Erigonoplus depressifrons ( Simon, 1884 ) Bosmans & Cardoso & Crespo, 2010

Bosmans, Robert, Cardoso, Pedro & Crespo, Luis Carlos, 2010, A review of the linyphiid spiders of Portugal, with the description of six new species (Araneae: Linyphiidae) 2473, Zootaxa 2473 (1), pp. 1-67 : 19-20

Erigonoplus depressifrons ( Simon, 1884) new combination

( Figs 37–42)

Acartauchenius depressifrons Simon, 1884: 143 (descr. male).

Diagnosis: Males of Erigonoplus depressifrons are recognised by the reversed cephalic tubercle and the hooked tibial apophysis of the male palp ( Fig. 38), females by the gradually narrowing median septum in the epigynum ( Fig. 41).

Remarks on transfer: Acartauchenius depressifrons is transferred to the genus Erigonoplus , for the following reasons. The female (until now unknown) has a median septum in the epigynum, never present in the genus Acartauchenius . It is always present in the genus Erigonoplus and spine formula and position of the trichobothrium correspond as well. Males have a raised caput, a sickle-shaped radical part of the embolic division, corresponding with the genus Erignoplus as well. The two rows of long bristles on the underside of the femora I, present in other members of the genus, are however absent.

Description: Male: Measurements: Total length 1.6–1.7; prosoma 0.68–0.72 long, 0.53–0.57 wide. Colour: Prosoma reddish brown, thoracic part yellowish orange, cephalic tubercle suffused with grey, margin grey; legs yellowish to orange brown; abdomen dark grey to black. Prosoma ( Fig. 37): With recurved tubercle, densely covered with long, oblique hairs, PM at base of tubercle. Eyes: a = 0.75, b = 3, c = 6, d = 2. Chelicerae: With 13–14 well-developed, oblique stridulating ridges. Legs: Spine formula 1111; Sp Ti I = 0.8; Sp Ti IV = 1.4; Tb Mt I = 0.38; Tb Mt IV absent. Palp ( Figs 38–40): Tibia with hooked, retrolateral apophysis and large lateral lobe; tailpiece elongated, twisted twice; embolus ribbon-like, terminally truncate.

Female: Measurements: Total length 1.6–1.9; prosoma 0.62–0.72 long, 0.44–0.54 wide. Colour as in male. Prosoma unmodified. Eye dispostion: a = 0.75, b = 2, c = 1.75, d = 1.5. Legs: Spine formula 2211; Tb and spine length as in male. Epigynum ( Fig. 41): With large, transverse depression with median septum. Vulva ( Fig. 42): Spermathecae oblique and oval, touching in the middle.

Previous records: Portugal: Valongo, São Pedro da Cova, river bank of Rio Ferreira ( Machado 1949).

New records: Beja: Vale do Guadiana NP, Mértola, Braciais , 1 male, 26.II.2003, 1 male, 23.IV.2003, 3 females, 21.V.2003 (CPC) . Leiria: Serras de Aire e Candeeiros NP, São Mamede , 1 male 1 female, 25.VIII.2002 (CPC) . Portalegre: Nisa , 3 males, 28.V.2005, A. Rufino leg. (IMAR) .

Distribution: Apart from the Portuguese localities, known from the Basses-Pyrénées in France and from Vizcaya in Spain ( Simon 1884).

Habitat type: Mostly found in open habitats.

Phenology: Adults were collected from February to August.

[ Erigonoplus globipes (L. Koch, 1872) ]

Listed in Cardoso’s Portugal Spider Catalogue (2009b), but incorrectly identified. The specimens belong to Erigonoplus nasutus (O.P.-Cambridge) (see there). Erigonoplus globipes is deleted from the checklist of Portugal.