Wadicosa russellsmithi, Torbjörn Kronestedt, 2015

Torbjörn Kronestedt, 2015, Species of Wadicosa (Araneae, Lycosidae): transfer of two species from Pardosa and description of three new species from Africa, European Journal of Taxonomy 132, pp. 1-19 : 15-17

Wadicosa russellsmithi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4F5449E0-F250-4FC1-AA4E-EE048835E986

Figs 1 D, 3 H, 7 D; Table 1

Diagnosis

The female is distinguished from other Wadicosa species by the epigyne having a median cavity, divided in front by a septum.

Etymology

This species is named for the British arachnologist Dr Anthony Russell-Smith, collector of the specimen, who also in different ways has contributed to an increased knowledge of the Afrotropical spider fauna.

Material examined

Holotype

MAURITIUS: ♀, Casela Bird Park, 20°18’ S, 57°25’ E, edge of pond, 4 May 1988, A. Russell-Smith ( BMNH) .

Description

Female (holotype)

Total length 5.3. Carapace 2.70 long, 2.00 wide.

CEPHALOTHORAX. Carapace light brown with wide yellowish brown median band. Lateral bands yellowish brown and carapacal margin black. Clypeus yellowish. Chelicerae light brown. Sternum yellowish, slightly suffused with grey.

EYES. Width of row I 47, row II 64, row III 81, row II–III 62. Diameter of AME 11, ALE 9, PME 24, PLE 21. Distance between AME 8, between AME and ALE 2.

ABDOMEN. Dorsally whitish brown with greyish lanceolate stripe (for shape see Fig. 1 D). Anteriorly at each side of lanceolate stripe a dark greyish spot. Sides with light greyish streaks. (Posteriormost part of abdomen missing in holotype.) Venter whitish with adpressed white pubescence and scattered short greyish hairs.

LEGS (Table 1). Yellowish with darker greyish longitudinal marks pro- and retrolaterally on all femora. Ti I with distal retrolateral spine.

EPIGYNE ( Figs 3 H, 7 D). Foveolae separate, situated at some distance in front of cavity, the latter wider than long, divided in front by median septum.

Remarks

This species is placed in Wadicosa due to the presence of two foveolae in the epigyne. The placement is made with hesitation as no male has yet been found. It is hoped that this description will stimulate the search for more material of this species on Mauritius. The single specimen has a notably pale appearance.

Distribution

Mauritius.

Figures

Fig. 1. Habitus, dorsal view. — A–C. Wadicosa benadira (Caporiacco). A ♂ from Kenya, Marsabit. B ♂ and C ♀ from Kenya, WNW of Mombasa. — D. W. russellsmithi sp. nov., holotype, ♀. — E–F. W. cognata sp. nov. E ♂ and F ♀ from Kenya, Lake Magadi. — G–H. W. jocquei sp. nov. G ♂ from Comoros, Pomoni. H ♀ from Mayotte. Scale bar: A–H = 2 mm.

Fig. 3. Right male palp, ventral view (A – C) and epigyne (D – H). — A, D. Wadicosa benadira (Caporiacco) (A from Kenya, WNW of Mombasa; D from Kenya, Marsabit). — B, E. W. cognata sp. nov. B. Holotype. E. Paratype. — C, G. W. jocquei sp. nov. C. Holotype. G. Allotype. — F. W. Fdelis (Pickard-Cambridge) from Spain. — H. W. russellsmithi sp. nov., holotype. Scale bar: A – H = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 7. Epigyne, ventral view. — A. Wadicosa benadira (Caporiacco), from Kenya, Tsavo East NP. — B. W. cognata sp. nov., allotype. — C. W. jocquei sp. nov., from Madagascar, Mahafaly. — D. W. russellsmithi sp. nov., holotype. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.