Anelosimus jucundus, sensu Levi, 1956

Agnarsson, Ingi, 2006, A revision of the New World eximius lineage of Anelosimus (Araneae, Theridiidae) and a phylogenetic analysis using worldwide exemplars, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 146 (4), pp. 453-593 : 471-472

THE JUCUNDUS GROUP – CLADE 9

As with A. studiosus , F. O. P.- Cambridge’s (1902) and Levi’s (1956) concept of A. jucundus included several synonymies and bountiful geographical variation. Likewise, recent work discloses behavioural differences and breeding barriers (under laboratory conditions) between some geographically separate populations ( Nentwig & Christenson, 1986; Avilés & Gelsey, 1998; Bukowski & Avilés, 2002). I recognize five species of the jucundus species complex. Two unambiguous synapomorphies with perfect fit to the cladogram support jucundus group monophyly: elongated theridiid tegular apophysis distal branch (53 -1, Fig.19A ), and shallow embolus-distal hematodocha grooves (70 -1, Fig. 20C ).

EVOLUTION AND CATEGORIZATION OF SOCIALITY IN

Figures

Figure 19. The ‘jucundus group’. A–E, Anelosimus arizona. A, male palp mesal, arrow points to the eb-ridge, larger in this species than in any other Anelosimus; B, same ventral; C, epigynum; D, internal epigynum dorsal; E, female habitus. F–I, Anelosimus jucundus. F, male palp mesal; G, same ventral; H, epigynum; I, internal epigynum dorsal. J–N, Anelosimus octavius. J, male palp expanded, mesal; K, male palp ventral; L, male palp expanded, ectal; M, epigynum; N, internal epigynum dorsal.

Figure 20. Anelosimus arizona, male palp from Huachuca Mountains, Arizona. A, mesal view; B, submesal; C, ventral, note the huge embolic division b (Eb) with a large ridge, and the shallow embolus-distal hemaodocha grooves (arrows); D, ectal view, note the swollen embolic division b; E, apical view of tip, mesal side; F, details of the large Eb ridge. Scale bars: A–E, 100 µm; F, 50 µm.