Echinax scharffi, 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 : 51-54

Echinax scharffi sp. nov.

Figs 9, 10 , 49 , 69–72

Etymology. The species is named after Nikolaj Scharff in recognition of his contributions to the collection and study of the Tanzanian spider fauna.

Diagnosis. This species is most closely related to the Asian species (see Deeleman-Reinhold 2001), particularly E. oxyopoides , in having the copulatory ducts entering ST II anteriorly ( Fig. 70 ), and can be easily separated from the other Afrotropical species, in which the ducts enter ST II medially along their posterior margin. Males can be recognised by the more strongly curved distal section of the embolus than the other Afrotropical species ( Figs 49 , 71 ).

Female (holotype, Kwamgumi, ZMUC). Measurements: CL 1.88, CW 1.52, AL 2.50, AW 1.75, TL 4.40 (4.10–5.55), FL 0.23, SL 0.95, SW 0.93, AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE–ALE 0.32, PME–PME 0.14, PME–PLE 0.06, PLE–PLE 0.38, PERW 0.54, MOQAW 0.32, MOQPW 0.33, MOQL 0.35.

Length of leg segments: I 1.85 + 0.64 + 1.40 + 1.38 + 0.70 = 5.97; II 1.80 + 0.60 + 1.35 + 1.38 + 0.63 = 5.76; III 1.63 + 0.59 + 1.31 + 1.45 + 0.63 = 5.61; IV 1.93 + 0.63 + 1.51 + 1.95 + 0.70 = 6.72.

General appearance as in Fig. 9 . Carapace cream, eye region black except between PME; distinct Y-shaped marking to the anterior of fovea and black striae radiating from fovea, together forming heart-shaped marking in centre of carapace; lateral margins with broad black marking, narrowed between coxae I and II; all markings covered in black feathery setae, with scattered white setae between them, especially along midline. All eyes with black rings; AER procurved, medians much larger than laterals; AME separated by distance slightly larger than ½ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance approximately 1⁄10 AME diameter; clypeus height slightly less than 1½ AME diameter; PER strongly procurved, medians slightly larger than laterals; PME separated by distance equal to 1¼ their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance slightly less than ½ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 2.81: 1. Chelicerae cream with black spot laterally on anterior surface, with pectinate curved setae on promargin; two slightly separated teeth on promargin, distal tooth larger than proximal; retromargin with two adjacent teeth, distal tooth slightly larger than proximal tooth, close to fang base. Endites and sternum cream, without markings; labium cream, with black transverse marking along proximal margin. Legs cream, spine bases with large black spot; coxae I–III with small black stripe on prolateral side, coxa IV uniform cream; trochanters with incomplete distal black ring dorsally and laterally; femora with black paired lateral spots proximally, incomplete dorsal ring at first dorsal spine, complete ring at ½ femur length and incomplete ventral distal ring; patellae with broad black proximal dorsal ring, distal margin black, markings joined by black retrolateral stripe enveloping patellar indentation; tibiae with lateral spots medially and distally; metatarsi with proximal, median and distal black rings, 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 2-3 rlv 2, III pl 2 do 1 rl 1 plv 2 rlv 2, IV pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1-2 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 3 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 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. Abdomen with small dorsal scutum extending ¼ abdomen length; dorsum cream, with broad black rectangular marking extending to middle of abdomen, black star-shaped marking at ½ abdomen length, fused laterally to irregular black marking along lateral margins; white feathery setae covering dorsum and lateral margins; venter cream, covered in short straight setae with scattered longer setae posteriorly and white feathery setae to the sides. Epigyne with large 6-shaped lateral ridges at midpoint of epigyne, separated by distance slightly less than their width, with copulatory openings situated prolaterally in ridges ( Fig. 69 ); copulatory ducts long, curving medially and anteriorly, entering oval anterior ST II along their anterior margin; broad ducts connecting ST II to narrow elongate ST I; ST I approximately ½ as broad as ST II ( Fig. 70 ).

Male (paratype, Kwamgumi [Fog 12 FH], ZMUC). Measurements: CL 1.77, CW 1.40, AL 2.05 AW 1.10, TL 3.78 (3.60–4.35), FL 0.21, SL 0.88, SW 0.84, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE–ALE 0.31, PME–PME 0.13, PME–PLE 0.05, PLE–PLE 0.36, PERW 0.51, MOQAW 0.30, MOQPW 0.32, MOQL 0.36.

