Thyenula clarosignata, Wesołowska & Azarkina & Russell-Smith, 2014

Wesołowska, Wanda, Azarkina, Galina N. & Russell-Smith, Anthony, 2014, Euophryine jumping spiders of the Afrotropical Region-new taxa and a checklist (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryinae), Zootaxa 3789 (1), pp. 1-72 : 52

Thyenula clarosignata sp. nov.

Figs 189–194

Holotype: female, SOUTH AFRICA, Eastern Cape Province, Silaka Nature Reserve , 31°39'S: 29°30'E, base of grasses and ferns, 11 January 2011, leg. C. Haddad ( NCA 2010 /2705).

Paratypes: together with holotype, 4 males, 3 females; together with holotype, 1 male, 1 female ( MRAC); same data, 6 females ( NCA 2010 /2721); SOUTH AFRICA, KwaZulu-Natal Province, Port Edward, Umtamvuna River Lodge, 31°04'S: 30°11'E, sifting leaf litter, coastal forest, 3 males, 2 females, 12 January 2011, leg. C. Haddad ( NCA 2010 /2701) .

Diagnosis. The structure of the male pedipalp is very similar to that of some other Thyenula spp. The male may be distinguished by the coloration of the abdomen (presence of a light transverse band in the posterior part) and by the light coloration of the basal palpal segments. The female is recognizable by the structure of the epigyne which has a unique narrow curved epigynal depressions and the longest spermathecae in the genus.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Latin for light and mark, referring to the presence of light bands on the abdomen of the male.

Description. Measurements (male/female). Cephalothorax: length 2.1–2.3/2.2–2.3, width 1.5–1.8/1.6–1.7, height 1.0/1.0. Abdomen: length 1.9–2.0/2.3–2.5, width 1.4–1.5/1.4–1.5. Eye field: length 0.9–1.1/1.0–1.1, anterior width 1.4–1.7/1.4–1.5, posterior width 1.3–1.6/1.4–1.5.

Male. General appearance as in Fig. 189 . Carapace moderately high, sloping abruptly posteriorly, dark brown with shiny black eye field. Blackish hairs surround anterior eyes, some brown hairs on carapace, white hairs form two light streaks on thoracic part and small patch between anterior median eyes. Clypeal mat of hairs white. Chelicerae with two promarginal teeth and single wide tooth on retromargin. Mouth parts and sternum brown. Abdomen ovoid, dark brown with two transverse bands formed of white hairs, the first near anterior margin spreading to the sides and the second in the posterior half of the abdomen ( Fig. 189 ). Dense brown hairs along anterior edge of dorsum. Venter dark with four lines composed of light dots. Spinnerets light. Legs dark brown, only tarsi yellowish. Leg hairs and spines dark. Patella and tibia of pedipalp clothed in dense light yellowish hairs ( Fig. 189 ). Pedipalps light, only cymbium and bulb brownish. Structure of palpal organ similar to other members of the genus, diameter of embolic spiral large ( Fig. 190 ). Tibial apophysis thin and sharply pointed at tip, with serrate inner border near the tip ( Fig. 191 ).

Female. Generally similar to male, clypeus without white hairs, light streaks on thoracic part also absent. Abdomen blackish brown with mosaic composed of numerous small light patches with traces of lighter chevrons posteriorly. Venter light with a few irregular large dark stains. Epigyne with two narrow lateral semicircular depressions ( Fig. 193 ). Internal structure as in Fig. 194 , seminal ducts in median part narrow, with accessory glands, spermathecae single chambered, elongated.

Distribution. The south-eastern part of South Africa.

Figures

FIGURES 189–194. Thyenula clarosignata sp. nov. 189 male paratype, dorsal view; 190 palpal organ, ventral view; 191 palpal organ, ventrolateral view; 192 palpal organ, retrolateral view; 193 epigyne; 194 internal structure of epigyne.