Sibianor anansii, Logunov, 2009

Logunov, Dmitri, 2009, Further notes on the Harmochireae of Africa (Araneae, Salticidae, Pelleninae), ZooKeys 16 (16), pp. 265-290 : 282-284

Sibianor anansii , sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7F5F2E38-53FF-4CAC-822E-3C04ACCA28D2

Figs 33-41

Type material. Holotype. ♁ ( BMNH; Figs 33-35 , 38-39 ) from Botswana, Okavango, Moremi G.R., Mboma lagoon, in Hyparrhenia grassland, 13.08.1977, ARS.

Paratypes. BOTSWANA: 1♀ ( BMNH; Figs 36-37 , 40-41 ), together with the holotype .

Diagnosis. Of the African species of Sibianor , the new species is most similar to S. victoriae (cf. Logunov 2001: figs 292, 293), described from a single male from Kenya. S. anansii sp. n. differs in having a wider tibial apophysis, which is also of a different shape ( Fig. 39 ). The female of S. anansii sp. n. differs from all the known Sibianor

species in having longer insemination ducts ( Fig. 41 ). Besides, the entire body of both sexes of S. anansii sp. n. is covered with white scales ( Figs 33-17 ), which is not the case of S. victoriae (see Logunov 2001: p. 276).

Etymology. The new species is dedicated to the spider Anansi, a popular figure in the folklore of West Africa (the Ashanti of Ghana), appearing as a cunning trickster and the King of all Stories.

Distribution. The type locality only.

Description. Male (the holotype). Measurements. Carapace 1.25 long, 1.00 wide, 0.58 high at PLE. Ocular area 0.78 long, 0.85 wide anteriorly and 1.04 wide posteriorly. Diameter of AME 0.29. Abdomen 1.25 long, 1.08 wide. Cheliceral length 0.38. Clypeal height 0.10. Length of leg segments: leg I- 0.70+0.40+0.55+0.35+0.28; leg II- 0.50+0.31+0.28+0.28+0.25; leg III- 0.59+0.33+0.28+0.30+0.30; leg IV-

0.73+0.33+0.33+0.38+0.33. Leg spination. Leg I: Tb v 1-2; Mt v 2-2ap. Leg II: Fm d 1ap; Tb v 1-1; Mt v 2-2ap. Leg III: Fm d 1ap; Tb pr 0-1-0, v 1ap; Mt pr and rt 2ap, v 1ap. Leg IV: Fm d 1ap; Mt pr and rt 1ap. Colouration. Carapace light brown, evenly covered with adpressed white scales ( Fig. 33 ); black around eyes. Clypeus light brown, covered with white scales and hairs, overhanging the chelicerae. Sternum, labium and chelicerae light brown. Abdomen grey-brownish, dorsum completely covered with scutum; entire abdomen evenly covered with white adpressed scales ( Figs 33-34 ). Booklung covers and spinnerets light brown. Legs I stronger than others, brown with yellow Mt and Tr, and with fringes of black bristles on Pt, Tb and ventral sides of Fm ( Fig. 35 ). Legs II-IV yellow, with brownish Fm and brown rings at segment joints ( Fig. 34 ). Palps yellow; palpal structure as in Figs 38-39 .

Female (the paratype). Measurements. Carapace 1.27 long, 1.05 wide, 0.60 high at PLE. Ocular area 0.83 long, 0.85 wide anteriorly and 1.10 wide posteriorly. Diameter of AME 0.26. Abdomen 1.75 long, 1.25 wide. Cheliceral length 0.50. Clypeal height 0.08. Length of leg segments: leg I- 0.63+0.35+0.38+0.33+0.25; leg II- 0.48+0.33+0.25+0.28+0.24; leg III- 0.63+0.33+0.30+0.33+0.29; leg IV- 0.68+0.30+0.38+0.43+0.30. Leg spination. Leg I: Tb v 1-2; Mt v 2-2ap. Leg II: Tb v 1-1; Mt v 2-2ap. Leg III: Tb v 1ap; Mt pr 1ap. Leg IV: no spines. Colouration as in the male ( Figs 36-37 ), but differs as follows: all legs yellow, with brown Fm and brownish rings at segment joints; no scutum on dorsum; palps: Fm brown, remaining segments yellow. Epigyne and spermathecae as in Figs 40-41 .

Figures

Figures 33-37. Sibianor anansii sp. n., male holotype (33-35) and female paratype (36-37). 33 male general appearance, dorsal view 34 ditto, lateral view 35 male left leg I, lateral view 36 female general appearance, lateral view 37 female abdomen, dorsal view. (scale bars: 1 mm).

Figures 38-41. Sibianor anansii sp. n., male holotype (38-39) and female paratype (40-41). 38 left male palp, ventral view 39 ditto, retro-lateral view 40 epigyne, ventral view 41 spermathecae, dorsal view. (scale bars: 0.1 mm).