Echinax spatulata, 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 : 56-60

Echinax spatulata sp. nov.

Figs 13–16 , 51 , 77–80

Etymology. The species name is Latin for spatulate, and refers to the modified setae on the male palpal cymbium.

Diagnosis. Echinax spatulata sp. nov. females are similar to E. longespina in genitalic morphology but can be separated by the shorter copulatory ducts that are clearly separated and not touching ( Fig. 77 ). The epigyne of this species is clearly larger than that of African congeners, extending nearly ¾ the distance from the epigastric fold to the pedicel, which in the other species it extends less than ½ this distance. Males share with E. panache Deeleman- Reinhold, 2001 from South-East Asia the peculiar spatulate setae dorsally on the male palpal cymbium, which are narrower than in the latter species (compare Fig. 16 with fig. 571 in Deeleman-Reinhold 2001 and figs 5 & 6 in Marusik et al. 2008). Males can be separated from E. longespina by the narrower embolus base and the curved distal end of the embolus ( Fig. 51 ), which is straight in E. longespina ( Fig. 47 ).

Female (holotype, Segoma, ZMUC). Measurements: CL 2.20, CW 1.84, AL 2.98, AW 1.83, TL 5.25 (3.70–5.80), FL 0.30, SL 1.09, SW 1.08, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE–ALE 0.36, PME–PME 0.12, PME–PLE 0.07, PLE–PLE 0.42, PERW 0.60, MOQAW 0.35, MOQPW 0.37, MOQL 0.43.

Length of leg segments: I 2.18 + 0.75 + 1.75 + 1.68 + 0.80 = 7.16; II 2.13 + 0.73 + 1.68 + 1.65 + 0.77 = 6.96; III 2.00 + 0.70 + 1.65 + 1.80 + 0.73 = 6.88; IV 2.38 + 0.73 + 1.88 + 2.40 + 0.79 = 8.18.

General appearance as in Fig. 13 . Carapace cream, eye region black except between PME; distinct Y-shaped marking to the anterior of fovea, broken black striae radiating from fovea and two small spots on posterior slope, all covered in black feathery setae; narrow asetose lines running from PME to Y-shaped marking, and between striae; lateral margins with broad black marking, narrowed between coxae I and II, covered in black feathery setae. 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, eyes subequal in size; PME separated by distance slightly larger than ¾ their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance slightly less than ½ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 3.07: 1. Chelicerae cream with black line along their interior surface from fang furrow to base of chelicerae, with pectinate curved setae on promargin; two slightly separated teeth on promargin, distal tooth much larger than proximal; retromargin with two adjacent subequal teeth, distal tooth slightly larger than proximal tooth, close to fang base. Endites cream, without markings; labium cream, with broad black marking along proximal margin; sternum cream, with small black spot at precoxal triangles. Legs cream, spine bases with distinct black spot; coxae with black proximal margin ventrally and small black spot prolaterally distally; trochanters with black dorsal distal ring, marking broken medially; femora with proximal retrolateral blotch, pro- and retrolateral blotches at ½ femur length, small pro- and retrolateral markings at distal end, retrolateral marking distinctly longer, and incomplete ventral distal ring; patellae with fine prolateral, dorsal and retrolateral stripes proximally, distal margins with complete ring, marking extended retrolaterally, surrounding patellar indentation and fused to proximal retrolateral marking; tibiae with lateral blotches proximally, medially and distally; metatarsi with rings proximally, medially and distally, corresponding to paired spines, incomplete on legs I and II and complete on legs III and IV; palp with black spots at spine bases, femora with distal retrolateral blotches, retrolateral proximal blotch on patella. 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 1-2 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 1 and rlv 4 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 cream, with broad black marking anteriorly, black star-shaped marking at ½ abdomen length, fused laterally to irregular black marking along lateral margins; black and white feathery setae on markings, yellowish feathery setae surrounding them; venter cream, 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 slightly less than their width, with copulatory openings situated laterally in ridges ( Fig. 77 ); copulatory ducts short, strongly curved, entering oval anterior ST II that are strongly expanded posterolaterally; broad ducts connecting ST II to broad, kidney-shaped posterior ST I; ST I only very slightly broader than ST II ( Fig. 78 ).

