Echinax clara, Haddad, Charles R., 2012

Haddad, Charles R., 2012, A revision of the spider genus Echinax Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 (Araneae: Corinnidae) in the Afrotropical Region, Zootaxa 3450, pp. 33-61 : 40-42

Echinax clara sp. nov.

Figs 1, 2 , 45 , 52–55

Etymology. The species name is Latin for “clear, distinct”, referring to the distinct shape of the male embolus.

Diagnosis. Females can be easily recognised by the very small epigynal ridges ( Fig. 52 ) and the nearly transverse copulatory ducts bent at a right angle medially ( Fig. 53 ). The male is unique amongst the African species in having a prolateral and retrolateral spine in the proximal third of the cymbium dorsally ( Fig. 55 ), as well as by the relatively short and strongly curved distal coil of the embolus ( Fig. 54 ).

Female (holotype, Luki, MRAC 236910). Measurements: CL 1.85, CW 1.53, AL 2.35, AW 1.64, TL 4.18 (3.95–4.60), FL 0.19, SL 0.90, SW 0.90, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE–ALE 0.32, PME–PME 0.11, PME–PLE 0.07, PLE–PLE 0.39, PERW 0.54, MOQAW 0.30, MOQPW 0.33, MOQL 0.37.

Length of leg segments: I 1.65 + 0.63 + 1.33 + 1.30 + 0.65 = 5.56; II 1.61 + 0.63 + 1.28 + 1.30 + 0.65 = 5.47; III 1.52 + 0.60 + 1.25 + 1.38 + 0.65 = 5.40; IV 1.87 + 0.65 + 1.55 + 2.00 + 0.74 = 6.81.

General appearance as in Fig. 1 . Carapace cream, eye region black except between PME; broad median band of black feathery setae from PER to posterior slope, with fine black stripe from posterior of fovea to posterior margin of carapace; lateral margins with broad stripe of black feathery setae from palpal coxa to posterior margin. All eyes with black rings; AER procurved, medians much larger than laterals; AME separated by distance slightly less than ½ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance approximately 1⁄10 AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 1½ AME diameter; PER strongly procurved, medians slightly larger than laterals; PME separated by distance equal to their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance approximately equal to ½ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 2.83: 1. Chelicerae cream, with pectinate curved setae on promargin; two closely spaced teeth on promargin, distal tooth much larger than proximal; retromargin with two adjacent subequal teeth, distal tooth very slightly larger than proximal tooth, close to fang base. Endites and sternum cream, without markings; labium cream, with black transverse marking along proximal margin. Legs cream, spine bases with faint black spot; femora all with incomplete black ventral ring distally; remaining leg segments uniform in colour. Leg spination: femora: I pl 2 do 3 rl 2, II pl 2 do 3 rl 2, III pl 2 do 3 rl 2, IV pl 2 do 3 rl 1; all femora with plv and rlv rows of erect setae; patellae: all with do 1 terminal spine; tibiae: I pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 2, II pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 2, III pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, IV pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I pl 1 rl 1 plv 2 rlv 2, II pl 1 rl 1 plv 2 rlv 2, III pl 3 rl 3 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 3, IV pl 3 rl 3 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 3. Palpal spination: femora: pl 1 do 2 rl 1, with plv and rlv erect setae; patellae: pl 1 do 2; tibiae: pl 1 do 2 plv 1; tarsi: pl 1 rl 1 plv 3 rlv 1. Abdomen with small dorsal scutum extending ¼ abdomen length; dorsum pale grey, with narrow black oval marking anteriorly, black X-shaped marking at ½ abdomen length, and lateral margins with irregular black marking; black feathery setae on markings, white feathery setae surrounding them; venter creamy-grey, covered in short straight setae with scattered longer setae, with dark grey subrectangular marking medially. Epigyne with short curved lateral ridges at midpoint of epigyne, separated by at least their width, with copulatory openings situated laterally in ridges ( Fig. 52 ); copulatory ducts initially straight, nearly transverse, curving anteriorly at right angle medially, entering oval anterior ST II; broad ducts connecting ST II to broad, kidney-shaped posterior ST I; ST I nearly as broad as ST II ( Fig. 53 ).

Male (paratype, Luki, MRAC 236912). Measurements: CL 1.80, CW 1.47, AL 2.15, AW 1.10, TL 3.80 (3.80–3.90), FL 0.23, SL 0.77, SW 0.77, AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.29, PME–PME 0.08, PME–PLE 0.06, PLE–PLE 0.32, PERW 0.48, MOQAW 0.30, MOQPW 0.29, MOQL 0.35.

Length of leg segments: I 1.85 + 0.60 + 1.50 + 1.43 + 0.73 = 6.11; II 1.78 + 0.57 + 1.40 + 1.38 + 0.70 = 5.83; III 1.65 + 0.55 + 1.38 + 1.50 + 0.68 = 5.76; IV 1.93 + 0.58 + 1.60 + 2.03 + 0.75 = 6.89.

