Pellolessertia STRAND, 1929

Szűts, T. & Scharff, N., 2005, Redescriptions Of Little Known Jumping Spider Genera (Araneae: Salticidae) From West Africa, Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 51 (4), pp. 357-378 : 363-364

Pellolessertia STRAND, 1929

( Fig. 4 )

Avakubia LESSERT, 1927: 440

Pellolessertia STRAND, 1929: 14 – nom. nov. pro Avakubia LESSERT, 1927 non Avakubia PILSBRY, 1919 (Mollusca); PRÓSZYŃSKI 1984: 169.

Type species – Avakubia castanea LESSERT, 1927 by monotypy.

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Brief history – The genus was established for Avakubia castanea from Congo. The generic name was preoccupied by a mollusc genus ( Avakubia PILSBRY, 1919 ), so it was replaced with Pellolessertia STRAND, 1929 . Although the genus seems to be well represented in several collections (e.g. Tervuren, London, New York according to PRÓSZYŃSKI 2003) it is not very well documented. For example, the male is still known by the original description only. To provide new data and illustrations, a detailed description of a male from Cameroon is given.

Diagnosis and relationships – This genus is characterised by the very long third femur ( Fig. 4C ) and by the typical carapace shape, which is extraordinary wide ( Fig. 4D ). Carapace highest at PLE-s, which form a remarkable hump ( Figs 4 C-E). The long third femur is characteristic also for the so-called pellenid (Pelleninae sensu PRÓSZYŃSKI 1976) genera such as Pellenes SIMON, 1876 , Neaetha SIMON, 1882 , Bianor PECKHAM et PECKHAM, 1885 , Monomotapa WESOŁOWSKA, 1999 , etc. (see GRISWOLD 1987, LOGUNOV 1996, 2001 a for further details). It seems that Pellolessertia belongs there, moreover its copulatory organs are also similar to those of pellenids (phylogenetic relationships are discussed in detail by GRISWOLD 1987): epigyne with blind ending central pocket, embolus short, originating from prolateral side of bulb. However, Pellolessertia differs from the other pellenids by having two tibial apophyses on the male palp: one retrolateral and one dorsal ( Fig. 4B ). The most similar genus to Pellolessertia seems to be Monomotapa WESOŁOWSKA, 2000 from Zimbabwe, which could be distinguished by the smaller tibial apophysis, and the retrolateral, basal, cymbial outgrown.

The genus includes only one species, the description is the same as type species description.

Copulatory organs – rather simple. Two tibial apophyses, short and stout. Retrolateral apophysis large, strongly sclerotized, slightly curved outside, dorsal apophysis brownish, like a pointed hump. Tegulum pale at central part, embolus wide, short and stout. Female epigyne illustrated by PRÓSZYŃSKI (1984).

Species included – Pellolessertia castanea ( LESSERT, 1927) .

Distribution – The genus was described from the former Zaďre (Avakubi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1°20’N, 27°34’E), and is recorded now from Cameroon. DIPPENAAR-SCHOEMAN and JOCQUÉ (1997) give the distribution range as Zaďre to Ethiopia, without further specification.

Figures

Fig. 4. Pellolessertia castanea. A= palp, ventral view, B= same, retrolateral view, C= habitus, fronto-lateral view, D= same, dorsal view, E= same, lateral view. Scales 0.1 mm for palps, 1.0 mm