Parabomis wandae, Dippenaar-Schoeman & Foord, 2020

Dippenaar-Schoeman, Anna S. & Foord, Stefan H., 2020, Revision of the Afrotropical crab-spider genus Parabomis Kulczyński, 1901 (Araneae: Thomisidae), Zootaxa 4899 (1), pp. 161-174 : 171-172

Parabomis wandae sp. nov.

Figures 26 – 30

Etymology. This species is named in honour of Prof Wanda Wesołowska (Wrocław, Poland), in recognition of her significant contributions to the taxonomy of African and Palaearctic Salticidae .

Diagnosis. Male of this species differ from congeners in the shape of the RTA that is almost as long as the width of the bulb, with the tip directed laterad ( Fig. 28 ). The RTA base is broad and the apex is beak-like, in contrast to the sharply pointed apex of P. martini . The abdomen has a hump that is more distinct in males, while in P. martini the abdomen profile is round. The atrium of the female epigyne is egg-shaped, as wide as long, with the ventral edge thickened ( Fig. 29 ), and the spermathecal ducts are long and curved ( Fig. 30 ).

Description. Holotype male. Measurements: TL 1.90; CL 0.91; CW 0.95. Legs: I 1.45 (0.52, 0.12, 0.31, 0.28, 0.22); II 1.45 (0.63, 0.23, 0.29, 0.20, 0.10); III 1.08 (0.34, 0.12, 0.32, 0.20, 0.10); IV 1.31 (0.46, 0.15, 0.32, 0.19, 0.19). Carapace: dark brown, darker laterally, strongly granulated, bearing numerous small tubercles, each with translucent seta ( Fig. 26 ); eyes circled with black; chelicerae brown; mouthparts yellowish brown. Sternum brown, granulate. Legs dark; coxae, trochanters and tibiae brown, with blackish hue; femora I–IV dark brown, with femora I–II usually darker than rest; patellae yellowish brown; all legs with distinct white bands at joints distinct when viewed from below. Abdomen dorsum with brown scutum, with scattered black patches; in lateral view with distinct hump; white laterally and pale below. Palp with large beak-like RTA ( Fig. 28 ); tip directed laterad with small VTA.

Female. Measurements: TL 2.26; CL 0.97; CW 1.10. Legs: I 1.90 (0.67, 0.29, 0.42, 0.25, 0.27), II 1.82 (0.60, 0.27, 0.43, 0.24, 0.28); III 1.21 (0.42, 0.22, 0.26, 0.12, 0.19); IV 1.42 (0.55, 0.16, 0.28, 0.31, 0.12). Resembles the male but larger in size and paler in colour ( Fig. 27 ). Carapace fawn to brown, with dark patch laterally; eyes circled with black; eye region infused with white; chelicerae fawn; integument strongly granulated, bearing numerous small tubercles, each with translucent seta. Sternum granulated, bearing tubercles with setae. Legs same colour as prosoma; white with distinct white bands at joints; femora darker. Abdomen white with dark patches, scattered dark setae giving it spotted appearance; abdomen with hump less distinct than in male. Epigyne with sub-oval atrium, slightly wider than long, edges slightly thickened ( Fig. 29 ); spermathecae slightly longer than wide, with long curving spermathecal ducts ( Fig. 30 ).

Type material. Holotype ³: GHANA: Kakum Forest , 05°21’N, 01°23’W, leg. R. Jocqué et al., 17.XI.2005 (fogging secondary forest) ( MRAC 218.012 ).

Paratypes: GHANA: Kakum Forest , °21’N, 01°23’W, 21.XI.2005 (fogging primary forest), leg. R. Jocqué et al., 1♀ 2³ ( MRAC 218052 ); Same locality data, leg. R . Jocqué, et al., 15.XI.2005 (fogging secondary forest), 1³ ( MRAC 217.977 ) . KENYA: Kakamega Forest , 00°22’N, 34°50’E, leg. W. Freund, 10.IX.2002 (canopy fogging), 1♀ ( ZFMK AR133 ) .

Other material examined. GHANA: Kakum Forest , 05°21’N, 01°23’W, leg. R. Jocqué et al., 22.XI.2005 (fogging secondary forest), 1³ ( MRAC 218.058 ) . KENYA: Kakamega Forest , 00°22’N, 34°50’E, leg. W. Freund, 10.IX.2002 (canopy fogging), 1³ ( ZFMK AR129 ) , 1³ ( ZFMK AR051 ) , 1³ ( ZFMK AR052 ) , 1³ ( ZFMK AR053 ) , 1³ ( ZFMK AR054 ) , 1³ ( ZFMK AR132 ) . IVORY COAST: Appouesso, FC Bossematié station 5, 06°36’N, 03°27’W, leg. R. Jocqué & L. Baert, 15.X.1993 (sweeping), 1³ ( MRAC 205.437 ) ; Bettie, forest close to Mabi , leg. R. Jocqué, 3.XI.1993 (sweeping forest edge), 1♀ ( MRAC 177.635 ) . RWANDA: Ibanda Makera , 02°20’S, 29°39’E, 1.X.1993 (fogging montane forest), 1♀, 4³ ( ZFMK, thom 12) .

Distribution. Known from Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda and Ivory Coast ( Fig. 32 ).

Biology/Habitat. Collected from primary and secondary forest while fogging the canopy of trees. One male was collected in the Ivory Coast while sweeping vegetation. Adults were sampled from September to November.

Figures

FIGURES 26–30. Parabomis wandae sp. nov. 26 Male habitus, dorsal view; 27 Female habitus, dorsal view; 28 Left palp, ventral view; 29 Epigyne, ventral view; 30 Epigyne, dorsal view. Scales: 1 mm.

FIGURES 31–32. 31 Records of the previously known Parabomis species, P. levanderi Kulczyński, 1901 (red circles) and P. martini Lessert, 1919 (blue triangles); 32 Records of new Parabomis species in the Afrotropical Region.