Hyllus peckhamorum Berland & Millot, 1941 revalidated, stat. nov.

Fig. 22A

Hyllus natali peckhamorum Berland & Millot, 1941: 338, fig. 42. Removed here from synonymy of Hyllus brevitarsis Simon, 1902 .

Diagnosis

This species has a characteristic abdomen pattern, with thin white stripes extending along the sides from the front edge to the middle of the abdomen where they form circular patches, and a pair of white circular patches located posteriorly connected by a thin line around the end of the abdomen (Fig. 22A). The epigyne is similar to that in Hyllus africanus Lessert, 1927 but differs in the presence of a semicircular rim to the depression (compare Fig. 22B–C with Wesołowska & Edwards 2012: fig. 48).

Material examined

IVORY COAST • ♀; Cavally Forest; 19 Nov. 1975; “sur branches au bord de la route”; MNHN • 1 ♀; Kotiessou; 6°08′ N, 5°04′ W; 19 Aug. 1975; “forêt degradée”; MNHN .

Redescription

Male

Unknown.

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 3.8–4.2, width 3.0–3.6, height 1.7–2.1. Eye field length 1.9– 2.1, anterior width 2.6–2.7, posterior width 2.7–2.8. Abdomen length 4.9–6.0, width 3.0–4.3. General appearance as in Fig. 22A.

CARAPACE. Dark brown, lighter medially, its sides with broad light bands, composed of white hairs. Tufts of long brown bristles form ‘horns’ near eyes of second row. Some white hairs on eye field. Chelicerae dark brown, some white hairs on their dorsal surface. Sternum and mouthparts dark brown, only tips of endites light.

ABDOMEN. Bulging, beige brownish with lighter median streak and characteristic pattern composed of two pairs of white round patches in posterior half, near anterior pair run thin white bands from anterior abdominal edge, posterior pair joined by transverse line at end of abdomen (Fig. 22A). Hairs of background colour cover dorsum. Venter greyish brown with four lines composed of light dots. Many protruding brown bristles on body dorsum, more on carapace. Spinnerets black.

LEGS. Brown, distal halves of segments darker. Leg hairs dense long brown.

EPIGYNE. As in Fig. 22B–C. With crescent-shaped depression, copulatory openings placed in posterior portion of the depression (Fig. 22D).

Remarks

This species was described by Berland & Millot (1941: 337, fig. 42) as the variety Hyllus natali peckhamorum . Wesołowska (2008) wrongly synonymized it with H. brevitarsis Simon, 1902 . Finding new specimens and examining the internal structure of epigyne shows that it is a separate species, so we raise its rank.

Distribution

Only recorded from Ivory Coast.