Thyenula natalica (Simon, 1902) Simon, 1902

Azarkina, Galina N. & Foord, Stefan H., 2013, Redescriptions of poorly known species of jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) from South Africa and Namibia, Zootaxa 3686 (2), pp. 165-182 : 179-181

Thyenula natalica (Simon, 1902) comb. n.

Figs 36 , 63–68

Evarcha natalica Simon 1902: 398 (3, examined).

Evarcha natalica: Simon 1903: 697 ; Lessert 1925: 354.

Type material: Holotype 3 ( MNHN, #20381) Natal / C.M. [= Republic of South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, exact locality and date unknown (C. Martin)].

Other material: RSA: 13 (NCA 87/133) Gauteng, Pretoria/Tswane, Roodeplaatdam Nature Reserve, 26°21'S, 28°21'E, sweepnetting, 9.03.1982 (I. van Rooyen, T. Marren); 13 (NCA 84/862) Mpumalanga, Bergvliet Staatsbos, Sabie, ca. 25°07'S, 30°53'E, sweepnetting, grass and ferns next to Sabie river, 19.09.1984 (A.S. Dippenaar); 13 (NCA 86/577) KwaZulu-Natal, Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, near Park Rynie, ca. 30°18'S, 30°38'E, 25.03.1985 (R.Maartens).

Diagnosis. This species closely resemble Thyenula magna Wesołowska & Haddad 2009 , but differs in the shape of the bulbus (broad in T. natalica and narrow in T. magna ) and length of palpal tibia: long in T. magna (see Wesołowska & Haddad 2009, Figs 201–202) and short in T. natalica ( Figs 61–62 ). It differs from other Thyenula in the shape of embolus that has a thin membrane ( Figs 63–64 ).

Description. Male (Holotype of Evarcha natalica , MNHN, #20381). Carapace: length 2.85, width 2.30, height 1.70. Abdomen: length 2.45, width 1.90. Eye field: length 1.20, anterior width 1.95, posterior width 1.80. Cheliceral length 0.90. Clypeal height 0.15. Diameter of AME 0.70. Length of leg segments: I 1.80+1.20+1.50+1.10+0.70; II 1.60+0.90+1.00+0.80+0.60; III 1.65+0.85+1.00+1.25+0.60; IV 1.50+0.70+1.00+1.25+0.70. Leg spination: I: Fm d 1-1-; Pt pr and rt 1, Tb pr 1-1-1, rt 0-1, v 2-2 -2ap; Mt pr 1-1, v 2-2 ap. II: Fm d 1-1-5; Pt pr and rt 1, Tb pr 1-1-1, rt 1-1, v 2-2 -2ap; Mt pr 1-1, v 2-2 ap. III: Fm d 1-1-5; Pt pr and rt 1; Tb d 1-0-0, pr and rt 1-1-1, v 1 -0-2ap; Mt pr and rt 1-0-2ap, v 2 -0-2ap. IV: Fm d 1-1-3; Pt pr and rt 1; Tb d 1-0- 0, pr and rt 1-1-1, v 1 -0-2ap; Mt pr and rt 1-1-2ap; v 1 -0-2ap. Carapace brown, with black rings around eyes ( Fig. 66 ). Clypeus brown, chelicerae dark brown ( Fig. 67 ). Sternum yellow, laterally brown. Abdomen greyish-yellow, ventrally with two narrow grey stripes. Dorsum brown, medially with yellow stripe. Book-lungs brownish-yellow. Spinnerets yellow. First pair of legs big and robust, all segments brown. Femora of II–IV pairs of legs brown, patellae, tibiae and metatarsi II–IV pairs ventrally brown, dorsally yellow. Tarsi II–IV pairs yellow. Palps brownish-yellow. Palpal structure as in Figs 63–64 .

Female unknown.

Distribution. Republic of South Africa.

Comments. This species shares the synapomorphy of all Thyenula , viz. an embolus that forms a distal coil separated from the tegulum by the distal heamatodocha. We therefore transfer this species to the genus Thyenula (subfamily Euophryinae ).

Figures

FIGURE 36. Distribution records of Euophrys quadrispinosa (star), Thyene bilineata (square) and Thyenula natalica (circle;? exact locality unknown).

FIGURES 63 – 64. Thyenula natalica. holotype. 63 male palp, ventral view; 64 ditto, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 65 – 68. Thyenula natalica. holotype. 65 male habitus, ventral view; 66 ditto, dorsal view; 67 male " face "; 68 label of holotype. Scale bars: 65 – 67, 1 mm.

FIGURES 57 – 62. Thyene bilineata. 57 – 59 paralecotype (57 female habitus, ventral view; 58 female " face "; 59 female habitus, dorsal view; 60 – 62 specimen from RSA (60 female habitus, ventral view; 61 female " face "; 62 female habitus, dorsal view). Scale bars: 0.1 mm.