Heriaeus latifrons Lessert, 1919

Niekerk, P. van & Dippenaar-Schoeman, A. S., 2013, A revision of the crab spider genus Heriaeus Simon, 1875 (Araneae: Thomisidae) in the Afrotropical Region, African Invertebrates 54 (2), pp. 447-447 : 463-464

Heriaeus latifrons Lessert, 1919

Figs 7 , 34 , 59

Heriaeus latifrons: Lessert 1919: 137 , pl. 2, figs 1, 9 (♀); Loerbroks 1983: 131.

Diagnosis: It resembles other species with spiniform abdominal setae but differs from them in the shape of the epigyne, which is distinct in having a flat, oval hood that is raised posteriorly ( Fig. 34 ). Male unknown.

Redescription:

Female (lectotype).

Size: TL 5.19, CL 2.31, CW 2.13. Colour: Carapace with two longitudinal brown stripes extending to PEs, medially with three irregular white lines between brown bands ( Fig. 7 ); sternum yellow; endites and labium mottled with white; clypeus and chelicerae yellow-brown; eye region white and eye tubercles grey. Abdomen with dorsum white; abdominal setae transparent; venter white. Legs yellow-brown, bearing transparent setae. Palp yellow-brown. Carapace: Eye measurements:AME–AME 0.21, ALE–AME 0.18, PME–PME 0.16, PLE–PME 0.29, AME–PME 0.17, MOQL AME–PME 0.24, MOQAW AME–AME 0.30, MOQPW PME–PME 0.27. Leg measurements: leg I Fe 2.17, Pat 0.84, Tib 1.66, Mt 1.85, Ta 0.90, total 7.42; leg II Fe 1.81, Pat 0.89, Tib 1.46, Mt 1.38, Ta 0.67, total 6.21; leg III Fe 0.98, Pat 0.67, Tib 0.77, Mt 0.69, Ta 0.37, total 3.48; leg IV Fe 1.00, Pat 0.77, Tib 1.12, Mt 0.79, Ta 0.50, total 4.18. Abdomen: Round; bearing transparent long spiniform setae; venter with fine hairs; laterally with brown striae. Epigyne: Hood oval and flat, raised posteriorly, with lateral extensions; internal genitalia visible as pear-shaped structures; two small dark marks posteriorly indicate the position of fertilization tubes ( Fig. 34 ).

Lectotype (designated here): ♀ TANZANIA: Ngare na nyuki, near Arusha (3.15°S 36.85°E), De Lessert ( MNHG).

Paralectotype: ♀ same data as lectotype .

Distribution: Tanzania ( Fig. 59 ).

Natural history: Unknown.

Figures

Figs 1–9. Heriaeus spp., habitus:(1) Heriaeus sp. long spiniform abdominal setae; (2) H.allenjonesi antoni sp. n. female; (3) H.antoni sp. n. female; (4) H.copricola sp. n. male; (5) H. crassispinus Lawrence, 1942 male; (6) H. foordi sp. n. male; (7) H. latifrons Lessert, 1919 female; (8) H.madagascar sp. n. male; (9) H. muizenberg sp. n. female.

Figs 30–36.(30–33) Heriaeus foordi sp. n.: (30) male palp, ventral view; (31) male palp, lateral view; (32) epigyne, ventral view; (33) epigyne, dorsal view; (34) Heriaeus latifrons Lessert, 1919, epigyne, ventral view; (35, 36) Heriaeus madagascar sp. n.: (35) male palp, ventral view; (36) male palp, lateral view.

Figs 57–59. Distribution of Heriaeus spp. in the Afrotropical Region.