Echinax longespina ( Simon, 1909 ) Simon, 1909

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 : 45-48

Echinax longespina ( Simon, 1909) comb. nov.

Figs 5, 6 , 47 , 60–63

Copa longespina Simon, 1909: 370 (Ƥ Holotype: GUINEA-BISSAU: Bolama [11°34'N, 15°28'W], MNHN—not traced).

Remarks. Requests to the MNHN for the type material of Copa longespina were not successful and no specimens could be located in the collection or catalogue under this name. Specimens were, however, traced of “ Copa multispinosa ”, which is a name not formally used in the description of any Copa species by Simon or any other author ( Platnick 2011). The locality on the label accompanying these specimens (1 subadult 3 and two adult Ƥ) gives the locality as “ Gabon ”, which is different to the type locality (Bolama in Portuguese Guinea = Guinea- Bissau) given by Simon (1909), although he indicates in the following line of the description that C. longespina is also found in Sierra-Leone and Gabon. It is therefore possible that the species name written on the label may have been a lapsus by Simon and that these are the Gabonese C. longespina specimens he referred to in the description, which were not designated as types. The whereabouts of the types from Bolama and the specimens from Sierra- Leone requires further investigation. Specimens consistent with the Gabonese “ C. multispinosa ” were the only species collected in Senegal and Liberia, countries bordering with Guinee-Bissau. At present it would be advisable to consider specimens conspecific with the “ C. multispinosa ” specimens as C. longespina . Neotypes should be designated for this species once fresh material from Guinea-Bissau becomes available.

The species is not congeneric with Copa flavoplumosa Simon, 1885 , widespread type species of the genus, and should rather be placed in Echinax , with which it shares the characters given above in the generic diagnosis. Its transfer to Echinax as E. longespina ( Simon, 1909) comb. nov. is proposed here.

Diagnosis. Echinax longespina females share with E. spatulata sp. nov. the shorter copulatory hoods that do not meet medially in the epigyne and the elongate ST II that are longer than wide, but can be separated from the latter species by the copulatory ducts that are distinctly longer and touch medially (shorter and clearly separated in E. spatulata sp. nov., compare Figs 61 and 78 ). Males are distinguished by the narrow embolus base and distal end of the embolus that is nearly straight and not curved as in other Afrotropical species ( Fig. 47 ).

Female (Masako, MRAC 211804). Measurements: CL 2.13, CW 1.65, AL 3.05, AW 2.38, TL 5.28 (4.15–5.70), FL 0.28, SL 1.05, SW 0.98, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE–ALE 0.36, PME–PME 0.11, PME–PLE 0.09, PLE–PLE 0.44, PERW 0.60, MOQAW 0.33, MOQPW 0.36, MOQL 0.42.

Length of leg segments: I 1.85 + 0.65 + 1.45 + 1.40 + 0.73 = 6.08; II 1.83 + 0.65 + 1.40 + 1.38 + 0.70 = 5.96; III 1.70 + 0.63 + 1.38 + 1.50 + 0.70 = 5.91; IV 2.10 + 0.70 + 1.68 + 2.15 + 0.78 = 7.41.

General appearance as in Fig. 5 . Carapace creamy-yellow, eye region black except between PME; broad median band of black feathery setae from PER to posterior slope, with fine black T-shaped marking on posterior slope 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 1 4⁄5 AME diameter; PER strongly procurved, medians slightly larger than laterals; PME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to ½ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 2.75: 1. Chelicerae creamy-yellow, with pectinate curved setae on promargin; two closely spaced teeth on promargin, distal tooth much larger than proximal; retromargin with two adjacent subequal teeth, distal tooth slightly larger than proximal tooth, close to fang base. Endites and sternum cream, without markings; labium yellow, white distally, with transverse black marking along proximal margin. Legs creamy-yellow, spine bases with distinct black spot; femora with small paired markings dorsally at distal end and incomplete ventral ring distally; patellae with black marking along distal end, marking extending retrolaterally, surrounding patellar indentation; tibiae with black mottled lateral markings proximally, medially and distally, corresponding to paired spines, distal ends black dorsally; metatarsi with incomplete 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 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 2 rlv 2 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 yellow dorsal scutum extending ¼ abdomen length; dorsum cream, with 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, especially posteriorly, with grey subrectangular marking medially. Epigyne with curved lateral ridges at midpoint of epigyne, directed obliquely, separated by approximately ½ their width, with copulatory openings situated laterally in ridges ( Fig. 60 ); copulatory ducts initially straight, nearly transverse, curving anteriorly at right angle medially, entering oval anterior ST II that are expanded posterolaterally; broad ducts connecting ST II to broad, kidney-shaped posterior ST I; ST I nearly as broad as ST II ( Fig. 61 ).

