Tusitala ansieae, Azarkina & Foord, 2015

Azarkina, Galina N. & Foord, Stefan H., 2015, A review of three Tusitala (Araneae: Salticidae) species from southern Africa, with a new synonymy and description of a new species from Botswana, African Invertebrates 56 (2), pp. 285-308 : 289-293

Tusitala ansieae sp. n.

Figs 9, 10 , 14–30

Etymology:This species is named after the South African arachnologist, Dr Anna Sophia (Ansie) Dippenaar-Schoeman, for her life-long contribution to African arachnology.

Diagnosis: Males of T. ansieae sp. n. resemble T. lutzi and can be distinguished from it by the large retrolateral process of the tegulum, the shape of the tibial apophysis – straight instead of curved ( Figs 14–16 ), and the position of the cheliceral process – near the medial border of the chelicerae in T. ansieae sp. n. ( Figs 25, 26 ) instead of the lateral border in T. lutzi (see WesoŁowska 2012: fig. 57). Females resemble T. lyrata and can be distinguished from it by the shorter insemination ducts and their different course ( Figs 17–19 ) (see WesoŁowska & Tomasiewicz 2003: figs 15–19 for T. lyrata ).

Description:

Male.

Measurements: Carapace: 2.20 long, 1.60 wide, 1.05 high. Abdomen: 2.00 long, 1.45 wide. Eye field: 1.00 long, anterior 1.50 wide, posterior 1.40 wide. Chelicerae length 0.85. Clypeus height 0.07. Diameter of AME 0.50. Length of leg segments: I 1.30 + 0.80 + 0.90 + 0.80 + 0.55; II 1.05 + 0.75 + 0.70 + 0.70 + 0.40; III 1.25 + 0.50 + 0.75 + 0.85 + 0.45; IV 1.30 + 0.65 + 0.90 + 1.00 + 0.50.

Leg spination: I: Fm d 1-1-5; Pt pr & rt 1; Tb pr 1-1-1, v 2-2-2ap; Mt pr & rt 0-1ap, v 2-2ap. II: Fm d 1-1-5; Pt pr & rt 1; Tb pr 1-1-1, rt 1-1, v 2-2-2ap; Mt pr 1-1, rt 0-1ap, v 2-2ap. III: Fm d 1-1-5; Pt pr & rt 1; Tb pr & rt 1-1-1, v 2-0-2ap; Mt pr & rt 1-0-2, v 2-0-2ap. IV: Fm d 1-1-5; Pt pr & rt 1; Tb pr & rt 1-1-1, v 0-1-0-2ap; Mt pr & rt 1-1-2, v 2-0-2ap.

Coloration ( Figs 20–24 ): Thoracic part of carapace brown, with brownish-yellow field behind ocular area, covered with transparent scales. Eye field dark brown, with brown median stripe and black patches around eyes ( Fig. 20 ). Sternum yellow with brown margin ( Fig. 21 ). Clypeus low, dark brown, covered with row of long brown setae ( Fig. 24 ). Chelicerae uni-dentate, brown, with row of long white protruding setae on each chelicera ( Figs 23, 24 ), long apical process near fang base ( Figs 25, 26 , arrowed). Abdomen grey, ventrally with broad brownish medial longitudinal band. Dorsum brown, with one longitudinal white band medially and white bordering band ( Fig. 20 ). Booklungs yellow-grey. Spinnerets brown. Femora, patellae and tibiae dark brown. Metatarsi and tarsi brownish-yellow. First legs robust. Palpal femora and patellae brown, tibiae and cymbium yellow. Palpal structure as in Figs 14–16 .

Female.

Measurements: Carapace: 2.20 long, 1.60 wide, 1.10 high. Abdomen: 2.40 long, 1.35 wide. Eye field: 1.00 long, anterior 1.50 wide, posterior 1.50 wide. Chelicerae length 0.70. Clypeus height 0.10. Diameter of AME 0.50. Length of leg segments: I 1.20 + 0.70 + 0.75 + 0.60 + 0.40; II 1.10 + 0.70 + 0.70 + 0.55 + 0.40; III 1.15 + 0.60 + 0.70 + 0.70 + 0.45; IV 1.25 + 0.70 + 0.85 + 0.85 + 0.60.

