Metalepthyphantes praecipuus Locket, 1968

Saaristo, Michael I., 2002, New species and interesting new records of spiders from Seychelles (Arachnida, Araneaea), Phelsuma 10, pp. 1-32 : 13

Metalepthyphantes praecipuus Locket, 1968 ( Figs. 31-32 )

Metalepthyphantes praecipuus Locket, 1968 : 109, f. 33A-D (Df).

Material examined: Assumption , 1m 1f, 12.- 14.8.1984, USSR. Zool. Exped. leg. ( ZMMU) ; Poivre , cocos (F-22), 2mm3ff, 7.8.1984, USSR. Zool. Exped. leg. ( MZT AA 2.214 and ZMMU) .

Diagnosis: The male of M. praecipuus is easily recognised by two parallel, slightly curved apophyses on the lateral side of the palp and the female by the voluminous, spavin-like epigyne which is connected to the abdomen by a wide, weakly chitinized stalk.

Description: Male (female well described by Locket 1968): Small, dark, long legged species (TL = 1.36, CL = 0.60, CW = 0.43). Carapace light brownish; abdomen uniform dark grey; legs pale yellowish. No tibial apophysis on male palp; cymbium and bulbus somewhat elongated; two parallel, slightly curved apophyses on lateral side of palp.

Distribution: Previously known only from Angola ( Locket, 1968). The first record from Seychelles are from Assumption and Poivre.

Figures

Figs. 31 - 32. Metalepthyphantes praecipuus Locket, 1968 - 31: Right male palp laterally. - 32: Epigyne ventrally. - Scale bars = 0.2 mm. Orig.