Echinax natalensis, Haddad, Charles R., 2012

Haddad, Charles R., 2012, A revision of the spider genus Echinax Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 (Araneae: Corinnidae) in the Afrotropical Region, Zootaxa 3450, pp. 33-61 : 48-50

Echinax natalensis sp. nov.

Figs 7, 8 , 17–28 , 35–42 , 48 , 65–68

Etymology. The species is named for terra typica, KwaZulu-Natal Province in South Africa.

Diagnosis. Females can be distinguished by the broad copulatory hoods that meet medially in the epigyne ( Figs 41 , 65 ) and the copulatory ducts with a nearly perpendicular bend ( Fig. 66 ). Males can be recognised by the broad, evenly oblique embolus base and the long fine distal coil of the embolus ( Figs 48 , 67 ).

Female (holotype, Hell’s Gate, NCA 2005/241). Measurements: CL 1.90, CW 1.50, AL 3.15, AW 2.18, TL 4.70 (4.25–4.85), FL 0.24, SL 0.95, SW 0.93, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.30, PME–PME 0.11, PME–PLE 0.06, PLE–PLE 0.37, PERW 0.51, MOQAW 0.29, MOQPW 0.30, MOQL 0.35.

Length of leg segments: I 1.68 + 0.61 + 1.25 + 1.28 + 0.68 = 5.50; II 1.64 + 0.60 + 1.20 + 1.24 + 0.65 = 5.33; III 1.53 + 0.56 + 1.18 + 1.38 + 0.64 = 5.29; IV 1.85 + 0.63 + 1.53 + 1.88 + 0.73 = 6.62.

General appearance as in Fig. 7 . Carapace cream, eye region black except between PME; broad median band of black feathery setae from PER to posterior slope, broken up by asetose line medially from PME to midpoint and asetose V-shaped marking from fovea; lateral margins black, with broad stripe of black feathery setae from coxa I to posterior margin. All eyes with black rings; AER procurved, medians much larger than laterals; AME separated by distance ½ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance approximately 1⁄10 AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 1½ AME diameter; PER strongly procurved, medians slightly larger than laterals; PME separated by distance equal to their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance approximately equal to ½ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 2.94: 1. Chelicerae cream, with pectinate curved setae on promargin; two closely spaced teeth on promargin, distal tooth much larger than proximal; retromargin with two adjacent teeth, distal tooth slightly larger than proximal tooth, close to fang base. Endites, labium and sternum cream, labium with transverse black marking along proximal margin. Legs cream, spine bases with distinct black spot, less pronounced on femora; femora with black marking dorsally at distal end and black ventral marking distally; patellae with black marking dorsally at distal end, marking extending retrolaterally, surrounding patellar indentation; tibiae with incomplete black ring medially and complete black ring distally; metatarsi with complete black rings proximally and distally, incomplete black ring medially, all corresponding to paired spines. Leg spination: femora: I pl 2 do 3 rl 2, II pl 2 do 3 rl 2, III pl 2 do 3 rl 2, IV pl 2 do 3 rl 1; all femora with plv and rlv rows of erect setae; patellae: all with do 1 terminal spine; tibiae: I pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 2, II pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 2, III pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, IV pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2; metatarsi: I pl 1 rl 1 plv 2 rlv 2, II pl 1 rl 1 plv 2 rlv 2, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 3, IV pl 3 rl 3 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 3. Palpal spination: femora: pl 1 do 2 rl 1, with plv 1 and rlv 5 erect setae; patellae: pl 1 do 2; tibiae: pl 1 do 2 plv 1; tarsi: pl 1 rl 1 plv 3 rlv 1. Abdomen with small dorsal scutum extending ¼ abdomen length; dorsum cream, with broad mottled black markings anteriorly, medially and laterally; black feathery setae on markings, white feathery setae surrounding them; venter creamy, covered in short straight setae with scattered longer setae, without markings. Epigyne with long, broad curved ridges at midpoint of epigyne, nearly touching medially, with copulatory openings situated laterally in ridges ( Figs 41 , 65 ); copulatory ducts initially straight, nearly transverse, curving medially at nearly a right angle, entering oval anterior ST II that are expanded posterolaterally; broad ducts connecting ST II to broad, kidney-shaped posterior ST I; ST I clearly narrower than ST II ( Fig. 66 ).

Male (paratype, Ndumo, TMSA 23830). Measurements: CL 1.90, CW 1.53, AL 2.18, AW 1.21, TL 4.00 (3.80–4.00), FL 0.24, SL 0.93, SW 0.90, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.31, PME–PME 0.12, PME–PLE 0.06, PLE–PLE 0.34, PERW 0.50, MOQAW 0.29, MOQPW 0.31, MOQL 0.35.

