Opisthoncus machaerodus Simon, 1909

Gardzińska, Joanna & Żabka, Marek, 2013, Redescription of the genus Opisthoncus L. Koch, 1880 (Araneae: Salticidae), Zootaxa 3717 (4), pp. 401-447 : 423-427

Opisthoncus machaerodus Simon, 1909

( Figs 15 )

Opisthoncus machaerodus: Simon 1909: 206 –207; Rainbow 1911: 309; Żabka 1991: 45–46.

Type material. 1M Holotype, ZMH, Mus. Godeffroy 102, Dr. W. Michaelsen, ded. 1X.1909, Hambg. S.W. Austral. Exp. 1905, 27.VIII.1905, Western Australia: Midland.

Comparative material. 2M, MNHN 24312, Austral. occid (Michaelsen), Australia.

Diagnosis. Each male cheliceral retromargin with 2 fused teeth, of them the distal one strongly enlarged, promarginal teeth of similar size, small ( Fig. 15 E). Both frontal and ventral spurs horn-like, enlarged and located nearby fangs ( Fig 15 D, E, F). Fangs with small internal outgrowths. Differs from other species by features of palpal organ: tegulum heart-shaped, embolus wide in initial part, with margins bent inside, tibia of shape as in Figs 15 G–J.

Description. Male ( Fig. 15 ) about 5.5 mm long. Cephalothorax trapezoid, broadest at PLE level (CW = 90% of CL) and moderately high ( CH = 52% of CL), pale brown, eye surrounding brown ( Figs 15 A, C). Clypeus moderately narrow, pale brown, with scattered pallid and brown hairs ( Figs 15 D, F). Chelicerae pale brown, with scattered brownish hairs, maxillae and labium of the same colour, with yellow anterior margins. Sternum relatively narrow, yellow. Abdomen elongate ovoid, yellow-brown, with pattern as in Fig. 15 A. Spinnerets orange. Venter yellowish, darker on sides, with elongate stripes of small brown spots ( Fig. 15 B). Palpal organ ( Figs 15 G–J): robust, cymbium truncated, tegulum relatively enlarged, embolus short, sliver-like, arising at 11 o’clock, translucent part of spermophore not meandering, retrolateral tibial apophysis slender.

Dimensions. CL 2.44, CW 2.20, CH 1.28, AEW 1.84, PEW 1.88, EFL 0.92, AL 2.96, AW 1.88, L1 7.84 (2.04+1.92+2.00+1.16+0.72).

Female unknown.

Remark. Due to differences in palpal structure, the generic status of the species has to be confirmed.

Opisthoncus magnidens L. Koch, 1880 ( Figs 16 , 17 )

Opisthoncus magnidens: Koch L. 1880: 1209 ; Hogg 1900: 77; Żabka 1991: 46.

Type material. 1M, 1F Syntypes, ZMH, Mus Godeffroy 7735, Australia: Rockhampton.

Remarks. Koch and Keyserling (1880) described both sexes. The type material comprises 1 female and 2 males, only one of the males belongs to O. magnidens , the second one is O. grassator .

Diagnosis. Female chelicerae with 4 fused teeth ( Fig. 16 D) and male with 3 teeth situated close to each other ( Fig. 17 D) on each retromargin. Male promarginal teeth differ in size: distal one distinctly bigger than the proximal. Frontal spurs well developed and finger-like ( Fig. 17 E), ventral ones lobe-like, enlarged and located far away the retromarginal teeth ( Fig. 17 D). Fangs with internal outgrowths ( Fig. 17 E). Tegulum round and relatively small, embolus elongate, rising at 3.30 o’clock. Insemination ducts elongate, membranous part coiled in 2 circles, intermediate ducts curved and looped as in Fig. 16 H. In comparison with related O. grassator armament of male chelicerae different, embolus somewhat longer, spermathecae more distant from each other, accessory glands shorter.

Description. Female ( Fig. 16 ) about 6.5 mm long. Cephalothorax round and moderately high (CW = 92% of CL, CH = 50% of CL), pale brown, darker on cephalic protruberance and posteriorly, covered with short, recumbent pallid scales and scattered brown hairs ( Figs 16 B, F). Surrounding of AME brown, of other eyes black. Clypeus moderately narrow, pale brown, with numerous pallid scales and setae ( Fig. 16 E). Chelicerae, endites and labium pale brown, the latter with yellow anterior margins. Sternum moderately wide, yellow, with darker margins ( Fig. 16 C). Abdomen large, ovoid, yellow, with scattered brown hairs and rather indistinct (discoloured) pattern. Venter yellowish, with central elongate stripes of small brown spots. Spinnerets yellow. Legs orange, first pair darker than others. Pedipalps yellow. Epigyne ( Figs 16 G–H): posterior notch shallow, copulatory openings wide, membranous part of insemination ducts coiled in two circles, intermediate sclerotized parts elongate and curved as in Fig. 16 H, spermathecae relatively small, accessory glands round and relatively short.