Leg spination: I: Fm d 1-1-4; Pt pr 1; Tb pr 0-1, v 2-2-2ap; Mt pr & rt 0-1ap, v 2-2ap. II: Fm d 1-1-5; Pt pr 1; Tb pr 1-1-1, v 2-2-2ap; Mt pr 1-1, rt 0-1ap, v 2-2ap. III: Fm d 1-1-4; Pt pr & rt 1; Tb d 1-0-0, pr & rt 1-1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt pr & rt 1-2, v 2-2ap. IV: Fm d 1-1-3; Pt pr & rt 1; Tb d 1-0-0, pr & rt 1-1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt pr & rt 1-1-2, v 2-0-2ap.

Coloration ( Figs 27–30 ): Carapace yellow, with dark brown ocular area and yellow median stripe, black patches around eyes ( Fig. 27 ). Thoracic part covered with short dark brown hairs. Sternum yellow, with brown lateral sides ( Fig. 28 ). Labium and maxillae brownish-yellow. Chelicerae, clypeus and cheeks yellow ( Fig. 30 ). Chelicerae unidentati ( Fig. 9 ). Abdomen yellow. Dorsum covered with brownish-red scales and three longitudinal yellow stripes; lateral stripes connected to each other on frontal part of abdomen ( Fig. 27 ). Spinnerets and booklungs yellow. Legs and palps yellow. Structure of epigyne and spermathecae as in Figs 17–19 .

Holotype ♂: BOTSWANA: North­West / Ngamiland District : 19 km NE of Maun, on surface of river near reeds and lilies, ca. 19°48'S 23°36'E, 23.vi.1979, B. Taylor & A. Morley ( NCA 83 /499).

Paratypes: BOTSWANA: North­West / Ngamiland District: Okavango River, Caprivi strip, 18°06'S 21°40'E, in reeds and papyrus, 24.iii.1976, A. Russell-Smith, 1♂ 1♀ ( MRAC); Okavango River , near Gadikwe [=Gcodikwe] Lagoon, ca. 19°09'S 23°14'E, beating from Ficus verriculata , 16.x.1975, A. Russell-Smith, 1♂ ( MRAC) .

Distribution: Known only from northern Botswana ( Fig. 13 ).

Comments: Leg II from the left side and leg IV from the right side in the holotype are underdeveloped.

Figures

Figs 6–12. Tusitala spp.: (6) palp of T.barbata, ventral view; (7) palp of T. hirsuta, ventral view; (8) female chelicera of T.barbata, posterior view; (9) female chelicera of T. ansieae sp. n., posterior view; (10) epigyne of T. ansieae sp. n., ventral view; (11) epigyne of T. barbata, ventral view; (12) epigyne of T. hirsuta, ventral view.

Figs 14–19. Tusitala ansieae sp. n.: (14) male palp, ventral view; (15) ditto, retrolateral view; (16) ditto, prolateral view; (17) epigyne, ventral view; (18) spermathecae, dorsal view; (19) diagram of insemination ducts. Scale bars: (14–18) = 0.1 mm.

Figs 20–26. Tusitala ansieae sp. n., general appearance: (20) male, dorsal view; (21) ditto, ventral view; (22)ditto,lateral view; (23) male “face”, frontal-lateral view; (24) ditto, frontal view; (25) chelicerae, ventral view; (26) ditto, apical-retrolateral view. Scale bars: (20–24) = 1 mm; (25, 26) = 0.5 mm.

Figs 27–30. Tusitala ansieae sp. n., general appearance: (27) female, dorsal view; (28) ditto, ventral view; (29) ditto, lateral view; (30) female “face”, frontal view. Scale bars = 1 mm.

Fig. 13. Distribution map of all Tusitala species.