Male (paratype, Kwamgumi [Fog 13 DH], ZMUC). Measurements: CL 2.20, CW 1.78, AL 2.25, AW 1.35, TL 4.35 (2.90–5.00), FL 0.28, SL 1.03, SW 1.01, AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.37, PME–PME 0.12, PME–PLE 0.06, PLE–PLE 0.41, PERW 0.62, MOQAW 0.35, MOQPW 0.37, MOQL 0.44.

Length of leg segments: I 2.13 + 0.69 + 1.79 + 1.76 + 0.88 = 7.25; II 2.06 + 0.69 + 1.69 + 1.73 + 0.83 = 7.00; III 1.93 + 0.68 + 1.63 + 1.81 + 0.81 = 5.74; IV 2.28 + 0.70 + 1.88 + 2.46 + 0.90 = 8.22.

General appearance as in Fig. 14 , male more slender and smaller than female. Carapace cream, eye region black except between PME; broken mottled Y-shaped marking to the anterior of fovea, with broken black striae radiating from fovea, all covered in black feathery setae; narrow asetose lines running from PME to Y-shaped marking, and between striae; lateral margins with broad black marking, expanded between coxal pairs, covered in black feathery setae. 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 slightly less than 2x 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 slightly less than ½ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 2.87: 1. Chelicerae cream, with pectinate curved setae on promargin; two closely spaced teeth on promargin, distal tooth larger than proximal; retromargin with two slightly separated teeth, distal tooth slightly larger, close to fang base. Endites cream, without markings; labium cream, with black transverse marking along proximal margin; sternum cream, with small black spots at precoxal triangles. Legs cream, spine bases with distinct black spot; coxae uniform cream; trochanters with dorsal prolateral spot; femora with proximal retrolateral blotch, pro- and retrolateral blotches at ½ femur length, small pro- and retrolateral markings at distal end, retrolateral marking distinctly longer, and incomplete ventral distal ring; patellae with pro- and retrolateral proximal lines, distal margin black, marking extended laterally, surrounding patellar indentation, fused to proximal retrolateral marking; tibiae all with black lateral mottling medially and distally, darker retrolaterally; metatarsi with black rings proximally, medially and distally, corresponding to paired spines, incomplete on legs I and II and complete on legs III and IV; palpal femora with retrolateral distal blotch, patellae with retrolateral proximal spot. Leg spination: femora: I pl 2 do 3 rl 2, II pl 2 do 3 rl 2, III pl 2 do 3 rl 2-3, IV pl 2 do 3 rl 1-2; 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 1, IV pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I pl 1 rl 1 plv 1 rlv 2, II pl 1 rl 1 plv 1 rlv 2, III pl 2 rl 2 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 1 and rlv 4 erect setae; patellae: pl 1 do 2; tibiae: pl 1 do 1 plv 1; tarsi: pl 1 plv 3 rlv 1. Abdomen with dorsal scutum extending slightly more than ½ abdomen length; dorsum with black star-shaped marking covering anterior ½ of abdomen, X-shaped marking at ½ abdomen length, and lateral margins with mottled black marking; black and yellow feathery setae on markings, yellow feathery setae between them; venter cream, covered in short straight setae and scattered longer straight setae, with narrow black marking medially. Male palp cream, cymbium yellow-brown, with a few thickened spatulate setae dorsally in distal ½ ( Fig. 80 ); tegulum pear-shaped, creamy-yellow with dark red-brown ducts; embolus fine, with broad, very narrow base and 1½ coils, distal section curved; longitudinal distance from retrolateral bend to prolateral bend slightly less than ½ the distance from prolateral bend to embolus tip ( Figs 51 , 79 ).

