Sahastata nigra ( Simon, 1897 )

Magalhaes, Ivan L. F., Stockmann, Mark, Marusik, Yuri M. & Zonstein, Sergei L., 2020, On Sahastata (Araneae: Filistatidae): complementary description of the generotype and two new species from Oman and Morocco, Zootaxa 4899 (1), pp. 215-246 : 222-228

Sahastata nigra ( Simon, 1897)

Figures 1 A–B, 5–12, 24A–B

Filistata nigra Simon, 1897: 97 (Lectotype ♀ [MHNH AR 14851 ], here designated, and 4♀ paralectotypes [MNHN AR 5476 ], here designated, originally in the same vial: OMAN: Muscat, X.1896, leg. M. Maindron—examined).

Sahastata nigra Benoit, 1968: 97 , figs 1–5 (misidentified ♀, figures refer to a species near S. wunderlichi sp. nov.; material examined may refer in part to S. wunderlichi sp. nov., in part to S. infuscata , and in part to undescribed species); Marusik et al. 2017: 310, figs 2, 5, 10.

Remarks. Additional specimens from the same vial as the syntypes apparently were set apart by P. Lehtinen and are currently housed in the University of Turku, Finland. Simon’s (1897) original description reported additional specimens from Egypt but these are not in the MNHN and are currently untraceable; it is unlikely these are conspecific with the specimens from Oman. Due to the nature of the original description, citing specimens from different localities, we here designate one of the syntypes as a lectotype to preserve the stability of the name.

The records by Berland (1922) from Ethiopia are most certainly misidentified; we could not re-examine the specimens, but they come from areas near the distribution of S. infuscata . Benoit (1968) misidentified the type species upon the description of the genus, and most, if not all, of those specimens he studied belong to species other than S. nigra . This is not problematic regarding the identity of Sahastata , because all of the material examined by him is congeneric with S. nigra .

Diagnosis. Males differ from other Sahastata species by having longitudinal ridges and ribs in the subdistal part of the embolus, and in the shape of the apical keel; the bulb has a dorsal dent in lateral view, and the embolus is shorter and more straight ( Fig. 7 ) than in the related S. wesolowskae sp. nov. ( Fig. 14 ). Females possess compact mushroom-like spermathecae, which are smaller and broader-spaced than in other female congeners; the membranous portion is short and lobe-shaped, and the glandular portion is subtriangular ( Fig. 11 ).

Description. Male (MACN-Ar 39464). Coloration yellowish cream, except where noted. Legs yellowish brown, becoming gradually dark towards apex. Abdomen grayish, light brown with whitish cardiac area.

Total length 6.38. Carapace 2.61 long, 2.00 wide. Clypeus 0.27 long. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.148, PME 0.15, ALE 0.25, PLE 0.21, AME-AME 0.05, PME-PME 0.14. Sternum 1.56 long, 1.17 wide. Palp: femur length 5.94, height 0.29, tibia length 5.83, height 0.29. Leg I: femur (fe) 6.46, patella (pa) 1.07, tibia (ti) 6.64, metatarsus (mt) 5.84, tarsus (ta) 2.95. II: fe 5.16, pa 0.97, ti 4.59, mt 4.55, ta 2.26. III: fe 4.26, pa 0.9, ti 3.6, mt 3.98, ta 1.92. IV: fe 5.35, pa 1, ti 5.17, mt 5.24, ta 2.37. Abdomen: length 3.78, width 1.61.

Palp macrosetae: ~15v long, ~2d short. Leg macrosetae: fe I d1, dp8, v20, r19; ti I v2-2-2-2-2; mt I p0-1-1-2, r0-0-1-2, v2-2-2-2-2-2; ta I v12; fe II d2, dp5; ti II v2-2-2; mt II p0-1-1-1, r0-0-1, dr0-0-1, v2-2-2-2-2; ta II v15; fe III d4, dp3; ti III vp0-1-1; mt III p1-1-1, r1-0-1, dr0-0-1, v2-2-2-2-2; ta III v12; fe IV d5, dp1; mt IV p0-1-2, r0-0-1, v1-1-2-2-2; ta IV v17.

Palp ( Figs 7–8 ): femur more than two times longer than carapace, cymbium about as long as bulb, bulb subtriangular, with a slight constriction on medial area, sperm duct with 3 coils, embolus spiniform, short, only slightly curved, with small keel, tibia slightly sinuous.

State of the specimen: good, left palp dissected, both legs IV disarticulated from tibia.

Female (MACN-Ar 38868). Carapace brown, stippled with dark brown and with dark brown V-shaped median pattern. Labium, endites and sternum dark brown. Sternum and legs I–II hirsute, with long setae. Legs dark brown, with longitudinal brown stripes, gradually becoming yellow brown on the tips. Abdomen grayish, light brown.

Total length 15.0. Carapace 5.25 long, 3.97 wide. Clypeus 0.89 long. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.18, PME 0.197, ALE 0.33, PLE 0.22, AME-AME 0.098, PME-PME 0.29. Sternum length 2.96, width 2.27. Palp: femur length 2.87, height 0.96, tibia length 1.7, height 0.88. Leg I: fe 6.42, pa 1.91, ti 5.91, mt 5.34, ta 2.97. II: fe 4.72, pa 1.81, ti 3.94, mt 3.68, ta 2.18. III: fe 3.72, pa 1.71, ti 2.8, mt 3, ta 1.58. IV: fe 5.32, pa 1.77, ti 4.66, mt 4.17, ta 2.04. Abdomen: length 9.97, width 7.86.

