Microdiores aurantioviolaceus, Nzigidahera & Jocqué, 2010

Nzigidahera, Benoît & Jocqué, Rudy, 2010, On new species of Microdiores (Araneae, Zodariidae) from Central and East Africa, ZooKeys 48 (48), pp. 11-19 : 13-14

Microdiores aurantioviolaceus sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:877B5D44-E19B-4D44-BE85-26046265EC30

Figures 1A, B

Material examined. Holotype male. TANZANIA: Mkomazi Game Reserve , 5 km North of Ibaya, 9–10.VIII.1993, pitfalls, short grass and bushes, Ritchie M. and Makusi R. ( MRAC 215708 ).

Diagnosis. The male of this species is recognized by the broad, curved retrolateral tibial apophysis with a large seta pointing outwards and the long embolus with broad base, its tip supported by the broad MA with a short triangular prong. In M. violaceus the MA has two short triangular prongs whereas in M. rwegura the tip is rounded.

Etymology. The specific name “ aurantioviolaceus ”, refers to the colour of the carapace and the abdomen respectively orange and sepia.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 1.72, carapace 0.76 long and 0.60 wide. Carapace orange, with central violet spot; with a few long bristles in longitudinal row. Eyes: ocular area dark, AME 0.08, ALE 0.06, PME 0.06, PLE 0.06 PME-PME 0.08; AME almost touching. Clypeus with tuft of bristles. Chelicerae yellowish orange. Sternum pale orange, margin darker orange. Legs orange, with short hairs; spineless. Abdomen, Oval; dorsum sepia with some poorly marked pale chevrons; venter pale yellow. Palp (figs 1A, B): cymbium with distal spine and sub-distal row of four modified setae; tibia with retrolateral apophysis relatively broad, curved, rounded at the tip, and very broad ventral apophysis with broadly rounded tip and large spine pointing outwards; embolus originating on posterior part of tegulum, its base pointing forward to distal tip of tegulum, broadly curved towards MA.

Leg measurements:

Leg F P T Mt t Total

I 0.62 0.22 0.52 0.56 0.44 4.82

II 0.50 0.20 0.40 0.42 0.38 3.97

III 0.50 0.20 0.30 0.44 0.38 3.92

IV 0.70 0.20 0.58 0.66 0.40 5.42

Female Unknown

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figure IA, B. Microdiores aurantioviolaceus sp. n. A Male palp, ventral view B Male palp, retrolateral view. (Scale bars: 0.1mm)