Thyene leighi Peckham & Peckham, 1903

Haddad, Charles Richard, Wiśniewski, Konrad & Wesołowska, Wanda, 2024, The jumping spiders of Mozambique (Araneae: Salticidae), Zootaxa 5560 (1), pp. 1-92 : 71

Thyene leighi Peckham & Peckham, 1903

Fig. 52

Thyene leighi Peckham & Peckham, 1903: 225 , pl. 25, fig. 1 (♂); Wesołowska & Cumming 2011: 99, figs 85–88, 100 (♂); Wesołowska 2011b: 341, figs 82–84 (♂).

Material examined. MOZAMBIQUE: Inhambane: Morrungulo, Morrungulo Resort, 23°13.983’S, 32°29.587’E, beating shrubs, mangroves , 6.XII.2007, leg. R. Lyle & R. Fourie, 1♀ ( NCA 2020 /160) . Tete: leg. C.F. Roewer, 1♂ ( SMF 9648 ) , 1♂ ( SMF 9728 ) .

Diagnosis of female. The female is related to that of Thyene bilineata Lawrence, 1927 from Namibia, as both share a similar body shape and short seminal ducts. Thyene leighi can be easily distinguished by the colouration of the abdomen, with a wide light longitudinal stripe, whereas T. bilineata has two black streaks (compare Fig. 52B with fig. 62 in Azarkina & Foord 2013).

Description. For description of male see Wesołowska & Cumming (2011). General appearance and palpal organ as in Fig. 52A, C .

Female: Measurements. Cephalothorax length 4.4, width 3.2, height 1.4. Eye field length 1.7, anterior width 2.3, posterior width 2.5. Abdomen length 5.0, width 3.3. General appearance as in Fig. 52B . Carapace oval, wide, reddish-brown, blackish at margins, median broad light band composed of white hairs on thoracic part. Eyes surrounded by black rings, some long brown bristles in vicinity of anterior eyes, long black bristles form ‘horns’ at posterior median eyes. White scale-like hairs on eye field, denser anteriorly. Chelicerae dark brown with white hairs on dorsal surface, mouthparts brown, sternum yellow. Abdomen elongate, greyish fawn, with wide creamy streak, clothed in fawn hairs and brown bristles. Venter yellowish. Spinnerets grey. Legs reddish-brown, hairy, besides long brown hairs also some white short hairs or scales. Epigyne triangular, with rectangular central depression ( Fig. 52E ). Internal structure as in Fig. 52F , seminal ducts weakly sclerotized and poorly visible, accessory glands long, spermathecae complex.

Remarks. Only the male of this species was previously known, and the female is described here for the first time. We determined the female using the body shape, size and colouration, but the connection of sexes requires confirmation.

Distribution. Previously known from Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe, recorded from Mozambique for the first time.

Figures

FIGURE 52. Thyene leighi Peckham & Peckham, 1903, male (A, C) and female (B, D–F). A, B. General appearance, dorsal view; C. Palpal organ, ventral view; D, E. Epigyne; F. Internal structure of epigyne.