Afroneta serrata, Frick & Scharff, 2018

Frick, Holger & Scharff, Nikolaj, 2018, Description of one new genus and four new species of mynoglenine spiders from Africa (Araneae: Linyphiidae: Mynogleninae), European Journal of Taxonomy 415, pp. 1-27 : 16-20

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2018.415
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D3B2953A-7727-4FA6-BADA-A74AEA6DF00B
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5986252
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/43E22AFC-D784-4494-8F78-87E9657584D3
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:43E22AFC-D784-4494-8F78-87E9657584D3
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Afroneta serrata
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Afroneta serrata View in CoL sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:43E22AFC-D784-4494-8F78-87E9657584D3

Figs 9–10 View Fig. 9 View Fig. 10 , 11A–C View Fig.11

Diagnosis

In males, the presence of serrations on the ventral margin of the paracymbium is diagnostic. However, the shape of the serrations is variable (see Fig. 9A–B View Fig. 9 ), ranging from many shallow fine denticles to a few deep strong teeth. The tegular mynoglenine process tapers towards the tip and is well set off from the tegulum ( Figs 9A View Fig. 9 , 10A–B View Fig. 10 ). Females have a small dorsal plate scape and copulatory ducts that exceed the receptacula anteriorly.

Etymology

The species epithet serrata refers to the serrated paracymbium of the males. The gender is feminine. This species was discovered by Holm, who also suggested the specimen to use as holotype, but the species was never published. The material of this species is listed in an unpublished catalogue from the Zoological Museum at the Uppsala University ( Wallin 1990) as Afroneta serrata MS.

Type material

Holotype

KENYA: ♂, Mount Elgon, Koitobboss, Alpine belt , “Sålln., moss m.m. på marken” (sifted moss etc., on the ground), 1°08 ′ N, 34°36 ′ E, 4200 m a.s.l., 11 May 1948, Å. Holm leg. and det., collection Holm UZM No. 142 ( UPSZMC 67569 ). GoogleMaps

Allotype

KENYA: ♀, same data as for holotype ( UPSZMC 67569 ). GoogleMaps

Other material examined (2 ♂♂)

KENYA: 2 ♂♂, Mount Elgon, crater, southern part, Alpine belt , “sålln. gräs vid Senecio ” (sifted grass at Senecio ), 1°07′ N, 34°34 ′ E, 3980 m a.s.l., 14 May 1948, Å. Holm leg. and det., collection Holm UZM No. 62/147 ( UPSZMC 67570 ). GoogleMaps

Description

Male (holotype, UPSZMC 67569)

SIZE. Total length 1.98. Cephalothorax 1.13 long, 0.81 wide. Sternum 0.71 long (0.60 without labium), 0.56 wide. Abdomen 1.08 long, 0.66 wide. AME diameter 0.04. Femur I 0.70 long, 1.01 times as long as cephalothorax.

COLOUR (preserved specimens, Fig. 11A, C View Fig.11 ). Cephalothorax and chelicerae brownish, sternum darker and with blackish-grey margin. Legs and pedipalps yellowish white, without annulations. Black rings around eyes ( Fig. 11A View Fig.11 ). Abdomen grey, with white markings. Figure 11A View Fig.11 illustrates old material (1948) stored in 75% ethanol.

BODY. Cephalothorax with short pale setae in the midline. No fovea ( Fig. 11C View Fig.11 ). Ocular area with several short thin setae between eyes. Clypeus height 4.6 times AME diameter. Subocular sulci present below ALE, clearly demarcated, longer than wide and narrow ( Fig. 11A View Fig.11 ).

CHELICERAE. With 3 large widely spaced prolateral teeth ( Fig. 11A View Fig.11 ). No stridulating file. Three small closely spaced retrolateral denticles, positioned between the two first prolateral teeth.

LEGS. All femora with short thin setae dorsally and ventrally. Ventral setae several times longer than diameter of femora. Leg formula 1243. Trichobothrium metatarsus I = 0.49. Tibial spine formula 2222.

PEDIPALP ( Figs 9A–C View Fig. 9 , 10A–D View Fig. 10 , 11A View Fig.11 ). Patella with long strong macro setae ( Fig. 10A View Fig. 10 ). Tibia with two retrolateral and one prolateral trichobothrium ( Figs 9A View Fig. 9 , 10D View Fig. 10 ). Cymbium with two prolateral macrosetae ( Fig. 9C View Fig. 9 ). Paracymbium J-shaped, with unusual distal serrations on ventral margin ( Fig. 9A–B View Fig. 9 ). It bears two setae basally ( Fig. 9A View Fig. 9 ) and its distal part is well set off from the cymbium in dorsal view ( Fig. 10D View Fig. 10 ). Suprategulum narrow, triangular. Tegular mynoglenine process elongated, well set off from the tegulum ( Figs 9A–B View Fig. 9 , 10A–B View Fig. 10 ). Radix drop-like. Embolus with broad base, robust and almost straight and tapering towards the tip ( Figs 9C View Fig. 9 , 10C View Fig. 10 ). Embolic membrane exceeding the embolus and the alveolus ( Fig. 9C View Fig. 9 ).

Female (allotype, UPSZMC 67569)

SIZE. Total length 3.03. Cephalothorax 1.45 long, 1.07 wide. Sternum 0.84 long (0.75 without labium), 0.67 wide. Abdomen 1.79 long, 1.17 wide. AME diameter 0.05. Femur I 0.94 long, 1.54 times as long as cephalothorax.

COLOUR (preserved specimen, Fig. 11B View Fig.11 ). As holotype.

BODY. Sternum shield–shaped. Clypeus height 4.6 times AME diameter.

CHELICERAE. With 3 large widely spaced prolateral teeth. Retrolateral denticles not visible. Chelicerae without stridulating file.

LEGS. Spination of legs like male. Leg formula 1243. Trichobothrium metatarsus I = 0.44.

EPIGYNUM AND VULVA ( Figs 9D–E View Fig. 9 , 10E–F View Fig. 10 ). The epigyne has a dorsal plate scape that is moderately developed and neither extends much ventrally nor posteriorly ( Fig. 10E–F View Fig. 10 ). The copulatory ducts exceed beyond the receptacula anteriorly and are seperated from each other by less than their diameter ( Fig. 10G–H View Fig. 10 ). The receptacula are round.

Distribution

Only know from Mount Elgon, Kenya, at altitudes between 3980 and 4200 m a.s.l.

Life history

Little is known about the biology of this species. Specimens have been collected in the alpine belt above the forest zone. According to Holm it was taken from moss and grass on the ground in an area with Senecio L.