Afroneta flavescens, Frick & Scharff, 2018

Frick, Holger & Scharff, Nikolaj, 2018, Description of one new genus and four new species of mynoglenine spiders from Africa (Araneae: Linyphiidae: Mynogleninae), European Journal of Taxonomy 415, pp. 1-27 : 9-13

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2018.415
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D3B2953A-7727-4FA6-BADA-A74AEA6DF00B
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5986246
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/920C61D3-CD79-464D-8BE3-853A17227ED7
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:920C61D3-CD79-464D-8BE3-853A17227ED7
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Afroneta flavescens
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Afroneta flavescens View in CoL sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:920C61D3-CD79-464D-8BE3-853A17227ED7

Figs 4–5 View Fig. 4 View Fig.5 , 6A–C View Fig. 6

Diagnosis

Males can be recognised by the combination of a simple radical division and the form of the paracymbium ( Fig. 4A–B View Fig. 4 ). The females have a round, but separated receptaculum ( Fig. 4C View Fig. 4 ). The copulatory duct is very short facing laterally directly from the copulatory opening into the receptaculum ( Fig. 4D View Fig. 4 ). The whole body of both sexes is uniformly yellow ( Figs 5A–D View Fig.5 , 6A–C View Fig. 6 ). Both sexes resemble Afroneta bamilekei Bosmans, 1988 , but the spination is very different, e.g., spine formula 0 0 0 0 in A. bamilekei ( Bosmans 1988; Merrett 2004), 2222 in Afroneta flavescens sp. nov.

Etymology

The species epithet flavescens refers to the yellowish (Latin ‘ flavus ’) colour of the specimens. Holm suggested this name for these specimens in his unfinished manuscript, but never published the data ( Wallin 1990).

Type material

Holotype

KENYA: ♂, Mount Elgon , 3200 m a.s.l., 01°10 ′ 0 0 ″ N, 34°40 ′ 0 0 ″ E, “sålln., mossa på trädstammar” (sifted moss on trees), 9 Mar. 1938, Å. Holm leg. and det., collection Holm UZM No. 137 ( UPSZMC 67563 ).

GoogleMaps

Allotype

KENYA: ♀, Mount Elgon, Suam valley , 3480 m a.s.l., 01°09 ′ 59 ″ N, 34°35 ′ 59 ″ E, “sålln., mossa in Alckemilla -hed” (sifted moss in Alckemilla- heather), 17 May 1948, Å. Holm leg. and det., collection Holm UZM No. 158 ( UPSZMC 67564 ).

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Description

Male (holotype, UPSZMC 67563)

SIZE. Total length 2.70. Cephalothorax 1.35 long, 0.95 wide. Sternum 0.89 long (0.77 without labium), 0.67 wide. Abdomen 1.41 long, 0.78 wide. AME diameter 0.03. Femur I 1.40 long, 1.04 times as long as cephalothorax.

COLOUR (preserved specimen). Cephalothorax yellowish. Chelicerae, sternum, pedipalps, legs and abdomen yellowish ( Fig. 6C View Fig. 6 ). The colour seen in the female ( Fig. 6A View Fig. 6 ) also most resembles the true body colour of the male. Black rings around eyes, just like the females ( Fig. 6A View Fig. 6 ).

BODY. Cephalothorax with many short setae. Fovea present, elongated, darker brown, faint/shallow ( Fig. 6C View Fig. 6 ). Ocular area with several short thin setae between eyes. Clypeus with strong setae below AME. Clypeus height 6.3 times AME diameter. Subocular sulci (SU) present below AME, long and wide, but not clearly demarcated as in the females ( Fig. 6A View Fig. 6 ). Sternum shield–shaped with labium fused to sternum and short narrow extension of sternum between coxae IV (merged to carapace at the end).

CHELICERAE. With 3 large widely spaced prolateral teeth. Stridulating files not visible on chelicerae. Three small widely spaced retrolateral denticles, positioned between the two first prolateral teeth.

LEGS. All femora with two short stout setae dorsally. Leg formula 1243 (legs 1,2 of 4 almost same length). Trichobothrium metatarsus I = 0.59, very hard to see. Tibial spinal formula 2222.

PEDIPALP ( Figs 4A–B View Fig. 4 , 5A–D View Fig.5 ). Patella with long strong distal dorsal spine ( Fig. 4A View Fig. 4 ). Tibia about as long as cymbium, with two retrolateral and one prolateral trichobothrium ( Figs 4A View Fig. 4 , 5D View Fig.5 ). Cymbium with two prolateral macrosetae. Paracymbium curved, with two basal macrosetae ( Fig. 4A View Fig. 4 ). Tegular mynoglenine process broad triangular, facing distally ( Fig. 4A–B View Fig. 4 ). Suprategulum almost straight, finger-like ( Fig. 4A View Fig. 4 ). Radix drop-like with small straight, robust embolus. According to Merrett (2004), this is also present in Afroneta bamilekei Bosmans, 1988 . Embolic membrane small, only slightly longer than embolus, exceeding the cymbium marginally ( Fig. 4B View Fig. 4 ).

Female (allotype, UPSZMC 67564)

SIZE. Total length 3.25. Cephalothorax 1.53 long, 0.99 wide. Sternum 0.86 long (0.79 without labium), 0.66 wide. Abdomen 1.86 long, 1.08 wide. AME diameter 0.04. Femur I 1.48, long, 0.97 times as long as cephalothorax.

COLOUR (preserved specimen, Fig. 6B View Fig. 6 ). As male holotype. The difference in colour in Figures 6B and C View Fig. 6 is a technical relict from the different backgrounds. The yellow in Fig. 6A View Fig. 6 is closest to the real body colour.

BODY. Sternum shield–shaped, like male. Clypeus height 5.75 times AME diameter.

CHELICERAE. Cheliceral teeth ( Fig. 6A View Fig. 6 ) and stridulation file as in male. Spination of legs as in male. Leg formula 1243. Trichobothrium metatarsus I = 0.53, very hard to see.

EPIGYNUM. The females have a round, centrally separated receptaculum ( Figs 4C View Fig. 4 , 5G–H View Fig.5 ). The dorsal plate scape is well developed ( Fig. 5E–F View Fig.5 ). The copulatory duct is very short facing laterally directly from the copulatory opening to the receptaculum and lacking an anteriorly facing copulatory duct ( Figs 4C–D View Fig. 4 , 5G–H View Fig.5 ).

Distribution

Only known from Mount Elgon over 3200 m a.s.l.

Life history

Little is known about the biology of this species. Specimens have been collected from moss on trees and in heather above 3200 m.

Comments

This species was originally recognized by Holm, who also suggested what specimen to use as holotype, but he never published the new species and a draft manuscript has not been found. The specimens of the new species are already listed in an unpublished report from the Zoological Museum, Uppsala University ( Wallin 1990) as Afroneta flavescens MS.