Pseudicius africanus Peckham & Peckham, 1903

Wesołowska, Wanda & Haddad, Charles R., 2013, New data on the jumping spiders of South Africa (Araneae: Salticidae), African Invertebrates 54 (1), pp. 177-177 : 213-214

Pseudicius africanus Peckham & Peckham, 1903

Figs 93, 94, 115–118

Pseudicius africanus: Peckham & Peckham 1903: 212 , pl. 26, figs 2–2a.

Diagnosis:The species is closely related to Pseudicius maculatus Haddad & Wesołowska, 2011 , but can be recognised by the abdominal pattern, which comprises a light median band in P. africanus as opposed to spotted in P. maculatus . Males of both species have a very similar palpal organ, but in P. africanus the embolus is slightly shorter and the tibial apophysis has an additional ventral tooth. Females differ in the position of the copulatory openings, which are placed in the edge of the epigynal depression in P. africanus but posteriorly within a deep pocket in P. maculatus (see Haddad & Wesołowska 2011: fig. 198).

Redescription:

Measurements (♂ / ♀). Cephalothorax: length 2.5/2.0, width 1.5/1.3, height 1.0/0.8. Abdomen: length 2.5/2.2, width 1.8/1.3. Eye field: length 1.4/0.8, anterior width 1.3/1.0, posterior width 1.2/1.1.

Male.

General appearance as in Fig. 93. Small spider with slender, flattened body; carapace oval, dark brown, with darker eye field; eyes encircled by black rings, with brown bristles near eyes. White hairs form thin median band starting from anterior median eyes to posterior edge of carapace. Clypeus low, clothed in white hairs; stripes composed of white hairs extending along lateral margins of carapace. Stridulatory apparatus present. Mouthparts and sternum dark brown. Abdomen ovoid, slightly elongated, dark brown, with median broad streak composed of whitish hairs; sides of abdomen with white stripe running from anterior to spinnerets. Venter grey, with two pale lines.Anterior spinnerets dark, posteriors paler. Legs brown, first pair darker, stouter and longer than others. Leg hairs and spines brown. Pedipalp brown; tibial apophysis broad, with additional ventral tooth ( Figs 115, 116); embolus curved towards retrolateral margin of cymbium ( Fig. 115). Female.

Shape of body and colouration as in male, general appearance as in Fig. 94.All legs pale brown, first pair similarly thick as others (not stouter as in male). Epigyne with large central depression ( Fig. 117), with copulatory openings placed on posterior margin of the depression. Internal structure as in Fig. 118.

Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: 1 imm. 1♂ 1♀ De Hoop Nature Reserve, Potberg , 34°22'S 20°32'E, Eucalyptus forest, beating shrub foliage, 4.iv.2004, C. Haddad ( NMBA); 1 imm. 1♂ same locality, De Hoop Vlei, 34°29.425'S 20°25.762'E, under rocks, 8.iv.2004, C. Haddad ( NMBA) .

Distribution: Western Cape Province ( Fig. 139); originally described from the “ Cape Colony”, presumably in the vicinity of Cape Town (33°55'S 18°25'E).

Habitat and biology: A foliage-dwelling spider collected in fynbos habitats.

Remarks: The male is described here for the first time.