Thyenula laxa, Zhang, Jun-Xia & Maddison, Wayne P., 2012

Zhang, Jun-Xia & Maddison, Wayne P., 2012, New euophryine jumping spiders from Southeast Asia and Africa (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryinae), Zootaxa 3581, pp. 53-80 : 74-75

Thyenula laxa sp. nov.

Figs 88–91

Type material. Holotype: male, SOUTH AFRICA: NORTHERN PROVINCE: NE of Ebenezer Dam, George's Valley, ca. 100 km E of Pietersburg, 23 March 2001, coll. G. S. Bodner, GSB#23.111.01c (UBC-SEM AR00189).

Etymology. Species’ name is derived from the Latin laxa (wide), referring to the wide embolus of the male palp.

Diagnosis. Differs from all other Thyenula species by the wide embolus of the male palp ( Figs 89–90 ).

Description. Male (holotype, UBC-SEM AR00189). Carapace length 2.3; abdomen length 1.9. Chelicera ( Fig. 91 ): dark brown; with two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal tooth. Palp ( Figs 89–90 ): yellow brown. Embolus wide and coiled almost one circle, branched at the tip; retrolateral sperm duct loop wide occupying about three quarters of bulb width; proximal tegular lobe present; retrolateral tibial apophysis long and finger-like. First leg with three pairs of ventral macrosetae on tibia and two pairs of ventral macrosetae on metatarsus. Measurements of legs: I 6.3, II 5.0, III 5.7, IV 5.5. Color in alcohol ( Fig. 88 ): carapace dark brown to yellow brown, with a ‘U’-shaped marking behind eye area composed of light yellow scales; abdomen dark brown, with yellowish brown speckles and markings; legs brown.

Female. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 88 – 91. Thyenula laxa sp. nov. 88 male holotype, dorsal view; 89 male left palp, ventral view; 90 male left palp, retrolateral view; 91 male right chelicera, back view. Scale bars: 88, 1.0 mm; 89 – 91, 0.2 mm.