Eusparassus educatus, Moradmand, 2013

Moradmand, Majid, 2013, The stone huntsman spider genus Eusparassus (Araneae: Sparassidae): systematics and zoogeography with revision of the African and Arabian species, Zootaxa 3675 (1), pp. 1-108 : 66-69

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3675.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:7F4D5550-8B85-4694-9482-8A125E9A2650
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6422625
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03B787E9-8262-1317-25A5-84DFFC8BFE80
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Eusparassus educatus
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Eusparassus educatus View in CoL spec. nov.

Figs 40–41 View FIGURE 40 View FIGURE 41 , 56a View FIGURE 56 , 65c–d View FIGURE 65

Type material. Holotype: male, NAMIBIA: Kunene Region: NE of Juriesdraai, Palmwag Lodge , under roof, S 19˚53.246', E 13˚56.203', 3 March 2005, DK 378, D. Kunz leg. ( SMF).

Paratypes (4♂, 5♀♀): NAMIBIA: Kunene Region: 1♂, campsite Warmquelle , under roof, S 19˚8.299', E 13˚48.830', 2 March 2005, DK376, D. Kunz leg. ( SMF) ; 1♂, campsite Warmquelle , under roof, S 19˚ 8.299', E 13˚ 48.830', 3 March 2005, ( DK 377 , SD 341), D. Kunz leg. ( SMF) ; 1♂, 2♀♀, Epupa Falls , S 17˚0.122', E 13˚14.714', 23 March 2005, D. Kunz leg. ( SMF, 1♂, DK 337, SD 530, 1♀, DK336, SD332) . Karasburg District: 1♂, Farm Augurabis 109, Gaapriver, S 27˚27'04.0'', E 17˚42'18.9'', 556 m, 25 August 2005, TB 05/174, EduVentures 7 th Expedition in Fish River Canyon ( NMNW 47510 View Materials ) . Erongo Region: 1♀, Brandberg, Hungarob River side, S 21˚13.25', E 14˚31.03', 700 m, Pitfall row 2, 27 April 2000, K. Meakin leg. ( NMNW 45421 View Materials ) ; 1♀, Brandberg, Numas Plateau ( NMNW 35237 View Materials ) ; 1♀, N of Keetmanshoop, W. 1910–11, Kramer leg., Dr Werner ded. 28 August 1912 ( ZMH) .

Etymology. The specific name “educatus” is a Latin term (adjective) meaning “to train” or “to bring up a child”. It referrs to “the EduVentures Programme”, an educational program by NMNW aiming to explore and collect the biodiversity data within the remote areas of Namibia and educating children who have in most cases disadvantaged lives. One paratype male was collected during “the EduVentures 7th Expedition” by these children. This new species is the first species described from their material and named to promote this educational project and support these children.

Diagnosis. This unique species can be easily diagnosed by strongly elongated palpal structures, especially the slender embolus, which is covered by the similar long EM ( Figs 40a–c View FIGURE 40 , 41d View FIGURE 41 ); female vulva is uniquely coiled and twisted and has an extra small glandular process ( Figs 41b, c View FIGURE 41 ) [see also diagnosis for tuckeri species group above].

Description. Male (ranges: n=5, single measurement: holotype):

Measurements (holotype first). Males medium-sized. Total length 11.1–16.3, prosoma length 6.0–8.2, prosoma width 5.4–6.8, anterior width of prosoma 2.9–3.5, opisthosoma length 5.1–8.1, opisthosoma width 2.3–5.5. Eye diameters: AME 0.52, ALE 0.48, PME 0.42, PLE 0.51; eye interdistances: AME-AME 0.20, AME-ALE 0.03, PME-PME 0.43, PME-PLE 0.53, AME-PME 0.41, ALE-PLE 0.28, clypeus height at AME 0.37, clypeus height at ALE 0.48. AME and PLE approximately equal ( Fig. 40d View FIGURE 40 ).

Chelicerae. Chelicerae with 2 anterior and 3 to 5 posterior teeth, cheliceral furrow without intermarginal denticles ( Fig. 40e View FIGURE 40 ).

Legs. Leg formula: II I IV III. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 11.3 [3.6, 1.3, 2.1, 4.3], I 36.0[10.0, 4.4, 9.7, 9.8, 2.1], II 41.5 [11.6, 4.7, 11.7, 10.8, 2.7], III 32.4 [9.8, 4.0, 8.6, 7.9, 2.1], IV 34.2 [10.0, 3.7, 9.1, 9.3, 2.1].

Spination. Palp 131, 000/001, 1111; Legs: Femur I– III 323 , IV 322 ; Patella I– IV 001 /101; Tibia I–IV 2124 / 2224; Metatarsus I–III 2024, IV 3034/3036.

Palp. As in diagnosis with cymbium approximately 2.5 times longer than tibia; dRTA very slim, vRTA rounded and not well developed; embolus very narrow, covered by hyaline and folded embolus membrane (EM) ( Figs 40a–c View FIGURE 40 ), E and EM loosely connected ( Fig. 41d View FIGURE 41 ).

Female (ranges: n=5, single measurement: paratype MM 52 ):

Measurements. Medium-sized; total length 16.7–19.0, prosoma length 8.1–8.5, prosoma width 6.8–7.4, anterior width of prosoma 3.8–4.3, opisthosoma length 8.6–10.5, opisthosoma width 5.0–7.5. Eye diameters: AME 0.48, ALE 0.50, PME 0.44, PLE 0.56; eye interdistances: AME-AME 0.24, AME-ALE 0.02, PME-PME 0.50, PME-PLE 0.45, AME-PME 0.46, ALE-PLE 0.28, clypeus height at AME 0.38, clypeus height at ALE 0.50.

Chelicerae. Chelicerae with 2 anterior and 3 to 5 posterior teeth, cheliceral furrow without intermarginal denticles.

Legs. Leg formula: II I IV III. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 8.3 [2.5, 1.2, 1.3, 3.3], I 26.5 [7.3, 3.3, 7.1, 7.2, 1.6], II 28.5 [8.3, 3.4, 7.8, 7.3, 1.7], III 23.5 [7.1, 3.0, 6.1, 5.8, 1.5], IV 24.8 [7.3, 2.7, 6.5, 6.7, 1.6].

Spination. Palp 131, 001, 1111, 1013; Legs: Femur I– III 323 , IV 322 ; Patella I–II 000, III–IV 001; Tibia I–IV 2024; Metatarsus I–III 2024, IV 3036.

Epigyne/vulva. As in diagnosis with EF longer than wide ( Fig. 41a View FIGURE 41 ), MS hyaline and connected to CD in dorsal view ( Fig. 41b View FIGURE 41 ); vulva coiled in series of complex loops ( Fig. 41c View FIGURE 41 )

Colouration. Yellowish cream with dark black marks on prosoma and dorsal opisthosoma, legs distinctly with strong black bands ( Fig. 56a View FIGURE 56 ).

Known geographical distribution and habitat. Relatively widely distributed throughout Namibia, collected from desert areas, some specimens under roofs of buildings.