Length of leg segments: I 1.70 + 0.59 + 1.34 + 1.41 + 0.68 = 5.72; II 1.66 + 0.58 + 1.28 + 1.35 + 0.65 = 5.52; III 1.53 + 0.56 + 1.23 + 1.45 + 0.64 = 5.41; IV 1.90 + 0.61 + 1.54 + 2.05 + 0.74 = 6.84.

General appearance as in Fig. 8 , male more slender and smaller than female. Carapace cream, eye region black except between PME; broad median band of black feathery setae from PER to posterior slope, broken up by asetose line from PME to midpoint and asetose V-shaped marking from fovea; fine black stripe from fovea to posterior margin of carapace; lateral margins black, with broad stripe of black feathery setae from palpal coxa to posterior margin. All eyes with black rings; AER procurved, medians much larger than laterals; AME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance approximately 1⁄10 AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 1¾ AME diameter; PER strongly procurved, medians very slightly larger than laterals; PME separated by distance equal to 1¼ their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance approximately equal to ½ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 3.06: 1. Chelicerae cream, with curved setae on promargin not pectinate; two slightly separated teeth on promargin, distal tooth larger than proximal; retromargin with two closely separated teeth, subequal in size, distal tooth slightly larger, close to fang base. Endites, labium and sternum cream, labium with transverse black marking along proximal margin. Legs cream, spine bases with distinct black spot; femora all with ventral black marking distally; patellae all with black distal marking dorsally, marking extending retrolaterally, surrounding patellar indentation; tibiae all with faint black mottling laterally at midpoint and distally; metatarsi with black rings proximally, medially and distally, corresponding to paired spines. Leg spination: femora: I pl 2 do 3 rl 2, II pl 2 do 3 rl 2, III pl 2 do 3 rl 2, IV pl 2 do 3 rl 2; all femora with plv and rlv rows of erect setae; patellae: all with do 1 terminal spine; tibiae: I pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 2, II pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 2, III pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, IV pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I pl 1 rl 1 plv 2 rlv 2, II pl 1 rl 1 plv 2 rlv 2, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 3, IV pl 3 rl 3 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 3. Palpal spination: femora: pl 1 do 2 rl 1, with two rows of erect ventral setae; patellae: pl 1 do 2; tibiae: pl 1 do 1 plv 1; tarsi: pl 1 plv 3 rlv 1. Abdomen with scutum extending just beyond midpoint of dorsum; dorsum cream, with black inverted V-shaped marking anteriorly, small marking at ¼ abdomen length, X-shaped marking at ¾ abdomen length, and lateral margins mottled black; dorsum with black feathery setae on markings, yellowish feathery setae between them, with scattered straight setae posteriorly and white feathery setae laterally; venter cream, without markings. Male palp cream, cymbium yellow-brown, with a few thickened straight setae dorsally in distal ½ ( Fig. 68 ); palpal femora and patellae each with distal retrolateral black spot; tegulum pearshaped, orange-brown with deep red-brown ducts; embolus long, with broad, straight oblique base and 1½ coils, distal section curved; longitudinal distance from retrolateral bend to prolateral bend slightly more than 2⁄5 the distance from prolateral bend to embolus tip ( Figs 42 , 48 , 67 ).

Type material. Holotype Ƥ: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: iSimangaliso Wetlands Park [Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park], Hell’s Gate, 28°00'S, 32°29'E, Block A, leg. J. Esterhuizen, 19.IV.2004 (tsetse fly traps) (NCA 2005/241).

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, False Bay Park, 27°55'S, 32°16'E, leg. J. Esterhuizen, 29.IX.2003 (tsetse fly traps), 1 imm. 13 (NCA 2004/767); same data, 13.X.2003, 23 (NCA 2004/772); same data, 3.XII.2003, 1 imm. 2Ƥ (NCA 2004/788); same data, 8.XII.2003, 13 (NCA 2004/ 785); same data, 15.XII.2003, 13 (NCA 2004/792); same data, 12.I.2004, 13 (NCA 2004/773), 1Ƥ (NCA 2004/ 784); iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Hell’s Gate, 28°00'S, 32°29'E, leg. J. Esterhuizen, 19.I.2003 (tsetse fly traps), 33 (NCA 2004/815); same data, 3.V.2004, 1 imm. 13 4Ƥ (NCA 2005/243); same data, 31.V.2004, 13 2Ƥ (NCA 2005/244); iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Hell’s Gate, 28°00'S, 32°29'E, Block B, leg. J. Esterhuizen, 7.VI.2004 (tsetse fly traps), 1 imm. 13 1Ƥ (NCA 2005/246); same data, 6.IX.2004, 13 (NCA 2005/254); same data, 4.X.2004, 33 (NCA 2005/257); same data, 15.XI.2004, 13 1Ƥ (NCA 2005/259); same data, 6.XII.2004, 13 (NCA 2005/261); iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Hell’s Gate, 28°00'S, 32°29'E, Block C, leg. J. Esterhuizen, 26.IV.2004 (tsetse fly traps), 13 (NCA 2005/242); iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Fanie’s Island, 28°32'S, 32°24'E, leg. M. Filmer, 23.VI.1990 (beating low forest bush), 13 (NCA 97/729); Ndumo Game Reserve, Pongola River floodplain, near pump, Riverine forest, 26°54.323'S, 32°19.435'E, leg. C. Haddad, 27.VI.2006 (beating foliage), 1 imm. 13 (NCA 2006/1222); same locality, Pongola River, Water pump, Riparian forest, 26°54.309'S, 32°19.444'E, 36 m a.s.l., leg. C. Haddad, R. Lyle, V. Butler, 2.VII.2009 (canopy fog 5, Breonadia salicina ), 13 ( TMSA 23830).

