Thiratoscirtus khonvoum Pett, 2024

Pett, Brogan L., Iyomi, Dieu Merci Mpongo & Mbende, Menard, 2024, Discovery of three new species of Thiratoscirtus (Araneae: Salticidae: Thiratoscirtinae) from Central African rainforest, Zootaxa 5399 (2), pp. 155-162 : 159-161

Thiratoscirtus khonvoum Pett , sp. nov.

Figs 17–22

Type material. Holotype: ♀, D. R. Congo, Salonga National Park , WWF Monkoto basecamp, - 1°37’5.176”N, 20°37’32.304”E, 26 November 2022, 14:09, “leaf litter sieve”, Brogan L. Pett leg (BE_ RMCA _ARA.Ara 247654) . Paratypes: 1♀, D. R. Congo: Kisangani , Masako Forest Reserve, 0°36′ N, 25°13′ E, 12 August 2001, “old fallow”, J. Juakaly leg (BE_ RMCA _ARA.Ara 211977) ; 1♀, D. R. Congo: Kisangani , Masako Forest Reserve, 0°36′ N, 25°13′ E, 27 August 2001, “young secondary rainforest”, J. Juakaly leg (BE_ RMCA _ARA.Ara 211810) .

Etymology. The specific epithet a noun in apposition and refers to ‘Khonvoum’, the supreme god and creator in Bambuti Pygmy mythology. Khonvoum is the god of the hunt and carries a bow made of two snakes and communicates with people through the mythical elephant thunder god Gor.

Diagnosis. Thiratoscirtus khonvoum Pett , sp. nov. is separated by: (i) the very large anterior coils of the CD that are around half of the length of the entire epigyne; (ii) the recurved and entire singular epigynal atria; (iii) the long and thin CDs, and the kidney-bean-shaped ST; (iv) the very long FD.

Description. Female holotype (BE_RMCA_ARA.Ara 247654). Measurements. CL 3.24, CW 2.61, CH 2.16, SL 1.08, SW 0.93, AL 3.80, AW 2.58, chelicera length 1.40, chelicera width 0.74. Legs. I: 1.62, 1.00, 1.36, 1.16, 0.68. II: 1.64, 0.84, 1.23, 0.91, 0.56. III: 2.72, 0.99, 1.68, 1.66, 0.78. IV: 2.19, 0.70, 1.28, 1.61, 0.73. Eyes: AME 0.62, ALE 0.44, PME 0.12, PLE 0.38, ORW 2.37. Colouration. Carapace generally dark orangish-brown, with lighter orangish band posterior to fovea, ocular region black, fluorescence in small patches; chelicerae deep red; labium and maxillae dark brown; sternum beige very light brown; coxae all beige, legs I & II generally light brown, legs III & IV generally beige to pale cream; abdomen generally light brownish with darker mottling, venter concolorous. Carapace. Very high, declining sharply just posterior to fovea, foveal depression shallow and circular. Sternum. Broad oval shape, truncated at anterior margin. Legs. Formula 3412, with first two pairs broader across segments. Several very long trichobothrium. Chelicerae. One large and wide based tooth on retromargin, two teeth on promargin. Abdomen. Oval, widest at 2/3 along length, several erect black setae protruding at 30°–45°angle. Leg spination. I: F d3 pl2, P pl1, T pl2 4-4, Mt 2-2; II: F d3 rl1 pl2, P pl1 rl1, Ti pl3 4-4 rl1, Mt pl2 2-2; III: F d3 pl2 rl1, P d1-1, Ti d3-3 v1-1-1, Mt d2-1-3 v2-1; IV: F d3 rl1, P 1-1, Ti d2-2 v2-1, Mt d3-2 v2-2-2.

Epigyne ( Figs 21, 22 ). Anterior part of CD broad and with single spiral anteriorly, CO positioned laterally, with epigynal atrium hood-like, CD running along rim of atrium and then directed straight posterior from central point, posterior part of CD thin and straight with central pendant-like expansion, and then diverged laterally to join the kidney-shaped ST, FD long and conspicuous arising at anterior median edge.

Male. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 17–22. Thiratoscirtus khonvoum Pett, sp. nov. female holotype. 17–20 habitus; 21, 22 epigyne; 17, 22 dorsal view; 18 lateral view; 19, 21, 22 ventral view. Scale bars: 1 mm (17), 0.5 mm (21).