Callitrichia protegularis, Tanasevitch, 2023

Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2023, Survey of the Ethiopian linyphiid spider fauna. I. Subfamily Erigoninae (Arachnida, Araneae, Linyphiidae), Zootaxa 5346 (4), pp. 420-442 : 425-427

Callitrichia protegularis new species

Figs 3 , 4

Type material. Holotype: J ( ZMMU): ETHIOPIA, Oromia Region, 67 air-km E of Addis-Ababa, 5 air-km NNE from Ginchi , Chilimo State Forest , spring valley near road, 9.07061°N 38.15804°E, 2584 m a.s.l., Podocarpus falcatus forest with Juniperus procera , Prunus africana , Olea europaea , Hagenia abyssinica , Apodytes dimidiata , Ficus spp. , Erythrina brucei , etc, grass, sifting litter and humus, 15.X.2022, A. Tanasevitch leg. [ Eth 008] . Paratypes: 2J, 2♀ ( ZMMU): same date and locality, together with holotype.

Etymology. The specific epithet is the Latin adjective referring to a long protegulum bent towards the embolic division.

Diagnosis. The male of the new species is diagnosed by the peculiar shape of the carapace, as shown in Figs 3A–D , the slightly broadened apical part of the palpal tibia ending with two small and sharp denticles; the long and distally bent protegulum, the presence of a special apophysis in addition to the upper distal apophysis of the convector (AA in Figs 4A, B, E ), as well as by the long low distal apophysis extended far beyond the bulb. The female is charaterized by the oval epigynal plate, receptacles being directed obliquely forward, as well as by the presence of a sac on each receptacle. Based on the conformation of the embolic division, the new species is similar to numerous congeners, yet especially so to C. hamifera Fage, 1936 , C. monticola ( Tullgren, 1910) , and C. silvatica Holm, 1962 , all mainly distributed in the eastern part of the Afrotropical realm. The shape of the male carapace slightly resembles that of C. afromontana Scharff, 1990 . From all these species, the male of C. protegulus n. sp. differs by the peculiar shape of the carapace, the structure of the distal part of the palpal tibia, as well as by the shape of a long and curved protegulum. The female can be distinguished by the structure of the epigynum, namely, the presence of a sac on each receptacle (RS in Figs 3H , 4F ).

Description. Male (Paratype from Eth008). Total length 2.65. Carapace modified, as shown in Figs 3A–D , 1.28 long, 0.93 wide, greyish to greyish-pale brown, with dark radial stripes. Head part of carapace with a low, conical and hairy elevation, and a shallow hollow before posterior median eyes. Eyes normal, not enlarged. Chelicerae 0.48 long, a mastidion absent. Legs greyish to greyish-pale brown. Leg I 3.48 long (0.95 + 0.30 + 0.85 + 0.83 + 0.55), IV 3.81 long (1.05 + 0.30 + 0.98 + 0.98 + 0.50). Chaetotaxy 2.2.1.1, spines about as long as 1–2.5 diameter of corresponding leg segment. Metatarsi I–IV with a trichobothrium each. TmI 0.73. Palp ( Figs 4A–E ): Tibia dorsally extended into a long process, slightly broadened apically and carrying two small claws. Paracymbium large, its proximal part much smaller than distal one. Anterior part of tegulum elongated, with a wide and long protegulum, distally curved towards embolic division. Distal suprategular apophysis relatively long and narrow, with a small tooth at middle. Median membrane small, poorly visible. Embolus short, wide at base, its embolus-proper part as a narrow, small spike. Convector massive, its proximal part much narrowed than a distal one. Anterior part of convector wide, upper distal apophysis thin, short, claw-shaped, low distal apophysis long and extended far beyond bulb; an additional apophysis situated near base of embolus (AA in Figs 4A, B, E ). Opistosoma 1.38 long, 0.90 wide, dorsal pattern as in Fig. 3A .

Female (paratype from Eth008). Total length 3.05. Carapace unmodified, an in Fig. 3E , 1.23 long, 0.92 wide, greyish to greyish-pale brown, with dark radial stripes. Chelicerae 0.48 long. Legs greyish to greyish-pale brown. Leg I 3.84 long (1.03 + 0.35 + 0.95 + 0.93 + 0.58), IV 4.18 long (1.12 + 0.35 + 1.03 + 1.08 + 0.60). Chaetotaxy 2.2.1.1, spines about as long as 1–2 diameter of corresponding leg segment. Metatarsi I–IV with a trichobothrium each. TmI 0.70. Opisthosoma 2.00 long, 1.20 wide, dorsal pattern as in Fig. 3E . Epigynum ( Figs 3F, G, H , 4F ): Epigynum plate oval, relatively high, receptacles directed obliquely forward, sacs of receptacles almost touching.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality, the Chilimo State Forest (2584 m a.s.l.), Oromia Region, Ethiopia.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Photographs of male (A, B, C, D) and female (E, F, G) of Callitrichia asela n. sp., paratypes from Eth017. A, E, habitus, dorsal view; B, same, lateral view; C, prosoma, antero-lateral view; D, F, habitus frontal view; G, opisthosoma, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.5mm.

FIGURE 3. Photographs of male (A–D) and female (E, F, G, H) of Callitrichia protegularis n. sp., paratypes from Eth008. A, E, habitus, dorsal view; B, prosoma, dorsal view; C, same, lateral view; D, habitus frontal view; F, opisthosoma, ventral view; G, H, epigynum and cleared epigynum, respectively, ventral view. Scale bars: A–F, 0.5mm; G, H, 0.1mm.

FIGURE 4. Details of male palpal structure (A–E) and female epigynum (F) of Callitrichia protegularis n. sp., paratypes from Eth008. A, B, right palp, retrolateral and prolateral view, respectively; C, tibia and paracymbium, prolateral view; D, same, dorsal view; E, embolic division, prolateral view; F, cleared epigynum, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.1mm.