Additional material examined. None.

Distribution. Presently known only from northern KwaZulu-Natal Province (Maputaland), South Africa ( Fig. 68 ).

Natural history. Most of the material initially examined and recognised as a new species of Echinax was collected in tsetse fly traps in coastal forest. Recent canopy fogging and beating in the Ndumo Game Reserve yielded specimens from Breonadia salicina trees in riparian forest.

Figures

FIGURE 68. Distribution of Echinax clara sp. nov. (white stars), E. hesperis sp. nov. (black stars), E. longespina (Simon, 1909) (black circles) and E. natalensis sp. nov. (white circles) in Africa.

FIGURES 1 – 16. Digital stereomicroscope photographs of Echinax clara sp. nov. (1, 2), E. hesperis sp. nov. (3, 4), E. longespina (Simon, 1909) (5, 6), E. natalensis sp. nov. (7, 8), E. scharffi sp. nov. (9, 10), E. similis sp. nov. (11, 12) and E. spatulata sp. nov. (13 – 16): 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13. Female habitus, dorsal view. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14. Male habitus, dorsal view. 15. Male patella and tibia I and II, retrolateral view, indicating distal dorsal patellar spines (PS). 16. Male palpal cymbium, dorsal view, indicating modified distal setae (MDS) and spatulate setae (SS). Scale bars: 1 – 15 = 1.0 mm, 16 = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 17 – 28. Scanning electron microscope photographs of Echinax natalensis sp. nov. male (17, 18) and female (19 – 28): 17. Chelicerae, ventral view. 18, 19. Serrula. 20. Tibia I, detail of ventral spines. 21. Femur I, indicating feathery setae (FS) and erect ventral setae (EVS). 22. Same, detail of feathery setae. 23. Patella I, indicating patellar indentation (PI). 24. Same, detail of lyriform organ at proximal end of PI. 25. Metatarsus I, detail of ventral distal setae. 26. Tarsus I, trichobothrium base. 27. Same, tarsal organ. 28. Tarsus IV, tarsal claw and claw tuft.

FIGURES 35 – 40. Scanning electron microscope photographs of Echinax natalensis sp. nov. female (35 – 37) and male (38 – 40) spinneret morphology. 35, 38. Anterior lateral spinneret. 36, 39. Posterior median spinneret. 37, 40. Posterior lateral spinneret. Abbreviations: Ac – aciniform gland spigot (s); Cy—cylindrical gland spigot (s); MAmp—major ampullate gland spigot (s); mAmp—minor ampullate gland spigot (s); n—nubbin; Pi—piriform gland spigot; Ta—tartipore.

FIGURES 41 – 44. Scanning electron microscope photos of Echinax natalensis sp. nov. (41, 42) and E. similis sp. nov. (43, 44) genitalia: 41, 43. Female epigyne, ventral view. 42. Male embolus, ventral view. 44. Tip of embolus, prolateral view.

FIGURES 45 – 51. Digital microscope photographs of male emboli of Afrotropical Echinax species in ventral view: 45. Echinax clara sp. nov.. 46. E. hesperis sp. nov.. 47. E. longespina (Simon, 1909). 48. E. natalensis sp. nov.. 49. E. scharffi sp. nov.. 50. E. similis sp. nov.. 51. E. spatulata sp. nov.. Stipple lines indicate the points of separation between the basal and distal coils of the embolus. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 64 – 67. Genitalia of Echinax natalensis sp. nov.: 64. Female epigyne, ventral view. 65. Same, dorsal view. 66. Male palp, ventral view. 67. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.