Eusparassus vestigator (Simon, 1897) Moradmand, 2013

Moradmand, Majid, 2013, The stone huntsman spider genus Eusparassus (Araneae: Sparassidae): systematics and zoogeography with revision of the African and Arabian species, Zootaxa 3675 (1), pp. 1-108 : 44

vestigator species group

Diagnosis. Chelicerae without intermarginal denticles, one to four retromarginal bristles at distal end of cheliceral basal segment ( Figs 25e , 28d ); ventral opisthosoma with a distinct dark marking ( Figs 52b, f , 53c ); male with unique prominent and elongated vRTA (at least one third of dRTA length) ( Figs 25a , 27a ); epigyne with AMLL fused together and entirely encircling MS, epigyne with MS noticeably enlarged and fully sclerotized ( Figs 26a, d ; 28a ).

Species composition. Three species: E. vestigator (Simon, 1897) comb. nov.; E. reverentia spec. nov.; E. pearsoni ( Pocock, 1901) (for latter species description, see Moradmand & Jäger 2012a).

Distribution. Central to Eastern Africa and an isolated area in South Asia ( India) ( Fig. 71a ).

Figures

FIGURE 25. Eusparassus vestigator (Simon, 1897) comb. nov., syntype male from Ethiopia: west of Shebelle River (NHM). (a) left palp, ventral; (b) left palp, retrolateral; (c) embolus tip and conductor, ventral; (d) eye arrangement, dorsal; (e) left chelicera, ventral.

FIGURE 26. Eusparassus vestigator (Simon, 1897) comb. nov., female from Kenya: Northern Turkana (NHM). (a) epigyne, ventral; (b) vulva, dorsal; (c) left vulva, anterio-dorso-lateral; (d) variation in epigyne, ventral.

FIGURE 27. Eusparassus reverentia spec. nov., holotype male from Burkina Faso: Bobo Dioulasso (MRAC). (a) left palp, ventral; (b) left palp, retrolateral; (c) embolus tip and conductor, ventral; (d) eye arrangement, dorsal; (e) left chelicera, ventral.

FIGURE 28. Eusparassus reverentia spec. nov., paratype female from Nigeria: Jos (MRAC). (a) epigyne, ventral; (b) vulva, dorsal; (c) left vulva, anterio-dorso-lateral; (d) right chelicera, ventral.

FIGURE 52. Habitus and habitat of species of the vestigator group. (a–d) Eusparassus vestigator (Simon, 1897) comb. nov., (a–b syntype subadult female, c retreat under stone, d opened retreat with female and spiderlings inside); (e–f) Eusparassus pearsoni (Pocock, 1901) lectotype female. (a, e) dorsal, (b, f) ventral. Photos (c, d) by V. Trailin taken in Sof Omar, Ethiopia.

FIGURE 53. Habitus of Eusparassus reverentia spec. nov., vestigator group. (a) holotype male from Burkina Faso, frontal; (b–c) paratype female from Nigeria (b dorsal, c ventral).

FIGURE 71. Distribution range of (a) Eusparassus vestigator group; (b) Eusparassus tuckeri and jaegeri groups.