Dimensions. CL 2.40, CW 2.20, CH 1.20, AEW 1.60, PEW 1.68, EFL 0.88, AL 4.08, AW 2.80, L1 5.24 (1.48+1.20+1.20+0.80+0.56).

Male ( Fig. 17 ) about 6.5 mm long. Cephalothorax round, moderately high (CW = 92% of CL, CH = 58% of CL), pale brown, covered with pale scales and scattered brown hairs ( Fig.17 B). Surrounding of AME brown, other eyes surrounded in black. Clypeus narrow, pale brown, with sparse pallid hairs ( Fig. 17 F). Cheliceral armament as in diagnosis. Chelicerae, endites and labium pale brown, anterior margins of endites and labium yellow. Sternum relatively wide, yellow, with darker margins and sparsely clothed in fine, brown hairs. Abdomen elongate, yellow, with dorsal orange scutum, covered with scattered brown hairs, pattern of central pallid area similar to that observed in female, however hardly discoloured ( Fig. 17 B). Venter yellowish, with elongate stripes of small brown spots. Spinnerets orange. Legs orange-yellow. Pedipalps yellow. Palpal organ ( Figs 17 G–J): embolus arising retrolaterally, translucent part of spermophore not meandering, tibia about 45% of cymbium length.

Dimensions. CL 2.60, CW 2.40, CH 1.50, AEW 1.68, PEW 1.76, EFL 1.00, AL 3.80, AW 1.96, L1 9.44 (2.40+2.00+2.52+1.60+0.92).

Opisthoncus mandibularis L. Koch, 1880 ( Fig. 18 )

Opisthoncus mandibularis: Koch L. 1880: 1202 ; Simon 1903: 827, 828; Rainbow 1911: 309; Żabka 1991: 46.

Type material. 1M Holotype, ZMH, Mus. Godeffroy 7739, Australia: Sydney [NSW].

Diagnosis. Both male cheliceral promarginal teeth small, retromarginal teeth unidentate ( Fig. 18 D). Frontal surface of each chelicera with strongly sclerotized frontal edge, terminating with vestigial spur ( Fig. 18 E). Ventral spurs relatively large, flat and divided as in Fig. 18 D. Fangs with internal and external outgrowths. Tegulum elliptic, narrow, embolus moderately long, arising at 6 o’clock. Differs from O. lineativentris by the shape of cheliceral ventral spurs and spermophore, which is not meandering.

Description. Male ( Fig. 18 ). Spider about 10 mm long. Cephalothorax trapezoid, moderately low (CW = 87% of CL, CH = 45% of CL), dark brown, covered with fine, pallid hairs ( Fig. 18 C). Surrounding of PLE black. Clypeus moderately narrow, dark brown, densely covered with long, pallid setae ( Fig. 18 B). Chelicerae pale brown, with scattered brown hairs and armament as in diagnosis. Endites and labium dark brown, with yellow anterior margins. Sternum narrow, orange ( Fig. 18 F). Abdomen lacking. Legs brown, with lighter coxae and trochanters. Pedipalps brown. Palpal organ ( Figs 18 G–J): tegulum elliptic, moderately narrow, embolus arising distally, translucent part of spermophore not meandering, tibia about 82% of cymbium length, retrolateral tibial apophysis rather slender.

Dimensions. CL 4.12, CW 3.60, CH 1.85 AEW 2.60, PEW 2.92, EFL 1.60, AL 5.50, L1 14.76 (3.80+3.32+3.84+2.40+1.40).

Remark. Due to lacking abdomen, we give original measurement of abdomen (above) by Koch and Keyserling (1880).

Female unknown.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Opisthoncus machaerodus Simon, 1909, male holotype. A – C: general appearance, dorsal (with shape of cephalothorax), ventral and fronto-lateral views; D: cephalothorax, frontal view (with chelicera); E: chelicerae, ventral view; F: clypeus and chelicerae (with frontal spur, see arrow); G – J: palpal organ, ventral and retrolateral views. Scale bars A, C: 1 mm; G, I: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 16. Opisthoncus magnidens L. Koch, 1880, female syntype. A: original drawings from Koch & Keyserling (1880); B – C: general appearance, dorsal and ventral views; D: chelicerae, ventral view; E – F: cephalothorax, fronto-lateral and dorsolateral views; G – H: epigyne and its internal structures. Scale bars B, C, F: 1 mm; G – H: 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 17. Opisthoncus magnidens L. Koch, 1880, male syntype. A: original drawings from Koch & Keyserling (1880); B – C: general appearance, dorsal and ventral views; D – E: chelicerae, ventral and frontal views; F: cephalothorax, frontal view; G – J: palpal organ, ventral and retrolateral views. Scale bars B, C, F: 1 mm; G, H, J: 0.25 mm.

FIGURE 18. Opisthoncus mandibularis L. Koch, 1880, male syntype. A: original drawings from Koch & Keyserling (1880); B – C: cephalothorax, frontal and fronto-dorsal (with shape of cephalothorax) views; D – E: chelicerae, ventral and frontal views; F: cephalothorax, ventral view; G – J: palpal organ, ventral and retrolateral views. Scale bars B, F: 1 mm; G, I: 0.2 mm.