Testudinaria lemniscata ( Simon, 1893 )

Rodrigues, Everton Nei Lopes & Mendonça, Milton De S., 2011, Araneid orb-weavers (Araneae, Araneidae) associated with riparian forests in southern Brazil: a new species, complementary descriptions and new records, Zootaxa 2759, pp. 60-68 : 64

Testudinaria lemniscata ( Simon, 1893)

( Figs. 9–13 )

Arcidius lemniscatus Simon, 1893: 328 , pl. 7, fig. 7 (Holotype female from Caraça, Minas Gerais, Brazil, E. Gounelle col., deposited at MNHN, not examined).

Gnolus lemniscatus, Simon, 1895: 910 , fig. 976; Roewer, 1942: 912; Bonnet, 1957: 2028. Testudinaria lemniscata, Levi, 2005: 192 , figs. 33–38; Platnick, 2010.

Diagnosis. The male palp of Testudinaria lemniscata ( Simon, 1893) ( Figs. 9–11 ) resembles that of T. unipunctata ( Simon, 1893) (see Levi 2005: figs 25, 26) by having a larger embolus anteriorly and by the presence of a distal spur on the median apophysis, differing from other species of the genus. Testudinaria lemniscata can be distinguished from T. unipunctata by the longer spur ( Figs. 9–11 ), surpassing the margin of tegulum and by a less developed base of the median apophysis ( Fig. 10 ).

Note. For the diagnosis and description of female see Levi (2005: 192).

Description. Male (MCN 47013, Maquiné, RS). Total length 3.0 0. Carapace length 1.30, width 1.10, height 0.70. Clypeus height 0.14. Sternum length 0.60, width 0.55. Abdomen length 1.75, width 1.50, height 0.95. Leg formula I/II/IV/III. Leg lengths (I/II/III/IV): femur 1.35/1.15/0.70/1.00; patella 0.44/0.40/0.30/0.40; tibia 1.05/ 0.95/0.55/0.70; metatarsus 1.20/0.85/0.55/0.85; tarsus 0.44/0.40/0.25/0.35. Total leg (I/II/III/IV): 4.48/3.75/2.35/ 3.30. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.10, PME 0.0 7, PLE 0.10; AME-ALE 0.27, PME-PLE 0.35, AME-AME 0.0 7, PME-PME 0.10. Eyes with black borders, lateral eyes projected ( Figs. 12, 13 ). Carapace pale-orange, median portion yellow. Chelicerae, sternum and endites yellow. Legs with thighs and anterior portion of femur yellow, other segments brownish and distal femur brown. Abdomen triangular, narrowing at the terminal portion, dorsum yellowish, with three black patches surrounded with white pigment, two anterior and one mid-posterior. Ventral side and spinnerets yellow. Palp with wide based embolus, sclerotized ( Fig. 9 ), distal portion extending to the apex of conductor ( Fig. 10 ). Median apophysis anteriorly large, distal portion narrowing as a hook ( Fig. 10 ). Cymbium with ectal edge excavated ( Fig. 11 ).

Variation. Total length (three males) 2.60 to 3.0 0.

Material examined. BRAZIL, Rio Grande do Sul: Maquiné, riparian forest of Maquiné river, three males and seven females, 27.I.2008 – 22.III.2009, all collected by E. N. L. Rodrigues leg. (MCN 47013-47019).

Distribution. Brazil (Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul).

Figures

FIGURES 9 – 13. Testudinaria lemniscata (Simon, 1893): (9 – 11) male palp: (9) mesal view, (10) ventral view, (11) ectal view, (12, 13) male body: (12) cephalotorax, ventral view, (13) dorsal view (Co = conductor; Cy = cymbium; E = embolus; MA = median apophysis; P = paracymbium). Scale lines: (9 – 11) 0,25 mm, (12, 13) 0,5 mm.