Type material. Holotype Ƥ: TANZANIA: Tanga Region: Muheza District, Segoma Forest Reserve, 04°59'S, 38°44'E, 210 m a.s.l., leg. S. McKamey, 11.XI.1995 (canopy fog 20) ( ZMUC).

Paratypes: BURUNDI: Kayanza: Parc National de la Kibira, Rwegura Sector, 02°55.320'S, 29°30.067'E, 2237 m a.s.l., leg. A.H. Kirk-Spriggs, 21–26.XI.2010 (Malaise traps, indigenous Afromontane forest), 1Ƥ ( NMBA 16167). 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, 30.IX.2007 (beating near FS 17, rainforest), 13 ( MRAC 223644); same locality, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 14.IX.2007 (beating, secondary rainforest, near fogging site 1), 23 ( MRAC 223417); same locality, 28.IX.2007, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels (canopy fogging, primary rainforest), 13 2Ƥ ( MRAC 230775); same data, 4.X.2007, 13 1Ƥ ( MRAC 230779). KENYA: Kakamega Forest, 00°22'N, 34°50'E, 1600 m a.s.l., leg. W. Freund, IX–X.2001 (fogging, Teclea nobilis , middle aged secondary forest), 13 ( ZFMK Ar1171); same locality, leg. W. Freund, IX–X.2001 (fogging, Heinsenia diervilleoides ), 1Ƥ ( ZFMK Ar1172). TANZANIA: Tanga Region: Mufindi District, Uzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve, 08°31.58'S, 35°54.00'E, 750 m a.s.l., leg. S. McKamey et al., 16.III.1996 (canopy fog 39), 13 ( ZMUC); Muheza District, Kwamgumi Forest Reserve, 04°57'S, 38°44'E, 170–220 m a.s.l., leg. S. McKamey, 18.VII.1995 (canopy fog 7), 13 ( ZMUC); same data, 2.XI.1995 (canopy fog 14), 13 ( ZMUC); same data, 5.XI.1995 (canopy fog 16), 13 ( ZMUC); same data, 31.X.1995 (canopy fog 13), 13 ( ZMUC); Muheza District, Segoma Forest Reserve, 04°59'S, 38°44'E, 210 m a.s.l., leg. S. McKamey, 11.XI.1995 (canopy fog 20), 1Ƥ ( ZMUC).

