Cheiracanthium occidentale L. Koch, 1882

Bosmans & Van Keer, 2012, On the spider species described by L. Koch in 1882 from the Balearic Islands (Araneae), Arachnologische Mitteilungen 43 (1), pp. 5-16 : 8-9

Cheiracanthium occidentale L. Koch, 1882 ( Figs. 8-10 )

Cheiracanthium occidentale L. Koch, 1882 : 637, pl. 20, fig. 16 (descr. female).

Type material

Holotype female of Cheiracanthium occidentale from Spain, Baleares, Minorca, Mahon , 18.V.1866, Schaufuss leg. ( ZMB 7929 ); examined. Comments

KOCH ’s figure 16 ( 1882) clearly shows a Cheiracanthium -like epigyne ( Fig. 8 ), but does not give enough diagnostic characters for identification. A redescription of the epigyne and vulva is therefore given here. According to the author, the species is related to Cheiracanthium letochae L. Koch, 1876 (= C. elegans Thorell, 1875 ). The epigyne has a median depression with an interior margin and is wider than long. The spermathecae are relatively small, only 1/3 of the width of the depression. The copulatory openings are situated antero-laterally of the depression and the sperm ducts make three coils to the elongated spermathecae ( Figs 9-10 ). In the literature, no species with such a vulva could be found and hence the species is considered valid.

Distribution

Only known from the type locality.

Figures

Figs. 1 - 10: Fig. 1. Male palp of Dysdera mordax L. Koch, 1882 in L. Koch (1882). Figs. 2 - 3: Enoplognatha diversa (Blackwall, 1859) 2. Epigyne of Theridion elimatum in Koch (1882); 3. Epigyne of Enoplognatha diversa in Bosmans & Van Keer (1999). Figs. 4 - 5. Oedothorax fuscus (Blackwall, 1834). 4. Epigyne of Erigone marina in Koch (1882). 5. Epigyne of Oedothorax fuscus in LocKet & miLLidge (1953). Figs. 6 - 7: Liocranum inornatum (L. Koch, 1882). 6. Epigyne of Zora inornata in Koch (1882); 7. Epigyne of Liocranum variabilis in WunderLich (2008). Figs. 8 - 10: Cheiracanthium occidentale L. Koch, 1882. 8. Epigyne of Cheiracanthium occidentale in Koch (1882). 9. Vulva, ventral view; 10. Idem, dorsal view.