Male (Nioka, MRAC 174297). Measurements: CL 1.83, CW 1.48, AL 1.90, AW 1.07, TL 3.65 (3.00–3.65), FL 0.20, SL 0.85, SW 0.82, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.29, PME–PME 0.11, PME–PLE 0.06, PLE–PLE 0.35, PERW 0.50, MOQAW 0.28, MOQPW 0.31, MOQL 0.38.

Length of leg segments: I 1.65 + 0.55 + 1.30 + 1.33 + 0.68 = 5.51; II 1.62 + 0.54 + 1.23 + 1.28 + 0.65 = 5.32; III 1.48 + 0.50 + 1.18 + 1.35 + 0.64 = 5.15; IV 1.83 + 0.55 + 1.48 + 1.85 + 0.72 = 6.43.

General appearance as in Fig. 6 , male more slender and smaller than female. Carapace creamy-yellow, 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 lines directed towards coxae II and III; fine black line from posterior of 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 1¼ AME diameter; PER strongly procurved, medians slightly larger than laterals; PME separated by distance equal to ¾ their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance approximately equal to ½ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 2.96: 1. Chelicerae cream, with curved setae on promargin not pectinate; two closely spaced teeth on promargin, distal tooth much larger than proximal; retromargin with two adjacent teeth, distal tooth slightly larger, close to fang base. Endites, labium and sternum cream, without markings. Legs cream, spine bases with distinct black spot; femora all with incomplete black ventral ring distally; patellae with black marking distally, marking extending retrolaterally, surrounding patellar indentation; tibiae all with faint black mottling laterally; 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 vt 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 3-4. 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 covering ¾ of dorsum; dorsum cream, with broad black median stripe from anterior to ½ abdomen length, X-shaped marking at ¾ abdomen length, and black mottling laterally; dorsum covered predominantly with black feathery setae on markings, with yellow feathery setae between them; venter cream, with broad black stripe from pedicel to epigastric groove and rectangular median marking between epigastric groove and spinnerets. Male palp cream, cymbium yellow-brown, with a few thickened straight setae dorsally in distal ½ ( Fig. 63 ); tegulum pearshaped, yellow-brown with dark brown ducts; embolus shorter than congeners, with narrow base and 1½ coils, proximal coil nearly transverse, distal section straight; longitudinal distance from retrolateral bend to prolateral bend less than ½ the distance from prolateral bend to embolus tip ( Figs 47 , 62 ).

