Euprosthenopsis pulchella

Cruz da Silva, Estevam L. & Sierwald, Petra, 2014, Description of the males of Euprosthenops australis Simon, 1898 and Euprosthenopsis pulchella (Pocock, 1902) (Araneae: Pisauridae), Zootaxa 3857, pp. 137-150 : 145-148

Euprosthenopsis pulchella (Pocock, 1902)

Figs 2, 23-26, 27, 28, 31-35

Euprosthenops pulchellus Pocock 1902: 18, plate 3, fig. 6, female holotype from South Africa, Eastern Cape Province, Grahamstown ( BMNH 01.3.13.194 ) (examined); Blandin 1977: 143, figs 9, 15, 19, 20b (transferred from Euprosthenops ) .

Euprosthenopsis pulchella (Pocock, 1902). Platnick 2014.

Note. Males and females were found together in several lots from South Africa ( NCA collection).

Diagnosis. The males of Euprosthenopsis pulchella resemble those of E. armata by the short distal tegular projection ( DTP, Figs 27, 29), by the short and membranous median apophysis ( MA, Figs 27, 29), by the large and translucent conductor ( C, Figs 27, 29) and by the concave retrolateral tibial apophysis ( RTA, Figs 28, 30). Males of E. pulchella can be distinguished by the large and wide conductor ( C, Figs 27, 31, 32), the long and thin embolus ( E, Figs 27, 32), the elongated and slender distal tegular apophysis ( DTA, Figs 27, 32) and the tooth-like projection at the base of the retrolateral tibial apophysis ( RTA, Figs 28, 33, 34).

Description. Male (South Africa, NCA 2010/2037). Total length 11.67. Carapace 4.31 long, 3.65 wide, dark brown with a thin lateral white band (Figs 23, 24). Clypeus light brown, 0.50 high (Fig. 25). Anterior eye row extremely procurved, 1.60 wide (Fig. 25); posterior eye row strongly recurved, 1.38 wide (Fig. 24). Eye diameters, interdistances, and median ocular quadrangle: AME 0.18, ALE 0.21, PME 0.24, PLE 0.22; AME-AME 0.16, AME-ALE 0.64, PME-PME 0.36, PME-PLE 0.44, OQA 0.56, OQP 0.74, OQH 0.64. Chelicerae dark brown, with scattered white bristles anteriorly (Fig. 25). Retromargin of left cheliceral fang furrow with three teeth, equidistant and equal in size; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest. Sternum dark brown with a median irregular light brown band, bristly; 2.07 long, 1.91 wide (Fig. 26). Labium light brown, dark brown laterally, 0.35 long, 0.70 wide (Fig. 26). Legs dark brown, relative length: IV-II-I-III, I - femur 7.80/ tibia-patella 9.79/ metatarsus 7.80/ tarsus 3.65/ total 29.04; II - 8.13/ 9.46/ 7.96/ 3.81/ 29.36; III - 7.30/ 8.13/ 6.30/ 3.15/ 24.88; IV - 9.13/ 10.12/ 10.95/ 3.32/ 33.52. Ventral pairs of macrosetae on tibiae: I-4; II-4; III-4; IV-4. Abdomen 6.64 long, dark brown with a lateral patch of white bristles forming two paramedian white bands (Fig. 23). Venter brown with a thin light brown band. Palpus with a short and rounded distal tegular apophysis ( DTA) (Figs 27, 31, 32). Cymbium 2.34 long. Median apophysis ( MA) short, slender and membranous (Figs 27, 31, 32). Conductor large, wide and translucent (Figs 27, 31, 32). Retrolateral tibial apophysis concave, with a small tooth-like projection at the base (Figs 28, 33, 34).

Female. Redescribed by Blandin, 1977: 143, f. 9, 15, 19, 20b.

Other material examined. SOUTH AFRICA, Western Cape, Bontebok National Park [34°04'S, 20°27'E], 1 ♂, 23.XI.2009, E. le Roux ( NCA 2010/2037 ) , Gondwana Game Reserve, SE Herbertsdale [34°04'S, 21°53'E], 1 ♂, 03.I.2006, M. Burger ( NCA 2010/2482 ) , 1 ♂, 03.I.2006, M. Burger ( NCA 2010/2481 ) ; Oudtshoorn [33°35'S, 22°12'E], 2 ♂, 3 ♀, 15.XI.2008, Z. van der Walt ( NCA 2009/5893 ) , Anysberg Nature Reserve [33°31'S, 20°45'E], 2 ♂, 23.IX.2005, C. Haddad & R. Lyle ( NCA 2007/3957 ) ; Eastern Cape, Mkhambathi Nature Reserve [31°32'S, 29°58'E], 1 ♂, 29.I.2008, M. Hamer ( NCA 2009/5760 ) ; Kimberley [28°41'S, 24°44'E], 1 ♀, no date, collector unknown ( MRAC 147.833 ) ; KwaZulu-Natal [28°29'S, 30°52'E], 2 ♀, 1980, unknown collector ( FMNH 103053 , 103054 ) ; Port Alfred [33°35'S, 26°53'E], 1 ♂, unknown collector ( FMNH 103055 ) ; Hartbeespoort, Grootplaas De Rust [25°46'S, 27°50'E], 1 ♀, 20.XII.2013, H. Davel ( FMNH 129282 ) . LESOTHO, Ha Liphapang village [30°33'S, 28°05'E], 1 ♂, 15.XI.2003, C. Haddad ( NCA 2009/1011 ) . SWAZILAND, Malolotja Nature Reserve [25°58'S, 31°07'E], 1 ♂, 20.I.1989, R. Harris ( NCA 90/473 ) .

Distribution. South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland (Fig. 35).