Cydrela neptuna, Nzigidahera & Jocqué, 2010

Nzigidahera, B. & Jocqué, R., 2010, Two new species of Cydrela (Araneae, Zodariidae) extending the distribution of the genus into Central Africa, Zootaxa 2578 (1), pp. 62-68 : 63-65

Cydrela neptuna sp. nov.

Figs 1 A–E .

Material examined. Holotype. Male. BURUNDI: Réserve Naturelle de Rumonge , forêt claire de Cabara, 4.10181° S, 29.52784°E, Brachystegia woodland, 15.X. 2003, 950 m, pitfall traps, B. Nzigidahera ( MRAC 227505 ).

Paratype. Female. BURUNDI: Rumonge, forêt claire de Nkayamba, pitfalls, B. Nzigidahera, 2.89565°S, 29.50345°E, Brachystegia woodland, 850 m, 1♀: 17.X.2003 ( MRAC 227504 ) .

Other material. All from BURUNDI: Rumonge, Réserve Naturelle de Kigwena, pitfall traps, B. Nzigidahera, 4.10268°S, 29.51042°E, forest with Newtonia buchannanii and Albizia zygia , 793 m: 6♂: 09.XII.2003 ( MRAC 229173 ) ; 1J: 10.XI.2003 ( INECN) ; 1♂, 1J: 27.X.2003 ( MRAC 229175 ) ; 1♂, 1♀: 15.II.2004 ( INECN) ; 1J: 30.IX.2003 ( INECN) ; 1♂, 1♀, 1J: 17.IX.2003 ( MRAC 229176 ) ; 1J: 13.IV.2003 ( INECN) ; 1♀: 10.II.2004 ( MRAC 229174 ) ; 1♂: 17.IX.2003 ( INECN) .

Diagnosis. The male of this species is recognized by the shape of the embolus, which is long and slender, and by the three spines pointing forward on the palpal tibia. In the closely related Cydrela kreagra sp. nov., there are four spines on the male palpal tibia. Cydrela neptuna differs from all other Cydrela species , except C. kreagra described below, by the presence of modified macrosetae which replace the tibial apophysis. The latter is reduced to a weak triangular extension and thus much less developed than in species like C. schoemanae Jocqué, 1991 and C. unguiculata (O. P.- Cambridge, 1870) (see Jocqué, 1991).

Etymology. The specific name “ neptuna ” is a noun in apposition, considered the female counterpart of the Roman God of the Seas, who is usually pictured with a trident, reminiscent of the three spines on the male palpal tibia.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 6.00, carapace 2.80 long and 1.68 wide. Carapace, greyish brown, a dark v-shaped mark in front of fovea, with faint paler radiating striae; elevated in cephalic area and steeply sloping towards posterior margin. Eyes AME: 0.08; ALE: 0.10; PME: 0.10; PLE: 0.11; AME-AME: 0.05; AME-ALE: 0.08; PME-PME: 0.07; PME-PLE: 0.07; MOQ: AW = 0.80 PW: AW = 0.68 L. Chelicerae greyish brown, with many short, black hairs. Sternum and labium yellowish orange, with short hairs; sternum shield shaped with small frontal indentations; without precoxal sclerites. Legs with coxae and trochanters yellowish orange, femora grayish brown. Abdomen, dorsum grey, with three to five pairs of pale spots, anterior and posterior pairs sometimes fused. Venter grey, with longitudinal lines of pale spots. Spinnerets biarticulated, proximal part whitish and distal part yellow grey. Palp ( Figs 1 A–B ) tibia without retrolateral apophysis but with a row of three retrolateral, curved and flattened spines directed forwards, and two long setae in the same row; cymbium with four strong spines near distal margin and several smaller ones along prolateral margin. Tegulum with two parts: narrow distal part almost entirely hidden by large membranous median apophysis, proximal part slightly swollen, carrying in front slightly curved, slender embolus running along retrolateral margin of palp.

Legs Spination: Table 1. Measurements: Table 2.

Female (MRAC 229176). Total length 6.00, Carapace 2.60 long and 1.60 wide. Colour pattern similar as in male. Legs grey or pale grey. Epigyne ( Figs 1 C–E ) sclerotized, with roughly rectangular central cavity delimited by broad s-shaped margins; copulatory openings situated in centre of epigyne; copulatory ducts running backward, ending at widely separated spermathecae.

Legs Spination: Table 3. Measurements: Table 4.

Distribution. Known from two nature reserves in Burundi: Rumonge and Kigwena.

Figures

FIGURE 1 A–E. Cydrela neptuna sp. nov. A. Male palp of holotype, slightly expanded, retrolateral view; B. Male palp (MRAC 22175), ventral view; C. Epigyne, ventral view; D. Epigyne, cleared, dorsal view; E. Epigyne, cleared, dorsal view (Scale bars: A, B: 0.5 mm; C–E: 0.1 mm)