Material examined. D.R. CONGO: Bas-Congo: Mayombe, Luki Forest Reserve, 05°37'S, 13°05'E, 266 m a.s.l., leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 12.XI.2006 (primary rainforest, fogging 4), 23 ( MRAC 220929); same locality, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 16.IX.2007 (young secondary rainforest), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 236902); same locality, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 14.IX.2007 (canopy fogging, secondary rainforest), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 230764); same data, 19.IX.2007, 13 1Ƥ ( MRAC 230768); same data, 19.XI.2005, 1Ƥ ( MRAC 236915); same data, 24.IX.2007, 23 ( MRAC 230772); same data, 25.IX.2007, 2Ƥ ( MRAC 236905); same data, 28.IX.2007, 13 2Ƥ ( MRAC 230767); same locality, leg. D. de Bakker & J.-P. Michiels, 16.IX.2007, 13 ( MRAC 230765). Bas- Uele: Poko [03°09'N, 26°53'E], leg. American Museum Congo Expedition, 2Ƥ ( MNHG). Equateur: Eala, 00°03'N, 18°19'E, leg. J. Ghesquière, I.1936, 13 1Ƥ ( MRAC 22909). Ituri: Djugu, 01°56'N, 30°30'E, leg. H.J. Bredo, 1.V.1937, 13 1Ƥ ( MRAC 174298); Nioka, 02°10'N, 30°40'E, leg. J. Leroy, IX.1932, 13 ( MRAC 174297). Kivu: Costermansville, 02°29'S, 28°51'E, leg. H.J. Bredo, 2.III.1937, 1Ƥ ( MRAC 174281); Kasenyi, 01°24'N, 30°26'E, leg. H.J. Bredo, 1.IX.1939, 1 imm. 13 ( MRAC 22939); N’Gesho [01°17'S, 29°07'E], leg. J. Ghesquière, IX.1937, 1 Ƥ ( MRAC 22904); Rutshuru, 01°11'S, 29°27'E, leg. J. Ghesquière, V.1937, 33 8Ƥ ( MRAC 174286); Sake, 01°34'S, 29°02'E, leg. J. Ghesquière, V.1937, 23 2Ƥ ( MRAC 174291). Tshopo: Masako, 00°35'N, 25°11'E, leg. J. Juakaly, 25.VII.2001 (young fallow), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 211804); same locality, leg. J. Ghesquière, V.1937, 23 2Ƥ ( MRAC 174307). GABON: Mey, 1 imm. 2Ƥ ( MNHN 17466). GHANA: Kakum forest, 05°20'N, 01°23'W, leg. R. Jocqué, D. de Bakker & L. Baert, 11.XI.2005 (primary forest), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 217305); same locality, leg. R. Jocqué, D. de Bakker & L. Baert, 14.XI.2005 (fogging, primary forest), 2Ƥ ( MRAC 236919); same data, 16.XI.2005, 13 ( MRAC 218255); same locality, leg. R. Jocqué, D. de Bakker & L. Baert, 19.XI.2005 (fogging, secondary forest), 17.XI.2005, 3Ƥ ( MRAC 218258); same data, 22.XI.2005, 13 1Ƥ ( MRAC 236921). IVORY COAST: Mankono, Ranch de la Marahoué, 08°27'N, 06°52'W, leg. J. Everts, II.1980 (riverine forest), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 172271). KENYA: Western region, Kakamega Forest, Lirhanda Hills, 00°13'N, 34°54'E, leg. D. Shilabira Smith, 22.VI.2002 (pitfall trap), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 220191); same locality, 1625 m a.s.l., leg. D. Shilabira Smith, 21.II.2002 (pitfall near quarry), 13 ( MRAC 212699); same locality, 00°22'N, 34°50'E, 1600 m a.s.l., leg. W. Freund, I–II.2003 (fogging, Teclea nobilis ), 13 ( ZFMK Ar1166). LIBERIA: Bong Range Forest, 06°49'N, 10°17'W, leg. D. Flomo, 15.I.2006 (pitfalls in rain forest), 1Ƥ ( MRAC 219374). SENEGAL: Dakar, Gibraltar [14°41.20'N, 17°26.63'W], leg. W. Settle, 30.IX.1982, 1Ƥ ( CAS, CASENT 9033171). TANZANIA: Iringa Region: Mufindi District, Uzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve, 08°31.58'S, 35°54.00'E, 750 m a.s.l., leg. McKamey et al., 16.III.1996 (canopy fogging sample 39), 13 ( ZMUC). Kilimanjaro Region: Mkomazi Game Reserve, leg. G. McGavin, 12.I.1996 (fogging, Craibia brownii , tropical savanna), 1Ƥ ( OUMNH); same locality, leg. G. McGavin, 12.I.1996 (fogging, Heywoodia lucens , tropical savanna), 13 ( OUMNH); same locality, leg. G. McGavin, 12.I.1996 (fogging, Ochna holstii , tropical savanna), 13 1Ƥ ( OUMNH). Tanga Region: Muheza District, Kwamgumi Forest Reserve, 04°57'S, 38°44'E, 170–220 m a.s.l., leg. S. McKamey, 22.VII.1995 (canopy fogging sample 9), 1Ƥ ( ZMUC); same locality, leg. S. McKamey, 26.VII.1995 (canopy fogging sample 12), 23 ( ZMUC); same locality, leg. S. McKamey, 31.X.1995 (canopy fogging sample 13), 33 ( ZMUC); same locality, leg. S. McKamey, 2.XI.1995 (canopy fogging sample 14), 13 ( ZMUC); same locality, leg. S. McKamey, 5.XI.1995 (canopy fogging sample 16), 23 ( ZMUC). UGANDA: Queen Elisabeth National Park, leg. D. Penney, VII.1994, 1 Ƥ ( MRAC 219707).

Distribution. Widespread throughout tropical equatorial Africa, from Kenya and Tanzania in the east to Senegal in the west ( Fig. 68 ).

Natural history. Much of the material was collected by canopy fogging and beating, with isolated records from pitfall traps. This suggests a primarily arboreal lifestyle. Specimens were collected in tropical forests and savannas from a wide variety of tree species, suggesting a wide habitat and vegetative structure tolerance.

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 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 60 – 63. Genitalia of Echinax longespina (Simon, 1909): 60. Female epigyne, ventral view. 61. Same, dorsal view. 62. Male palp, ventral view. 63. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 77 – 80. Genitalia of Echinax spatulata sp. nov.: 77. Female epigyne, ventral view. 78. Same, dorsal view. 79. Male palp, ventral view. 80. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.