Eleleis crinita Simon, 1893

Rodrigues, Bruno V. B. & Rheims, Cristina A., 2020, An overview of the African genera of Prodidominae spiders: descriptions and remarks (Araneae: Gnaphosidae), Zootaxa 4799 (1), pp. 1-80 : 19

Eleleis crinita Simon, 1893

Figs 11 A–C, 18A–H

Eleleis crinita Simon, 1893: 22 , figs 301, 302 (holotype female from Cape Colony, no exact locality [33°55’29.36”S, 18°25’26. 07”E], South Africa, Simon leg., deposited in MNHN 14700, examined); Dalmas, 1919: 338, figs 21, 35.

Remarks. The holotype of Eleleis crinita is very poorly preserved. Nevertheless, it can be used to define the genus by the illustrations and original description. The female epigyne is not well defined, but the median atrium and posterior-median excavation are clearly visible. None of the specimens examined in this study could be assigned to E. crinita , and thus, the type species continues to be represented solely by the holotype.

Diagnosis. Females of E. crinita resemble those of E. limpopo sp. nov., E. okavango sp. nov. and E. luderitz sp. nov. by the median atrium smaller than the posterior median excavation, but differ by the posterior median excavation at least two times wider than long (longer than wide in E. limpopo sp. nov., E. okavango sp. nov. and E. luderitz sp. nov.) ( Figs 18G, H ). Males are unknown.

Description. Female. Original coloration lost due to poor preservation of the specimen. Total length: 2.32. Carapace 0.75 long, 0.66 wide; abdomen 1.42 long, 0.90 wide; sternum 0.58 long, 0.55 wide; spinnerets ALS 0.18 long, 0.11 wide. Eye diameters: AME 0.03; ALE 0.04; PLE 0.07; PME 0.05; interdistances: AME–AME 0.04; PME–PME 0.05. Chelicerae 0.26 long. Legs measurements: I: 2.12 (0.59, 0.38, 0.42, 0.37, 0.36); II: 1.83 (0.53, 0.28, 0.33, 0.33, 0.36); IV: 2.22 (0.57, 0.35, 0.46, 0.44, 0.40). Epigyne: epigynal plate wider than long; median atrium elliptical, slightly wider than long, smaller than posterior-median exacavation ( Fig. 18G ). Vulva: with laterally convoluted duct; primary and secondary spermathecae barely visible ( Fig. 18H ).

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. South Africa, only known from “ Cape Colony” no exact locality ( Fig. 24 ).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Eleleis crinita, female: (A) carapace, dorsal view; (B) spinnerets, lateral view; (C) same. E. solitaria sp. nov., female: (D) carapace, dorsal view; (E) spinnerets, lateral view. E. limpopo sp. nov., male: (F) carapace, dorsal view; (G) spinnerets, lateral view. Figures A and B from Dalmas (1919); figure C from Simon (1893).

FIGURE 18. Eleleis crinita, female: (A) habitus, dorsal view; (B) habitus, ventral view; (C) habitus, lateral view; (D) carapace, dorsal view; (E) sternum and endites; (F) spinnerets, ventral view; (G) epigyne, ventral view; (H) vulva, dorsal view.A—atrium; PMEx—posterior median excavation.

FIGURE 24. Known distribution records of species of Eleleis crinita, E. limpopo sp. nov., E. leleupi sp. nov., E. okavango sp. nov. and E. haddadi sp. nov. from Africa.