Toxoniella taitensis, Warui, C. & Jocque, R., 2002

Warui, C. & Jocque, R., 2002, THE FIRST GALLIENIELLIDAE (ARANEAE) FROM EASTERN AFRICA, The Journal of Arachnology 30 (1), No. 1, pp. 307-315 : 309-312

Toxoniella taitensis new species

Figs. 1-8 , 15-17 , 20, 21

Type material. — Holotype male, Kenya, Taita Hills, Mwachora Forest, 3°24'S 38°22'E, March-April 1999, 1600 m, mountain forest, pitfall, L. Rogo ( MRAC 208858 , now in NMK) . Paratypes: 2 females, Taita Hills, Ronge Forest , 3°21'S 38°25'E, 28 October-13 No­ vember 1998, 1350 m, mountain forest, pitfall, L. Rogo ( MRAC 208794 ) ; 1 ♀ 1 juvenile: Taita Hills, Ngangao Forest , 3°22'S 38°20'E, 1720 m, mountain forest, pitfall trap, 24 March 2000, R. Jocque & C. Warui ( MRAC 209662 ) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, as previous ( MRAC 209.523 ) ; 2 ♂, 2 ♀, Taita Hills, Egangao Forest , 3°22'S 38°20'E, 1750 m, mountain forest, pitfall trap, 15 July 1998, L. Rogo ( MRAC 208887 1 ♂, 1 ♀ in NMK) ; 4 ♂, 1 ♀, 4 March 1999, further as previous ( MRAC 210047 , 2 ♂ in AMNH) ; 1 ♂, 1 juvenile, Tsavo West, Kasigau , 3°49'S 38°40'E, 2-9 December 2000, 1102 m, mountain forest, sieved litter, R. Jocque ( MRAC 209956 ) ; 2 ♀, Taita Hills, Vuria Forest, 3°24'S 38°17'E, 28 March 2000, 2100 m, mountain forest, sieved litter, R. Jocque ( MRAC 209552 ) ; 1 ♀, Taita Hills, Chawia Forest , 3°22'S 38°20'E, pitfall trap, 13-18 May 1998, L. Rogo ( MRAC 208804 ) ; 1 ♀, Taita Hills, Yale Forest, 3°39'S 38°33'E, 6 December 1999, 1800 m, mountain forest, winkler extraction of litter, VandenSpiegel & Michiels ( NMK) .

Etymology.— The species’ name refers to the type locality.

Diagnosis. —The male of this species is recognized by the presence of a frontal, tapered tegular extension between the embolus and the MA and the ridge-shaped frontal apophysis on the tibia. The females are characterized by the epigyne which is as wide as long, has a pronounced anterior ledge with sinuous rim and long cul de sac extension of the copulatory ducts which reach the anterior margin of the epigyne.

Male (holotype MRAC 208858; range of other males in parentheses). —Total length 6.39 (4.54-7.38). Carapace. 2.70 (2.13-2.98) long, 1.92 (1.49-2.13) wide. Carapace yellowish brown, with very faint darker pattern, paler in front of fovea. Abdomen: gray, slightly reddish in front, with dense cover of brownish golden setae. Eyes: AME: 0.10; ALE: 0.11; PME: 0.10; PLE: 0.11; AME-AME: 0.05; AME-ALE: 0.02; PME-PME: 0.10; PME-PLE: 0.11; MOQ: AW: 0.22; PW: 0.29; L: 0.26. Clypeus low, slightly less than diameter of ALE. Chilum triangular, 0.11 high, 0.19 wide. Legs: Spination: I: F pl1d3* P-T v1-1-2 Mt v2-2-1; II: F pl 1d3* P-T v1-1-2 Mt v2-2; III: F pl1d2*rl1 P -T pl2*d2*rl2* v 2-2-2 Mt 10disp dw6; IV: F pl1d2*rl1 P v1 T pl2*d1rl2* v 2-2-2 Mt 10disp dw6. T, P and F of anterior leg pairs with ventral rows of long curved setae. Palp ( Figs. 4-6 ): palpal tibia with dorsolateral apophysis as curved ridge; tegulum with posterior protrusion, not containing sperm duct, with frontal tapered extension between short, curved embolus and elongate, spoon-shaped median apophysis.

Female (paratype MRAC 209522, range of other females in parentheses). —Total length 7.81 (6.60-8.38). Carapace: 3.05 (2.49-3.83) long, 2.34 (1.92-2.41) wide. Carapace ( Figs. 1-3 ): as in male. Abdomen gray, with dense cover of brownish golden setae. Eyes: AME: 0.18; ALE: 0.14; PME: 0.11; PLE: 0.16 AME-AME: 0.05; AME-ALE: 0.04; PM E-PM E: 0.14; PM E-PLE: 0.14; MOQ: AW: 0.34; PW: 0.37; L: 0.34. Clypeus: low, half the diameter of ALE. Chilum: triangular, much wider than in male and less well delimited. 0.10 high, 0.51 wide. Legs: Spination:I: F pl1d2* P - T - M tv 2 -1; II: F pl1d2* P-T v1 Mt v2-1; III: F pl2*d2*rl2* P-T pl2*d2*rl2* v 2-2-2 Mt 10disp dw6; IV: F pl2*d2*rl2* P-T pl2*d2*rl2*v2— 2-2 Mt 10disp dw6. Epigyne ( Figs. 7, 8 ): with wide sinuous, frontal ledge, central longitudinal groove and widely separated longitudinal entrance openings. Entrance ducts short and parallel, running towards the front, with wide slightly curved cul de sac tubes, reaching anterior margin of epigyne; two well separated globular spermathecae.

Distribution.— Taita Hills, Kenya.

Figures

Figures 1 - 3. — Female Toxoniella taitensis new species. 1, habitus, dorsal; 2, habitus, lateral; 3, prosoma, ventral view. Scale line: 1 mm.

Figures 4 - 8. — Toxoniella taitensis new species. 4, male palp, retrolateral view; 5, frontal view of tibia; 6, male palp, ventral view; 7, epigyne, ventral view; 8, epigyne, cleared, dorsal view. ATE: anterior tegular extension, E: embolus, EM: embolic membrane, MA: median apophysis, PTE: posterior tegular extension. Scale lines: 0.1 mm.

Figures 13 - 17. — Drassodella vasivulva Tucker, female 13, spinnerets; 14, right ALS. Toxoniella taiten ­ sis new species, female 15, spinnerets; 16, left ALS; 17, male, right ALS showing EPGS (enlarged piriform gland spigots). Scale lines: 100 μm (13, 15) and 50 μm (14, 16, 17).

Figures 18 - 21. — Drassodella vasivulva Tucker. 18. Lamellate setae under tarsal claws; 19, Idem, detail; Toxoniella taitensis new species. 20, Lamellate setae under tarsal claws; 21, Idem, detail. Scale lines: 10 μm (19, 21) and 50 μm (18, 20).