Cebrennus tunetanus Simon, 1885

Jäger, Peter, 2014, Cebrennus Simon, 1880 (Araneae: Sparassidae): a revisionary up-date with the description of four new species and an updated identification key for all species, Zootaxa 3790 (2), pp. 319-356 : 351-353

Cebrennus tunetanus Simon, 1885

Figs 162–171 , 173

Cebrennus tunetanus Simon, 1885: 14 (Description of male; holotype male, Tunisia, Enfida or El Kef, MNHN 1613-6491, examined). Fage 1921: 163, figs 2d–f (illustration of male, description of female); Jäger 2000: 185, figs 86–88 (illustration of male and female).

Note. Jäger (2000) considered the two specimens from MNHN syntypes. This cannot be true, since Simon described only the male sex ( Simon 1885). Most likely the female was added from Fage when he described the female ( Fage 1921). Simon (1885) mentioned "quelque femelles jeunes" (several female juveniles) which are not present in this series.

Additional material examined. 1 female, no data given by Fage (1921) ( MNHN 1613-6491; see note above).

Extended diagnosis. Males can be recognised by their proximal tegular hump (i.e. proximal tegulum in lateral view distinctly wider than cymbium) in combination with the short and simple tapering embolus ( Figs 162–164 ). Females with median field triangular similar to that in C. mayri Jäger 2000 , but distinguished by the two light “windows” at the anterior end ( Fig. 167 ), and uniquely anteriorly situated glandular appendages covering atria in dorsal view ( Fig. 169 ).

Description. See Simon (1885) and Fage (1921). Here, some additional data are given.

Male (holotype): PL 7.5, PW 6.2, AW 4.0, OL 6.7, OW 5.4. Anterior eye row straight, posterior eye row recurved, AME largest ( Fig. 166 ). Spination: Palp: 130, 0 0 0, 1000; legs: femur I 323, II 324, III 323(4), IV 322; patella 000; tibia 2024; metatarsus I–II 2024, III 3024, IV 3036(7). Cheliceral furrow with 2 anterior, 4 adnate posterior teeth and 1 small single tooth distally, without denticles ( Fig. 165 ). For further description see Simon (1885).

Palp as in diagnosis ( Figs 162–164 ). Tibia distinctly shorter than cymbium, RTA ventrad. Embolus arising in an 8- to 9-o’clock-position, distal tip situated in a 12-o’clock-position, retrolatero-distad.

Female: PL 8.0, PW 6.5, AW 5.1, OL 8.0, OW 7.5. Anterior eye row straight, posterior eye row recurved, AME largest ( Fig. 171 ). Spination: Palp: 130, 0 0 0, 1000, 1000; legs: femur I–III 323, IV 321; patella 000; tibia 2024; metatarsus I–III 2024, IV 3036. Cheliceral furrow with 2 anterior, 5 adnate posterior teeth and 2 small single teeth distally, without denticles ( Fig. 170 ).

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis ( Figs 167–169 ). Epigynal field wider than long. Epigyne with narrow ridge between anterior “windows” and with posterior margin of median part convex and slightly extending beyond epigastric furrow. Posterior part of internal duct system with several windings. Fertilisation ducts narrow, anteriad. Distribution. Only known from the type locality ( Fig. 173 ).

Biology. According to Simon (1885) spiders of this species build their burrows in plain sandy or slightly clayey habitats. The burrows may be five to eight centimetres deep and three to four centimetres wide. They fix this cavity with a strong and dense tissue of silk and close the entrance completely with a drumhead-like lid. For hunting they leave the tube via a semi-circular slit in the lid (cf. C. rechenbergi spec. nov. and Figs 135–140 ).

Figures

FIGURE 173. Distribution records of Cebrennus spp. (according to Jäger 2000 and references therein, this paper and Reimoser 1919). Note that the exact locality for C. laurae spec. nov. is unknown.

FIGURES 162 – 171. Cebrennus tunetanus Simon, 1885 from Tunisia (162 – 166 holotype male, 167 – 171 female). 162 – 164 Left male palp (162 ventral, 163 retrolateral, 164 bulb, slightly prolateral); 165, 170 Cheliceral dentition, ventral; 166, 171 Eye arrangement, dorsal; 167 Epigyne, ventral; 168 – 169 Vulva (168 antero-ventral, 169 dorsal). DE—distal part of embolus, GA—glandular appendages, K—embolic kink, MA—membranous atrium, PE—proximal part of embolus, W—light “ windows ” close to copulatory openings.

FIGURES 135 – 140. Cebrennus rechenbergi spec. nov., female from Erg Chebbi, Morocco, entering the tube through a semicircular slit in the silken lid. Photos: I. Rechenberg.