General appearance as in Fig. 2 , male more slender and smaller than female. Carapace cream, eye region black except between PME; broad median band of black feathery setae from PER to posterior slope, broken up by asetose striae directed between coxae, with fine black stripe from posterior of fovea to posterior margin of carapace; lateral margins black, markings expanded medially from coxae, with broad stripe of black feathery setae from palpal coxa to posterior margin. All eyes with black rings; AER procurved, medians much larger than laterals; AME separated by distance slightly less than ½ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance approximately 1⁄10 AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 1½ AME diameter; PER strongly procurved, medians slightly larger than laterals; PME separated by distance equal to ¾ their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance approximately equal to ½ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 3.06: 1. Chelicerae cream, with pectinate curved setae on promargin; two closely spaced teeth on promargin, distal tooth larger than proximal; retromargin with two adjacent teeth, subequal in size, distal tooth close to fang base. Endites and sternum cream, without markings; labium cream, with black transverse marking along proximal margin. Legs cream, spine bases with distinct black spot; femora all with incomplete black markings proximally, at ½ and ½ femur length and distally, starting mediolaterally and curving laterally; patellae all black distally and laterally; tibiae all with broken black markings laterally; metatarsi with black rings proximally, medially and distally, corresponding to paired spines. Leg spination: femora: I pl 2 do 3 rl 2, II pl 2 do 3 rl 2, III pl 2 do 3 rl 2, IV pl 2 do 3 rl 2; all femora with plv and rlv rows of erect setae; patellae: all with do 1 terminal spine; tibiae: I pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 2, II pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 2, III pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, IV pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I pl 1 rl 1 plv 2 rlv 2, II pl 1 rl 1 plv 2 rlv 2, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 3, IV pl 2 rl 2 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 3. Palpal spination: femora: pl 1 do 2 rl 1, with plv and rlv erect setae; patellae: pl 1 do 2; tibiae: pl 1 do 1 plv 1; tarsi: pl 1 rl 1 plv 2 rlv 1. Abdomen with scutum nearly covering entire dorsum; dorsum mottled black with two pairs of cream spots anteriorly and medially, with fine cream chevrons posteriorly; dorsum covered predominantly with brown feathery setae, with scattered black feathery setae; venter cream, with broad black stripe along midline from pedicel to spinnerets, covered in short straight setae with scattered long straight setae. Male palp cream, cymbium yellow-brown, with a few spatulate setae dorsally in distal ½ ( Fig. 55 ); tegulum pear-shaped, yellow-brown with dark brown ducts; embolus with broad base and two ridges, first leading to prolateral and second to retrolateral basal loop of embolus; embolus long, with 1½ coils, distal section strongly curved; longitudinal distance from retrolateral bend to prolateral bend approximately ½ the distance from prolateral bend to embolus tip ( Figs 45 , 54 ).

Type material. Holotype Ƥ: D.R. CONGO: Bas-Congo: Mayombe, Luki Forest Reserve, 05°37'S, 13°05'E, 266 m a.s.l., leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 14.IX.2007 (canopy fogging, secondary rainforest) ( MRAC 236910).

Paratypes: D.R. CONGO: Bas-Congo: Mayombe, Luki Forest Reserve, 05°37'S, 13°05'E, 266 m a.s.l., leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 1.X.2007 (canopy fogging, primary rainforest), 13 ( MRAC 236903); same data, 26.IX.2007, 2Ƥ ( MRAC 236901); same data, 30.IX.2007, 1Ƥ ( MRAC 236913); same locality, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 17.IX.2007 (canopy fogging, secondary rainforest), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 236904); same data, 28.IX.2007, 23 ( MRAC 236912); same data, 20.IX.2007, 2Ƥ ( MRAC 236906); same data, 24.IX.2007, 3Ƥ ( MRAC 236908). GHANA: Kakum forest, 05°20'N, 01°23'W, leg. R. Jocqué, D. de Bakker & L. Baert, 21.XI.2005 (fogging, primary forest), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 236916); same data, 18.XI.2005, 3Ƥ ( MRAC 236918).

Additional material examined. None.

Distribution. Known only from two localities in Central and West Africa ( Fig. 68 ).

Natural history. The species was only collected by canopy fogging in primary and secondary rainforest.

Figures

FIGURE 68. Distribution of Echinax clara sp. nov. (white stars), E. hesperis sp. nov. (black stars), E. longespina (Simon, 1909) (black circles) and E. natalensis sp. nov. (white circles) in Africa.

FIGURES 1 – 16. Digital stereomicroscope photographs of Echinax clara sp. nov. (1, 2), E. hesperis sp. nov. (3, 4), E. longespina (Simon, 1909) (5, 6), E. natalensis sp. nov. (7, 8), E. scharffi sp. nov. (9, 10), E. similis sp. nov. (11, 12) and E. spatulata sp. nov. (13 – 16): 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13. Female habitus, dorsal view. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14. Male habitus, dorsal view. 15. Male patella and tibia I and II, retrolateral view, indicating distal dorsal patellar spines (PS). 16. Male palpal cymbium, dorsal view, indicating modified distal setae (MDS) and spatulate setae (SS). Scale bars: 1 – 15 = 1.0 mm, 16 = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 45 – 51. Digital microscope photographs of male emboli of Afrotropical Echinax species in ventral view: 45. Echinax clara sp. nov.. 46. E. hesperis sp. nov.. 47. E. longespina (Simon, 1909). 48. E. natalensis sp. nov.. 49. E. scharffi sp. nov.. 50. E. similis sp. nov.. 51. E. spatulata sp. nov.. Stipple lines indicate the points of separation between the basal and distal coils of the embolus. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 52 – 55. Genitalia of Echinax clara sp. nov.: 52. Female epigyne, ventral view. 53. Same, dorsal view. 54. Male palp, ventral view. 55. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.