Stenaelurillus specularis, Wesołowska, 2014

Wesołowska, Wanda, 2014, Further notes on the genus Stenaelurillus Simon, 1885 (Araneae, Salticidae) in Africa with descriptions of eight new species, Zoosystema 36 (3), pp. 595-622 : 612-615

Stenaelurillus specularis n. sp.

( Fig. 11 )

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. Malawi, Vipya Mts , Chikangawa, 11°50’S, 33°48’E, old pine plantation, VI.1978, leg. R. Jocqué, 1 ♂ ( MRAC 153784 ).

Paratypes. Together with holotype, 1 ♂; same locality, young pine plantation, X.1977 - IV.1978, 2 ♀♀ ( MRAC 153043 ) .

DIAGNOSIS. — The male is easily distinguished from other members of the genus by abdominal pattern with large, metallic shining, shield-shaped patch. Pedipalp structure similar to that of S. darwini Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000 , it differs by the clearly wider retrolateral tibial apophysis and shorter posterior lobe of the bulb.The female is distinctive by the shape of the epigyne, which is relatively short and wide, with very large oval copulatory openings.

ETYMOLOGY. — The specific name is Latin for “brilliant” and refers to the presence of shining area on male’s abdomen.

DISTRIBUTION. — Known only from the type locality.

DESCRIPTION

Measurements

Cephalothorax:length 2.4-2.8/2.3,width 1.9-2.0/2.1, height 1.0-1.2/1.2. Abdomen: length 2.6-3.2/3.0, width 1.9-2.0/2.2. Eye field: length 0.9-1.0/1.0, anterior and posterior width 1.5/1.5.

Male

Carapace slightly pear-shaped, wider posteriorly, brownish with two light streaks on thoracic part and wide white bands along lateral margins of carapace, whole carapace clothed in hairs correspond to background colour cover. Eye field short, black, covered with long brown bristles, thick short setae on anterior part of ocular area, among them scarce white hairs. Clypeus short, yellowish. Mouth parts, chelicerae and sternum yellow.Abdomen oval, dense black hairs cover dorsum, central area occupies shiny large spot ornamented with two oval “windows” ( Fig. 11A ). Venter yellow. Spinnerets black. Legs yellowish orange, leg hairs brown. First leg with blackish ventral surfaces of tibia, metatarsus and tarsus. Pedipalps light, clothed in brown and colourless hairs.Embolus with accompanying membranous “conductor”( Fig. 11B ) and terminal apophysis twined around its base ( Fig. 11E ). Retrolateral tibial apophysis with bended tip ( Fig. 11C ), dorsal apophysis with very long dense black stretching bristles, similar feathery bristles on tip of palpal tibia dorsally, part of hairs white ( Fig. 11D ).

Female

Coloration of carapace as in male, numerous thick short setae on eye field. Abdomen coloured typically for the majority of Stenaelurillus sp. of females; brown with large light, triangular area narrowing posteriorly; pair of small round white spots half way of abdomen length ( Fig.11F ); venter light. Spinnerets light. Legs yellowish orange, bearing brown hairs. Femora III and IV dark. Epigyne with two large oval copulatory openings ( Fig. 11G ), seminal ducts membranous and very wide in inlet parts, distal parts and spermathecae strongly sclerotized ( Fig. 11H ).

Figures

FIG. 11. — Stenaelurillus specularis n. sp., male and female, paratypes: A, abdominal pattern of male; B, palpal organ, ventral view; C, palpal organ,lateral view; D, palpal organ,dorsal view; E, embolic division,dorsal view; F, abdominal pattern of female;G, epigyne; H, internal structure of epigyne. Scale bars: A, F, 1.0 mm; B-D, 0.3 mm; E, 0.1 mm; G, H, 0.2 mm.