/spikes on its upper edge and terminally; terminal apophysis long, widened proximally, tapered distally; embolus moderately bent, with a long, needle-shaped tooth at its base. Abdomen 0.90 long, 0.50 wide, dark grey.

Female: Unknown.

Taxonomic remarks: In the shape of its lamella characteristica the new species resembles A. flandroyae ( Jocqué, 1985) , known from Mt Karthala (1950- 2300 m a.s.l.), Grande Comoros. Agyneta spinifera sp. nov. differs in the shape of the palpal tibia ( Figs 18-21 cf. Jocque, 1985: fig. 28), in the shorter and slightly uncinate pit-hook on the distal suprategular apophysis ( Fig. 22 cf. Jocque, 1985: figs 29, 31), as well as by the absence of a needle-shaped tooth at the base of the embolus.

Distribution: Known from Kenya and Tanzania.

Figures

Figs 16-26. Details of male palp structure of Agyneta spinifera sp. nov., male holotype (16-25) and male paratype from Mukutan (26). (16) Right palp, retrolateral view. (17) Cymbium, prolateral view. (18) Palpal tibia and paracymbium, prolateral view. (19- 21) Palpal tibia, dorsal view, different aspects (19-20), lateral view (21). (22) Pit-hook, lateral view. (23) Embolic division, ventro-prolateral view. (24-26) Lamella characteristica, lateral view, different aspects.