Thiratoscirtus spinifer, Wiśniewski & Wesołowska, 2024

Wiśniewski, Konrad & Wesołowska, Wanda, 2024, Jumping spiders (Salticidae) of Uganda - revised list, new species and distributional data, European Journal of Taxonomy 952, pp. 1-171 : 136-138

Thiratoscirtus spinifer sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:65BBB4DC-4A68-41DE-9203-C8A4CED48B77

Figs 88–89

Diagnosis

The male of this species is distinctive by the presence of a stout spine on the retrolateral side of the cymbium.The palp is slightly similar to that in Thiratoscirtus mastigophorus Wiśniewski & Wesołowska, 2013 , but the embolus in the newly described species is clearly longer (one and a half times surrounding the bulb, while in the latter species the embolus forms an incomplete circle) and with a bicuspid tibial apophysis (pointed in the other species).

Etymology

The specific name refers to the presence of a conspicuous thorn on the cymbium.

Material examined

Holotype

UGANDA • ♂; Ruwenzori , Bundibugyo; 0°43′ N, 30°03′ E; 1050 m a.s.l.; 1952; G.O. Evans leg.; NHM.

Other material

UGANDA • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype (specimen incomplete, with only one palp, the thorn broken off); NHM .

Description

Male

General appearance as in Fig. 88A–B.

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.6, width 2.1, height 1.2. Eye field length 1.3, anterior width 1.7, posterior width 1.8. Abdomen length 2.5, width 1.6.

CARAPACE. Oval, brown, fovea clearly marked, eyes with black rings. Dorsum covered with faint transparent hairs, sides with white stripes, some longer bristles near eyes, a few white hairs between anterior median eyes. Chelicera long, unidentate. Mouthparts brown with light tips, sternum yellow.

ABDOMEN. Ovoid, yellowish with mosaic composed of brownish marks, posteriorly traces of light chevrons ( Fig. 88B ). Venter yellowish with four lines of dark dots. Some brown bristles on anterior abdominal edge. Spinnerets yellowish.

LEGS. Yellow, only first pair brown with dark tibiae and metatarsi. Leg hairs and spines brown, ventral spines on metatarsus I long.

PALPS. Yellow. Cymbium with tutaculum and stout spine on retrolateral side ( Figs 88F–G , 89B–C ). Palpal tibia broad basally and abruptly pointed ( Figs 88F , 89B ). Bulb rounded, embolus long, one and a half times surrounding the bulb ( Figs 88D–E , 89A ).

Female

Unknown.

Figures

Fig. 88. Thiratoscirtus spinifer sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (NHM). A. General appearance, dorsal view. B. General appearance, dorsolateral view. C. General appearance, frontal view. D. Palpal organ, ventral view. E. Palpal organ, ventrolateral view. F. Palpal organ, lateral view. G. Palpal organ, dorsal view.

Fig. 89. Thiratoscirtus spinifer sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (NHM). A. Palpal organ, ventral view. B. Palpal organ, lateral view. C. Palpal organ, dorsal view.