Uroctea sudanensis Benoit, 1966

Rheims, Cristina A., Santos, Adalberto J. & Harten, Antonius, 2007, The spider genus Uroctea Dufour, 1820 (Araneae: Oecobiidae) in Yemen, Zootaxa 1406, pp. 61-68 : 63-64

Uroctea sudanensis Benoit, 1966

Figures 3–4 , 9–10

Uroctea sudanensis Benoit 1966: 193 –194, fig 2 (Male holotype from SUDAN, Renk, 10º45’N 32º50’E, J. Cloudsley- Thompson coll., 4.XII. 1961 in MRAC 120.834, examined). Brignoli 1983: 216; Platnick 2006.

Diagnosis. The males of Uroctea sudanensis share with several related species of the genus (see Bosselaers 1999) the pedipalps with a large, ventrally projected sclerotized apophysis ( Figs. 9, 11 : TA1) and a pair of small, hyaline apophyses, one of them long and sinuous ( Figs. 9, 11 : TA2) and the other short and serving as a conductor ( Figs. 10, 12 : TA3). Additionally, these species possess a retrolateral, proximal tegular lobe, in close contact with the large tegular apophysis ( Figs. 3 , 6 : TL). Uroctea sudanensis can be distinguished from other species of the genus by the relatively simple tegular apophysis 1 ( Fig 9 , TA1) of the male pedipalp. This apophysis has a simple, pointed apex, and is devoid of additional processes or projections ( Figs. 3–4 , 9 ). Further distinguished by the short tegular lobe, with a notched, irregular apex ( Fig 4 ).

Description. Male (IBSP 33230). Carapace light orange with slightly darker margins, dark brown cephalic region and brown thoracic groves. Eye borders black. Legs and pedipalps orange. Coxae with faint longitudinal brown stripes. Chelicerae dark orange. Sternum pale yellow with orange, sclerotized margins. Labium orange, endites pale yellow. Opisthosoma dorsally black with large U-shaped mark and 2 pairs of brown dorsal muscular pits. Venter cream colored. Spinnerets orange, except posterior laterals dorsally black. Total length 6.2. Carapace 2.6 long, 3.2 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.26, ALE 0.22, PME 0.2, PLE 0.12, AME–AME 0.4, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE–ALE 0.66, PME–PME 0.12, PME–PLE 0.08, AME–PME 0.06. Clypeus 0.6 high. Leg measurements: I femur 3.0/ patella 1.5/ tibia 2.0/ metatarsus 2.4/ tarsus 1.4/ total10.3. II 3.0/ 1.5/ 2.0/ 2.4/ 1.4/ 10.3. III 2.9/ 1.5/ 1.9/ 2.6/ 1.2/ 10.1. IV 3.2/ 1.8/ 2.0/ 2.8/ 1.3/ 11.1. Opisthosoma 4.7 long, 2.7 wide. Pedipalps with a large, sclerotized apophysis with the same texture as the tegulum ( Fig 9 : TA1). Embolus long and gently curved, point in close contact with tegular apophysis 3 ( Fig 10 ).

Female. Unknown.

Variation. Total length 6.2–6.5; carapace length 2.3–2.6 (n=2).

Natural History. Specimens from Lahj were collected in malaise traps placed in the garden of the agricultural faculty of the University of Aden. The region around Lahj is a flat semi-desert, with intensive cultivation of mango and other fruit crops.

Distribution. Known only from Sudan and Yemen.

Additional Material examined. YEMEN: Lahj (13o03'15"N, 44o53'07"E), VI.1998, A. van Harten & A. Sallam coll., 1 male ( IBSP 33230); same locality, XI.2000, A. van Harten & A. Sallam coll., 1 male ( IBSP 33231).

Figures

FIGURES 3 – 4. Uroctea sudanensis Benoit. 3. Male pedipalp, prolateral view. 4. Male pedipalp, retrolateral view. TL, tegular lobe. Scale: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 9 – 12. 9 – 10. Uroctea sudanensis Benoit. 9. Male pedipalp, retro-ventral view. 10. Embolus and tegular apophysis 3, ventral view. 11 – 12. Uroctea thaleri new species. 11. Male pedipalp, ventral view. 12. Embolus and tegular apophysis 3, ventral view. TA 1 – 3, tegular apophyses 1, 2 and 3. Scales 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 5 – 8. Uroctea thaleri new species. 5. Male pedipalp, prolateral view. 6. Male pedipalp, retrolateral view. 7. Female epigynum, ventral view. 8. Female internal genitalia, dorsal view. D, blind ending duct; E, embolus; S, spermatheca; TL, tegular lobe. Scale: 0.5 mm.