Additional material examined: CAMEROON: Matute [04°06.8'N, 09°25.3'E], Tiko Plantation, leg. B. Malkin, 24.IV–6. V.1949, 1 Ƥ ( CAS, CASENT 9033090). CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Prefecture Sangha- Mbaéré, Réserve Spéciale de Forêt Dense de Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7km 326° NW Bayanga, 420 m a.s.l., 03°00'18''N, 16°11'36''E, leg. B.L. Fisher, 10–17.V.2001 (beating low vegetation, rain forest), 2 imm. 1Ƥ ( CAS). 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, 13–23.IX.2007 (second row of 10 pitfalls, young secondary rainforest), 13 ( MRAC 222689); same locality, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 15.IX.2007 (beating, near fogging site 2), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 223090); same locality, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 1.X.2007 (canopy fogging, primary rainforest), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 230778); same data, 26.IX.2007, 23 2Ƥ ( MRAC 230774); same data, 30.IX.2007, 1Ƥ ( MRAC 230777); same data, 30.IX.2007, 1Ƥ ( MRAC 230777); same locality, 21.IX.2007 (canopy fogging, secondary rainforest), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 230771); same locality, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 14.IX.2007 (canopy fogging, secondary rainforest), 33 4Ƥ ( MRAC 236909); same data 17.IX.2007, 23 1Ƥ ( MRAC 230766); same data, 19.XI.2005, 23 1Ƥ ( MRAC 218268); same data, 20.IX.2007, 23 2Ƥ ( MRAC 230769); same data, 24.IX.2007, 3Ƥ ( MRAC 236907); same data, 25.IX.2007, 13 ( MRAC 230773); same data, 28.IX.2007, 43 3Ƥ ( MRAC 236911); same locality, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 16.IX.2007 (young secondary rainforest), 13 1Ƥ ( MRAC 222946); same locality, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 22.IX.2007 (beating, near FS9, old secondary rainforest), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 223026); same locality, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 3.X.2007 (beating, near FS19), 13 ( MRAC 230782); same locality, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 4.XI.2006 (canopy fogging 1, primary rainforest), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 220921); same locality, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 13.XI.2006 (fogging 5, primary rainforest), 13 1Ƥ ( MRAC 220930); same locality, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 16.XI.2006 (beating, secondary forest), 13 ( MRAC 219843); same locality, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 16.IX.2007, 2Ƥ ( MRAC 236914); same data, 21.IX.2007, 2Ƥ ( MRAC 230770). Kivu: Rutshuru, 01°11'S, 29°27'E, leg. J. Ghesquière, V.1937, 23 ( MRAC 236920). Lulua: Kananga [Luluabourg], St. Joseph, 05°54'S, 22°25'E, leg. J. Deheyn, 28.IV.1939, 1Ƥ ( MRAC 3834). GHANA: Kakum forest, 05°20'N, 01°23'W, leg. R. Jocqué, D. de Bakker & L. Baert, 14.XI.2005 (fogging, primary forest), 23 ( MRAC 218250); same data, 16.XI.2005, 13 1Ƥ ( MRAC 236917); same data, 18.XI.2005, 33 3Ƥ ( MRAC 218265); same data, 21.XI.2005, 3Ƥ ( MRAC 218273); same data, 23.XI.2005, 23 1Ƥ ( MRAC 218284); same locality, leg. R. Jocqué, D. de Bakker & L. Baert, 15.XI.2005 (fogging, secondary forest), 43 3Ƥ ( MRAC 218251); same data, 22.XI.2005, 63 4Ƥ ( MRAC 218277). GUINEÉ: F.C. de Ziama, 08°24'N, 09°17'W, leg. D. Flomo, 13.IX.1998 (pitfalls, rain forest), 13 ( MRAC 216215); same data, 31.III.1999, 1Ƥ ( MRAC 216224); same data, 31.III.2000, 1Ƥ ( MRAC 216212). IVORY COAST: Bouaflé, 06°59'N, 05°45'W, leg. J. Everts, 22.I.1981 (pitfalls), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 173989). KENYA: Western Region, Kakamega Forest, Lirhanda Hills, 00°13'N, 34°54'E, leg. D. Shilabira Smith, 25.V.2000 (pitfall trap), 13 ( MRAC 220493); same locality, leg. D. Shilabira Smith, 10.VIII.2002 (malaise trap), 13 ( MRAC 220479). RWANDA: 50km N of pêcherie Ihema, pres du lac Mihindi, 01°32'S, 30°43'E, leg. Jocqué, Nsemgimana & Michiels, 6.XII.1985, 1Ƥ ( MRAC 165221). TOGO: Akloa Falls Forest, 07°30'N, 00°36'E, leg. J. Bosselaers, 1.IV.2005 (hand capture on plants), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 216784).

Distribution. Widespread across tropical Africa ( Fig. 81 ).

Natural history. The majority of specimens were collected by canopy fogging. The species was also collected from lower habitat strata (foliage and leaf litter) by beating, hand collecting and pitfall trapping. Most records for which habitat data are available indicate a preference for forests of variable structure, and this species is apparently absent from savannas.

Figures

FIGURE 81. Distribution of Echinax scharffi sp. nov. (white circles), E. similis sp. nov. (black star) and E. spatulata sp. nov. (black 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 77 – 80. Genitalia of Echinax spatulata sp. nov.: 77. Female epigyne, ventral view. 78. Same, dorsal view. 79. Male palp, ventral view. 80. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.