Pseudicius dentatus, Wesołowska & Haddad, 2013

Wesołowska, Wanda & Haddad, Charles R., 2013, New data on the jumping spiders of South Africa (Araneae: Salticidae), African Invertebrates 54 (1), pp. 177-177 : 214-216

Pseudicius dentatus sp. n.

Figs 119–124

Etymology: From Latin dentatus (toothed), in reference to the distinct series of denticles on the male palpal tibial apophysis.

Diagnosis: This species is closely related to Pseudicius dependens Haddad & Wesołowska, 2011 from central South Africa. The male is easily distinguished by the clearly broa- der embolus and the absence of a curved tegular lobe. The shape of the pedipalp tibial apophysis is also distinct. In the retrolateral view of the palp it is flabellate with a serrated end comprising many distinct denticles and a smaller lobe on its dorsal surface, whereas in P. dependens it is narrowed towards the bifid tip, has smaller denticles and lacks a dorsal lobe (see Haddad & Wesołowska 2011: figs 166, 167). The female differs by the presence of epigynal pockets (absent in P. dependens ) and the position of the gonopores (low, at epigastric furrow in the new species, versus central in P. dependens ).

Description:

Measurements (♂ / ♀). Cephalothorax: length 1.7–1.8/1.7–2.0, width 1.1–1.2/1.1–1.4, height 0.6/0.6.Abdomen: length 1.7–2.1/2.3–2.9, width 1.0–1.2/1.3–1.5. Eye field: length 0.7–0.8/0.7–0.8, anterior width 0.9–1.0/0.9–1.1, posterior width 1.0–1.1/1.0–1.2.

Male.

Small spider with slender and flattened body. Carapace oval, chocolate brown, with black line along margins; white hairs forming streak on sides, extending onto clypeus. Eyes surrounded with black rings; eye field pitted, some white hairs on it, with long brown bristles near eyes; anterior median eyes encircled by small fawn scales. Stridulatory apparatus present. Chelicerae unidentate, retromarginal tooth large. Labium, endites and sternum dark brown.Abdomen slightly elongated, dark greyish brown with pattern composed of four pairs of whitish patches posteriorly and narrow white margins in anterior half. Venter greyish. Spinnerets dark. First pair of legs long and robust, with slightly swollen tibiae; only single stout short tibial spine present, metatarsi I with one pair of ventral spines. Other legs yellow, femora tinged with grey. Leg hairs and spines brown. Pedipalp brown, clothed in long dense dark hairs. Palpal tibiae short, with serrated apophysis, its upper surface with several small denticles and denticulate lobe on its dorsal surface ( Figs 119–122); bulb small, oval; embolus long, its basal ⅔ broad, tip fine and directed retrolaterally; tip of cymbium curved towards retrolateral side ( Figs 119–122). Female.

Similar to male, slightly paler in colour, with whitish scales surrounding all eyes of anterior row. Pattern on abdomen more contrasted than in male, white margins broader and median spots larger. Abdomen clothed in greyish hairs, longer at anterior edge. Venter of abdomen pale. Legs yellow. Epigyne wider than long, with two lateral pockets at epigastric furrow and large shallow central depression ( Fig. 123). Copulatory openings placed in posterior part of epigyne; seminal ducts wide and weakly sclerotized in inlet parts, narrowed distally; accessory glands very large, spherical ( Fig. 124).

Holotype: ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu­Natal: Ophathe Game Reserve , 28°23.202'S 31°24.077'E, 505 m, rocky mountainside, active searching, 1.x.2008, C. Haddad (NCA, 2008/4058).

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu­Natal: 1♂ 3♀ Ndumo Game Reserve , near main camp, 26°55.221'S 32°18.560'E, broadleaf woodland, canopy fogging Combretum molle , 29.vi.2010, C. Haddad, D. Fourie & J. Saaiman (NCA, 2012/1815) ; 1♂ 1♀ same data ( MRAC) ; 3♂ 4♀ Ophathe Game Reserve , 28°25.344'S 31°23.957'E, 897 m, montane grassland, beating short shrubs, 4.x.2008, C. Haddad (NCA, 2008/3966) . Mpumalanga: 1♂ Kruger National Park, Satara , N’wanetsi, 24°24.120'S 31°44.700'E, ii.2009, B. Reynolds (NCA, 2010/2722) .

Distribution: Species distributed in eastern South Africa ( Fig. 139).

Habitat and biology: This species was collected from subtropical savanna by beating short shrubs and canopy fogging.