Pseudicius imitator, Wesołowska & Haddad, 2013

Wesołowska, Wanda & Haddad, Charles R., 2013, New data on the jumping spiders of South Africa (Araneae: Salticidae), African Invertebrates 54 (1), pp. 177-177 : 219-221

Pseudicius imitator sp. n.

Figs 95, 133–138

Etymology: From Latin imitator (one that imitates, a resembler), in reference to the similarity of this species to P. venustulus .

Diagnosis: Closely related to Pseudicius venustulus Wesołowska & Haddad, 2009 from the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. The male differs by the shape of bulb and the shorter embolus (its base is placed prolaterally, whereas proximally in P. venustulus ). Females of both species are very difficult to recognize; P. imitator sp. n. has shorter seminal ducts and long accessory glands.

Description:

Measurements (♂ / ♀): Carapace length 1.6–1.7/1.9–2.0, width 1.0–1.2/1.1–1.3, height 0.5/0.6. Abdomen length 1.9–2.0/1.9–3.6, width 1.2–1.3/1.2–2.3. Eye field length 0.6–0.7/ 0.7–0.8, anterior width 0.9/1.0, posterior width 1.0/1.1.

Male.

General appearance as in Fig. 95; body elongate. Carapace low, flattened, dark brown, eye field black with metallic shine. Short greyish hairs on carapace, with brown bristles in vicinity of eyes; some white and fawn scale-like hairs at anterior median eyes. Mouthparts and sternum brown. Stridulatory apparatus of the carapace-leg type. Abdomen elongated, black, with three pairs of small white spots. Venter greyish brown. Spinnerets dark. First pair of legs stout, dark brown, tibiae slightly swollen; tibiae with single short spine prolaterally, metatarsi with two pairs of ventral spines. Other legs brownish, with fine, long brown hairs on legs. Pedipalps brown; palpal tibia with forked retrolateral apophysis, ventral prong longer and with curved tip, and smaller tooth-like dorsal apophysis ( Figs 133–136); embolus originating proximally on prolateral side, tip directed retrolaterally ( Fig. 133).

Female.

Similar to male but slightly paler in colour. Carapace with pale hairs forming patch near fovea and fringe along lateral margins. Abdominal pattern composed of cream band along anterior edge and four pairs of spots on a brown background, with brown and whitish hairs on abdomen.All legs yellow, first pair similar in build to others (not stouter as in male). Epigyne oval, with two rounded depressions anteriorly and pair of pouches posteriorly ( Fig. 137); internal structure as in Fig. 138, accessory glands long.

Holotype: ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: Amatola Mountains, Hogsback, Tyume forest, 32°36.195'S 26°56.308'E, 1180 m, Afromontane forest , canopy fogging mixed trees, 29.ix.2011, J. Neethling & C. Luwes (NCA, 2012/1824).

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: 4♂ 11♀ Amatola Mtns, Hogsback , Ashfield-on-Hogsback, 32°34.993'S 26°55.472'E, 1330 m, Afromontane forest , canopy fogging mixed trees, 30.ix.2011, J. Neethling & C. Luwes (NCA, 2012/1825) ; 1♂ 1♀ same data ( MRAC) .

Distribution: Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 139).

Habitat and biology: The species was collected by canopy fogging mixed forest.