Neaetha oculata (O. R-Cambridge, 1876), O. P.-Cambridge, 1876

Wesolowska, W. & van Harten, A., 2010, Order Araneae, Arthropod fauna of the UAE, Abu Dhabi: Dar Al Ummah, pp. 27-69 : 40-42

Neaetha oculata (O. R-Cambridge, 1876) Plate 8, Figures 40 ¬43

Synonym: Neaetha murphyorurn Prószynski, 2000 nov. syn.

Specimens examined: N of Ajman , 2 ♀, l 6.ix—l 2.x.2006, WT ; 1♀, 25.vi 5.v 1i. 2008, WT ; 1♂ ‘, 5 16.vll.2oo 8, WT ; 2♂, 2 ♀, 16—23.vii.2008, WT ; 1 ♀, l—l 4.ii.2009, WT ; 3 ♀, 15-16.111.2009, WT, leg. C. Schmid-Egger . 7 km S of al-Jazirat al-Hamra , 1♂, 16.xl.2 oo4, HC ; 1♂, 4.1.2005, HC . Khor al-Khwair , 1♂, 1♀, LT . Near Qurraya , 1♂, 5— 30. xi.2008, WT . Al-Rafah , 1♀, I I 2. ii. 2009, WT . S of Ra’s al- Khaimah , 1♀, 18 22.V. 2008, WT ; same locality, 1 ♀, 18 28.vi. 2008, WT .

Synonymisation: The type of N murphorum not examined, but analysis of the original description and figures does not reveal any differences between this species and N. oculafa ; therefore these specific names are considered synonyms.

Description: Measurements (male/female). Cephalothorax length 1.6 1.7/ 1.6 1.9, width 1.4- 1.5/1.6—1.8, height 0.7-0.8/0.7 0.8. Abdomen length 1.5 1.6/1.9-2.2, width 0.9 1.1 / 1.3 1.5. Eye field length 0.8-0.9/0.9-1.0, anterior width 1.1-1.2/1.2 1.4, posterior width 1.3 1.4/ 1.5 1.7.

Male. Carapace rhomboid ( Plate 8), widest at level of posterior eyes, high in cephalic part and sloping abruptly posteriorly. Anterior median eyes relatively large, their diameter over twice as large as diameter of anterior lateral eyes. Eye field occupies about half of carapace. Carapace reddish brown, clothed in grey hairs, margins of carapace with thin dark line, eyes surrounded by black, anterior eyes fringed by fawn scales. White hairs form transverse line on eye field along bases of anterior eyes and two lines along lateral margins of ocular area. Traces of two darker patches in centre of eye field. Clypeus high, covered with dense white hairs. Chelicerae small, blackish with sparse white scales, mouthparts dark brown, sternum yellow. Abdomen narrower than carapace, oval, yellow with brownish grey pattern composed of longitudinal median dark streak on anterior part and lighter patch at lateral edges. Dorsum covered with grey hairs, among them some brown bristles. Venter light (in one specimen intensively orange). Spinnerets brownish grey. First pair of legs robust, femur reddish brown, patella, tibia and metatarsus black, long flattened black hairs on these segments. Legs II-IV yellow with brownish rings, femora III distinctly longer than in other pairs. Pedipalps small, dark yellow, only femora darker. Tibial apophysis simple, wide at base ( Fig. 41 ), bulb oval, embolus thin ( Fig. 40 ).

Female. Body shape as in male, colouration similar but lighter, legs uniformly dark yellow, black setae on first legs absent. Epigyne with central pocket ( Fig. 42 ), internal structure as in Figure 43 , receptacles strongly sclerotised.

1" "l Distribution: Hitherto this species was known from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Israel. New to the UAE.

Figures

Figures 40 - 43. Neaetha oculata (O. P. - Cambridge). 40: Palpal organ in ventral view; 41: Same in lateral view; 42: Epigyne; 43: Internal structure of epigyne.