Hovops Benoit, 1968

Corronca, José Antonio & Rodríguez Artigas, Sandra M., 2011, New species of the Madagascan genus Hovops Benoit, 1968 (Araneae: Selenopidae), with a description of the H. madagascariensis PDOH DQG DQ LGHQWL ¿ FDWLRQ NH \, African Invertebrates 52 (2), pp. 295-295 : 296-298

Genus Hovops Benoit, 1968

Type species: Selenops pusillus Simon, 1887 .

Diagnosis: The revision of a considerable number of specimens of this genus makes it possible for us to add new diagnostic characters to those already proposed by Benoit (1968). This genus can be distinguished from other selenopids by the presence of iridescent rounded or sub-triangular scale-like hairs covering the entire body below short setae; prosoma wider than long; AME > PME to nearly double in some species ( Fig. 1E ); ALE similar or larger than PME; PLE almost 1.5× larger than the AME and sternum longer than wide, not circular ( Fig. 2C ). Fe I–III with d1.1.0 spines, tibiae and metatarsi with ventral spines that can be paired or not. When paired, with Tib I–II with v2.2.2 or v2.2.1 and Mt I–II with v2.2.0 ( Fig. 1M ); when unpaired, Tib I-II with 9 (4 proventral and 5 retroventral), 10 (4-6) or 11 (4-7) ventral spines ( Fig. 1N ), and Mt I-II with v2.2.2, in few cases v2.2.0 paired spines. Males usually with more spines than females. Second SDLU RI OHJV ORQJHU WKDQ IRXUWK; ¿UVW XVXDOO\ VKRUWHVW. &KHOLFHUDH ZLWK ³ RU 4 SURODWHUDO and 2–4 retrolateral teeth on cheliceral furrow, uncommonly 3 or 2 teeth. Palp of male with a large and twisted ( Fig. 2G ), or short and curved, sclerotized RTA ( Figs 3B , 4C ); embolus long and slender; broad, thickly sclerotized and hyper-developed sickle-shaped conductor, with sharp or hooked terminal ends, and single and large MA, surrounded by broad-based PMA ( Figs 2H , 3D , 4D ). Epigyne of female with MF as a plate ( Fig. 2E ), in some cases as a shallow mesial depression ( Fig. 4E ), with distinct and usually cordiform-shaped lateral lobes, broadly separated ( Figs 2E , 4E ) or near to posterior midline ( Figs 3F , 5D ); epigyne with shallow secondary epigynal pockets ( Fig. 2E ) and complex spermathecae. Posterior median spinnerets with three major ampullate spigots and posterior lateral spinnerets with two ( Fig. 1F ).

Comparison: Hovops can be distinguished from other genera of Selenopidae by the presence of iridescent scale-like hairs covering the entire body ( Fig. 5C ); the presence of AME > PME ( Figs 1A–E ); the particular formula of the spines on the femur, anterior tibiae and metatarsi ( Figs 1G–N ); the oval sternum ( Fig. 2C ); and the number of major ampullate spigots on the spinnerets.

The males of Hovops share with those of Selenops , Garcorops and Siamspinops WKH SUHVHQFH RI D ORQJ DQG ¿OLIRUP HPEROXV FRYHULQJ DOPRVW RQH WXUQ RI WKH EXOE, EXW differ from them by the shape of the conductor and the MA ( Figs 2H , 3B , 4D ). The presence of a PMA ( Fig. 2H ) is shared with some species of Anyphops and Garcorops , but in Hovops this is smaller, sub-circular, high and sclerotized. The presence of a welldeveloped dorsal cymbial scopulae ( Fig. 2G ) is shared with some species of Anyphops , while the presence of a basal cymbial concavity ( Fig. 2H ) is observed not only in that genus, but also in Garcorops .

The general shape of the female epigyne, usually as a medial sclerite with distinguishable lateral lobes, is shared with Selenops females, and some species of Garcorops and Anyphops . The presence of secondary epigynal pockets ( Fig. 2E ) is a character that also appears in females of Siamspinops and Selenops , but in Hovops they are generally in the middle portion of the epigyne as in Siamspinops . The presence of anterior copulatory openings ( Fig. 2E ) is shared with Garcorops , and some species of Selenops and Anyphops , but the shape of the long, wide and usually well developed copulatory ducts ( Fig. 2F ) is characteristic of Hovops females.

Figures

Fig. 1. Comparison of some somatic characters between genera of Selenopidae: (A–E) position and sizes of eyes of (A) Siamspinops, (B) Anyphops, (C) Selenops, (D) Garcorops, (E) Hovops; (F) details of the major ampullate spigots in Hovops; (G–N) number and position of ventral spines on anterior tibia and metatarsi in (G) Siamspinops, (H) Selenops, (I) Garcorops and few species of Anyphops, (J–L) other Anyphops, (M–N) Hovops.

Fig. 2. Hovops betsileo sp. n.: (A) female habitus, dorsal view; (B) eyes arrangement; (C) female, ventral view of the prosoma; (D) female, spination of the anterior tibia and metatarsus; (E) female, epigyne ventral view; (F) female, vulva dorsal view; (G) male, palp retrolateral view; (H) male, palp ventral view. Scale bars:A–C = 1 mm; E–H = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 3. Hovops lidiae sp. n.: (A) female habitus, dorsal view; (B) male, palp ventral view; (C) male, palp lateral view; (D) male, detail of the tibial apophysis; (E) male, spination on the anterior tibia and metatarsi; (F) female, epigyne ventral view; (G) female, vulva dorsal view. Scale bars: A = 1 mm; B–D & F, G = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 4. Hovops madagascariensis: (A) female habitus, dorsal view; (B) female, eyes arrangement; (C) male, palp ventro-retrolateral view; (D) male, palp ventral view; (E) female, epigyne ventral view; (F) female, vulva dorsal view; (G) female, spination on the anterior tibiae and metatarsi; (H) male, spination on the anterior tibia and metatarsi. Scale bars:A, B = 1 mm, C–F = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 5. Hovops merina sp. n.: (A) female habitus, dorsal view; (B) female, spination on the anterior tibiae and metatarsi; (C) details of scale-like hairs on opisthosoma; (D) female, epigyne ventral view; (E) female, vulva dorsal view. Scale bars:A = 1 mm; D, E = 0.2 mm.