Length of leg segments: I 1.90 + 0.60 + 1.58 + 1.45 + 0.70 = 6.23; II 1.81 + 0.59 + 1.45 + 1.43 + 0.69 = 5.97; III 1.68 + 0.58 + 1.34 + 1.49 + 0.65 = 5.74; IV 1.93 + 0.59 + 1.58 + 1.98 + 0.75 = 6.83.

General appearance as in Fig. 10 , male more slender and smaller than female. Carapace cream, eye region black except between PME; distinct Y-shaped marking to the anterior of fovea and black striae radiating from fovea, darker distally, together forming heart-shaped marking in centre of carapace; lateral margins with broad black marking, narrowed between coxae I and II; all markings covered in black feathery setae, with scattered white setae between them. All eyes with black rings; AER procurved, medians much larger than laterals; AME separated by distance slightly more than 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 slightly less than 1½ times their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance slightly less than ½ PME diameter; CW: PERW = 2.75: 1. Chelicerae cream with black spots pro- and retrolaterally proximally on their anterior surface, black line along their interior surface from fang furrow to base of chelicerae, with curved setae on promargin not pectinate; two closely spaced teeth on promargin, distal tooth larger than proximal; retromargin with two adjacent teeth, subequal in size, distal tooth close to fang base. Endites and sternum cream, without markings; labium cream, with broad black transverse marking along proximal margin. Legs cream, spine bases with large black spot; coxae with small black spot on prolateral side; trochanters with incomplete distal black ring dorsally and laterally; femora with paired lateral spots proximally, incomplete dorsal ring at first dorsal spine, complete ring at ½ femur length and incomplete ventral distal ring, markings fused retrolaterally; patellae with broad black proximal dorsal ring, small prolateral black blotch, distal margin black, proximal and distal markings joined by black retrolateral stripe enveloping patellar indentation; tibiae with lateral spots medially and distally, more distinct retrolaterally; metatarsi with complete proximal, median and distal black rings. 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 3 rl 3 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 ¾ dorsal length; dorsum and sides mottled black with two pairs of cream spots, first anterolaterally, second at ½ abdomen length medially, with broad cream marking medially at ½ abdomen length; markings covered with black and white feathery setae, with yellowish feathery setae between them; venter cream, with broad black stripe along midline from epigastric furrow to spinnerets; venter covered in short straight setae with scattered long straight setae. Male palp cream, cymbium yellow-brown, with a few thickened straight setae dorsally in distal ½ ( Fig. 72 ); tegulum pear-shaped, yellow-brown with dark brown ducts; embolus long, with broad base and 1½ coils, distal section strongly curved; longitudinal distance from retrolateral bend to prolateral bend only ¼ the distance from prolateral bend to embolus tip ( Figs 49 , 71 ).

Type material. Holotype Ƥ: TANZANIA: Tanga Region: Muheza District, Kwamgumi Forest Reserve, 04°57'S, 38°44'E, 170–220 m a.s.l., leg. S. McKamey, 18.VII.1995 (canopy fog 7) ( ZMUC).

Paratypes: TANZANIA: Tanga Region: Lushoto District, Mazumbai Forest Reserve, 04°49'S, 38°29'E, 1650–1730 m a.s.l., leg. S. McKamey, 20.XI.1995 (canopy fog 24), 1Ƥ ( ZMUC); Muheza District, Kwamgumi Forest Reserve, 04°57'S, 38°44'E, 170–220 m a.s.l., leg. S. McKamey, 26.VII.1995 (canopy fog 12), 33 2Ƥ ( ZMUC); same locality, leg. S. McKamey, 2.XI.1995 (canopy fog 14), 23 ( ZMUC); same locality, 5.XI.1995, leg. S. McKamey (canopy fog 16), 23 ( ZMUC); Muheza District, Segoma Forest Reserve, 04°59'S, 38°44'E, 210 m a.s.l., leg. S. McKamey, 11.XI.1995 (canopy fog 20), 1Ƥ ( ZMUC).

Additional material examined. None.

Distribution. Known only from eastern Tanzania ( Fig. 81 ).

Natural history. Collected almost exclusively by canopy fogging in tropical forests with elevations ranging from 170–1730 m a.s.l.

Figures

FIGURE 81. Distribution of Echinax scharffi sp. nov. (white circles), E. similis sp. nov. (black star) and E. spatulata sp. nov. (black 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 69 – 72. Genitalia of Echinax scharffi sp. nov.: 69. Female epigyne, ventral view. 70. Same, dorsal view. 71. Male palp, ventral view. 72. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.