Mecopisthes crassirostris ( Simon, 1884 )

Bosmans, Robert, Cardoso, Pedro & Crespo, Luis Carlos, 2010, A review of the linyphiid spiders of Portugal, with the description of six new species (Araneae: Linyphiidae) 2473, Zootaxa 2473 (1), pp. 1-67 : 29

Mecopisthes crassirostris ( Simon, 1884)

( Figs 50–56)

Diagnosis: Males of Mecopisthes crassirostris differ from other Mecopisthes species by the combined characters of the carapace and palp: the prominent snout with distinct angularity below the eyes and the strongly developed posterior part of the suprategular apophysis. Females are recognized by the triangular median plate, square or rectangular in all other species.

Remark: Mecopisthes crassirostris was described from the male from the French department Gard ( Simon 1884) and later from the Pyrénées Orientales ( Simon 1926). Subsequently, it was cited from Pampilhosa in Portugal by Machado (1949), and redescribed by Millidge (1978). Denis (1949) was the first to illustrate the epigynum, without indicating where the specimen was collected. This female is clearly different from the female present in our material, collected together with males. At the moment is is not known to which species the female illustrated by Denis (1949) belongs.

Description: Male: Measurements: Total length 1.6–1.8; prosoma 0.70–0.79 long, 0.54–0.60 wide. Colour: Prosoma olive brown, protruding part yellow brown; legs olive brown to yellow brown; abdomen dark grey, with small, purplish brown dorsal scutum. Prosoma ( Figs 50–51): Clypeus protruding in a distinct snout, forming a rectangular angle at eye level, behind the eyes and at fovea level with angularity. Eyes: a = 0.3, b = 1, c = 1, d = 1.2. Legs: Tibiae spineless; Tb Mt I = 0.63; Tb Mt IV absent. Palp ( Figs 52–54): Tibia with broad anterodorsal apophysis, terminally bluntly pointed and larger, blunt retrolateral apophysis; suprategular apophysis anteriorly composed of a slender black tooth accompanied by a membranous part, posteriorly of a grey, triangular sclerite, terminally denticulate; tailpiece straight, terminally pointed; embolus whiplike, describing one and a half circle.

Female: Measurements: Total length 1.9; prosoma 0.71 long, 0.56 wide. Colour: Prosoma olive brown, legs and abdomen as in male. Eye disposition: a = 0.5, b = 1, c = d = 1. Tibiae spineless, Tb as in male. Abdomen: Without scutum. Epigynum ( Fig. 55): With triangular median plate narrowing backwards. Vulva ( Fig. 56): Spermathecae suboval, separated by their maximal diameter.

Previous records: Aveiro: Pampilhosa, Mealhada ( Machado 1949).

New records: Bragança: Douro Internacional NP, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Mazouco , 5 males 1 female, 7.II–7.III.2001 (CPC) .

Distribution: France, Portugal.

Habitat type: The single new record is from a shrubland dominated by broom ( Cytisus sp. and Genista sp. )

Phenology: Machado (1949) collected specimens in November and the present data are from February- March, so M. crassirostris appears to be adult in winter.