Palp macrosetae on ventral surface of tibia and tarsus. Leg macrosetae: ti I v2-2-1; mt I p0-0-1, r0-0-1, v2-2-2- 2-2; ta I v10; ti II v2-2-2-1; mt II p1-1-1, r0-0-1, v2-2-2-2-2-2; ta II v6; ti III vp1-1-0; mt III p1-1-2, r1-1-1, v2-2-2- 2-2; ta III v9; fe IV d2-0-0; ti IV v1-0-0; mt IV p0-0-1, r0-1-0, dr-0-0-1, v2-2-2-2; ta IV v8. Calamistrum with 3 rows of tightly packed and neatly arranged setae, rows with ~30-30-10 setae, the retrolateral one very reduced.

Endogyne ( Fig. 11 ). Spermathecae with short, lobe-like membranous portion (MPS) embraced by short, subtriangular glandular portion (GPS).

State of specimen: good, left leg II disarticulated from tibia, right legs II–III set apart for molecular work, genitalia dissected.

Variation. Males (n = 2): total length 6.38–6.57 (6.48), carapace length 2.61–3.19 (2.9), femur I length 6.46– 7.34 (6.9), femur/carapace ratio 2.30–2.48 (2.39), palpal femur length 5.94–6.52 (6.23), palpal femur/carapace ratio 2.04–2.28 (2.16). Females (n = 3): total length 12.5–15.0 (13.57), carapace length 4.57–5.25 (4.83), femur I length 4.99–6.42 (5.5), femur/carapace ratio 1.07–1.22 (1.14).

Other material examined. OMAN: Ad Dakhiliyah: Al Hamra, Jebel Shams mountain range south of Muscat, dry rocky shrubland/grassland, in cracks in stones (23.23614°N, 57.19378°E), leg. M. Stockmann, IX.2016, 5 imm. (MACN-Ar 38371), 1³ 1♀ (MACN-Ar 41196), 1♀ (MACN-Ar 41201), 1³ (MACN-Ar 39464); Samail , dry rocky shrubland/grassland, under large stones (23.17041°N, 58.0996°E), leg. M. Stockmann, IX.2016, 1♀ (MACN-Ar 38368), 1³ 1♀ ( SMNH), 1³ ( SMF), 1³ 1♀ ( SMNH) . Al Buraymi: Mahdha , 24.77502°N, 55.91458°E, leg. M. Stockmann, IX.2016, 1♀ (MACN-Ar 41199), 3♀ (MACN-Ar 41202), 1³ ( SMNH), 1³ ( SMF) . Muscat: Quriyat , 22.83148°N, 59.02858°E, leg. M. Stockmann, IX.2016, 1♀ (MACN-Ar 39467) . UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Fujairah: Al Ayn, Jebel Hafeet , 24.06778°N, 55.75083°E, leg. S. Huber & L. Monod, 20. V .2015, 2♀ ( SMF); Khor Kalba II National Park , 24.9925°N, 56.33083°E, 25 m a.s.l., leg. S. Huber & L. Monod, 18. V .2015, 1♀ 2 imm. ( SMF); N of Khor Fakkan , coastal road in plain with Acacia trees, 25.48861°N, 56.35778°E, 30 m leg. S. Huber & L. Monod, 14. V .2015, 2♀ ( SMF) .

Distribution. Known from northern Oman and United Arab Emirates ( Fig. 3 ).

Natural history. Females were collected in autumn in a wadi (a dry valley where water runs during torrential rain) in the Jebel Shams mountain range. The area has loamy and rocky soil, and steady vegetation with trees, shrubs and other plants, and rocks and stones. Specimens were taken from webs in cracks of rocks, or, more commonly, in webs under large rocks in the shade of trees. One specimen had an egg sac.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Sahastata spp., living specimens.A–B S. nigra (Simon, 1897) from Jebel Shams, Oman, male (A) and female (B); C–D S. wesolowskae sp. nov. from Salalah, Oman, male holotype (C) and female (D); S. wunderlichi sp. nov. from Zag, Morocco, male (E) and female (F). Scale bars: 10 mm (except E, 5 mm).

FIGURE 3. Distribution map of Sahastata. Small dots are unidentified specimens or literature records of dubious specific identity.

FIGURE 7. Sahastata nigra (Simon, 1897), male from Jebel Shams mountains, Oman (MACN-Ar 39464), left palp. A Prolateral; B Same, detail of bulb; C Bulb, dorsal; D Retrolateral; E Bulb, prolateral, clove oil cleared. Scale bars: 200 µm.Abbreviations: BBS—basal bulb sclerite; CIC—cymbium internal crest; F—fundus; K—embolus keel.

FIGURE 11. Sahastata nigra (Simon, 1897), endogyne, ventral.A Paralectotype from Muscat, Oman (MNHN AR 5476); B–C Jebel Shams mountains, Oman (MACN-Ar 38368); D–F Quriyat, Oman (MACN-Ar 39467); F Anterior margin of interpulmonary fold. Abbreviations: GPS—glandular portion of spermathecae; IF—interpulmonary fold; MPS—membranous portion of spermathecae.

FIGURE 14. Sahastata wesolowskae sp. nov.. A–D Male holotype from Salalah, Oman (SMNH), right palp, mirrored. A Prolateral; B Same, detail of bulb; C Retrolateral; D Bulb, dorsal; E Male from Oman, Al Wusta (SMF), left bulb, retrolateral; F Male from the same locality (MACN-Ar 41197), left bulb, retrolateral.