Cebrennus wagae (Simon, 1874)

Figs 18–23, 42–54, 64–69, 77–81, 173

Cebrenis wagae Simon, 1874: 265, pl. 5, fig. 1 (description of male; holotype male, Algeria, Constantine Province, Prof. Waga leg., not found in MNHN, not examined).

Cebrennus wagae Simon, 1880: 332 (transfer to Cebrennus, listed male[s] from Bou Saada, Ch. Leprieur leg., see below). Fage 1921: 162, figs 1f–g (illustration of male; not description of female contra Platnick 2014); Jäger 2000: 178, figs 47–48 (modified illustration of male after Fage 1921).

Material examined. ALGERIA: M’Sila: 3 males (PJ 3460–3462), Bou Saada (MNHN 1613-4542). Biskra: 2 females (PJ 3463–3464), Biskra district, Biskra (MNHN 1613-4542). Algiers: 1 female (PJ 3468), surroundings of Algier, 15 May 1971, J. Horak leg., ex Coll. Brno, Hula ded., SD 556 (SMF). Ouargla: 1 female (PJ 3470), Chott [N 31°57'53.29", E 5°23'11.53", ca. 130 m elev.], 1874–1875, 103-99 (MNHN). 1 female (PJ 3469), without further data, Jacquemont leg. 1876, E. Simon det. (MNHN). TUNISIA: Kasserine: 1 male (PJ 3015), Chambi National Park, surroundings of the park's guest house, N 35°10.139', E 08°40.486, 950– 1000 m elev., Pinus halepensis, Stipa tenacissima, Thuya, under stones, logs and leaf litter of Pinus halepensis, Stoev, P. and N. Akkari leg. 8 March 2008, ded. 2008 (SMF). 1 female (PJ 3440), Central Tunisia, highland, #48-98, May 1898 (ZIN). LIBYA: 1 male (PJ 3465), Brandt leg. (SMF). MALTA: 1 female (PJ 3471), without further data, February 1927 (MNHN).

Note. The series MNHN 1613-4542 contains 3 males and 2 females. Most likely males are from Algeria, Bou Saada as mentioned in Simon 1880: 332 (the largest is illustrated here: Figs 19–20). The two females have been previously dried up and were likely added later to this series (an established procedure by Eugene Simon or subsequent workers as shown in Jäger 2002 for Heteropoda javana or in C. castaneitarsis above). Since both localities are 150 km apart and show an altitudinal difference of approximately 400 m, they need not to be conspecific.

Diagnosis. Small to medium-sized Sparassinae, body length of males: 8.2–13.3, females: 9.3–15.2. Copulatory organ similar to those of C. flagellatus spec. nov., C. castaneitarsis and C. aethiopicus in having a very long embolus with distal loop as long as the tegulum or larger (Figs 18–23). Distinguished from C. flagellatus spec. nov. by the absence of an additional flagellum at the embolus kink, from all other three species by the distinctly longer RTA: in retrolateral view the RTA is longer than the tibia length, i.e. the ratio RTA/tibia ranges from 1.35 to 1.78. Males differ from those of the three other species by having the embolus arising in a 4 o’clock-position from tegulum, embolus base not reaching the retrolateral margin of tegulum. There were some females available which fall in the potential distribution range and are here considered belonging to C. wagae (Figs 42–54). Epigynal field’s ratio width/length ranges from 1.25 to 1.38. Lateral epigynal ledges with their posterior ends closer to each other than anterior ends. Males with 4 posterior cheliceral teeth (Figs 65–66), females with 4 to 5 (Figs 64, 67–69).

Redescription. Male: (n=5): PL 4.0–6.8, PW 3.5–5.5, AW 2.2–3.8, OL 4.2–6.5, OW 2.8–5.1; [n=2] AME 0.35–0.42, ALE 0.26–0.31, PME 0.25–0.31, PLE 0.25–0.30, AME–AME 0.14–0.21, AME–ALE 0.12–0.22, PME–PME 0.39–0.49, PME–PLE 0.50–0.82, AME–PME 0.29–0.34, ALE–PLE 0.45–0.65, clypeus AME 0.14–0.18, clypeus ALE 0.18–0.22 (Figs 79, 81). Spination: Palp: 130, 0 0 0, 10(1)00 [all thin bristles]; legs: femur I–III 323, IV 322; patella I–IV 000; tibia I–IV 2024; metatarsus I–III 2024, IV 3036. Ventral metatarsi I–IV with scopula in distal half, without spines or bristles distally. Measurements leg I: [n=1] 22.4 (6.3, 2.2., 5.9, 6.3, 1.7). Margin of chelicerae close to fang base with 3 bristles.

Colouration: pale yellowish (white) brown, without pattern; distal appendages (especially metatarsus and tarsus) slightly darker.

Female (n=5): PL 5.6–6.6, PW 4.4–5.3, AW 3.4–4.5, OL 6.2–8.9, OW 4.8–7.8; AME 0.41–0.43, ALE 0.26–0.32, PME 0.26–0.27, PLE 0.28–0.31, AME–AME 0.23–0.33, AME–ALE 0.20–0.40, PME–PME 0.46–0.59, PME–PLE 0.70–1.10, AME–PME 0.32–0.47, ALE–PLE 0.59–0.91, clypeus AME 0.17–0.24, clypeus ALE 0.21–0.30 (Figs 77–78, 80). Spination: Palp: 130, 0 0 0, 100(1)0, 1000 (1010, 1013/1012); legs: femur I 323 (123, 223), II 323 (320, 222), III 323 (110, 320, 321), IV 321 (322, 221, 222, 111); patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 2024, III 2024 (2023), IV 2024 (2023, 3023); metatarsus I–II 2024, III 2024 (2023), IV 3036 (3035). Ventral metatarsi I–IV with scopula in distal half, without spines or bristles distally. Measurements leg I: [n=5] 19.3–22.2 (5.7–6.6., 2.2–2.7, 5.0–5.8, 5.0–6.2, 1.4–1.9). Palpal claw with 7 to 10 teeth. Margin of chelicerae close to fang base with 3–7 bristles (Figs 64, 67–69).

Colouration: pale yellowish brown, without pattern; distal appendages slightly darker. One female showed a very slight pattern on dorsal opisthosoma.

Distribution. Algeria, Tunisia, Libya [not mapped], Malta (Fig. 173).