Patelloceto media, Lyle & Haddad, 2010

Lyle, Robin & Haddad, Charles R., 2010, A revision of the tracheline sac spider genus Cetonana Strand, 1929 in the Afrotropical Region, with descriptions of two new genera (Araneae Corinnidae), African Invertebrates 51 (2), pp. 321-321 : 377-380

Patelloceto media sp. n.

Figs 121, 122 , 141–145

Etymology: From Latin media (central), referring to the equatorial localities in Central Africa where most of the specimens were collected.

Diagnosis: This species is closely related to P. secutor sp. n., but males can be recognised by the much smaller dorsal tibial apophysis and the presence of small denticles on the retrolateral side of the femoral apophysis ( Fig. 142 ). Females can be distinguished by the abruptly ending oblique lateral epigynal hoods (not extended medially as in P. secutor sp. n.) and the more anteriorly placed copulatory openings (anterior of ST II, not in same plane as ST II as in P. secutor sp. n.) ( Fig. 143 ).

Description:

Male.

Measurements: CL 1.69–1.96, CW 1.42–1.65, AL 1.92–2.27, AW 1.12–1.35, TL 3.69– 4.23, FL 0.06–0.14, SL 0.96–1.12, SW 0.88–1.02, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.04, ALE–ALE 0.35, PME–PME 0.14, PME–PLE 0.14, PLE–PLE 0.59. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 1.69+0.75+1.29+1.12+0.75=5.60; II 1.53+0.71+1.16+1.08+0.71=5.19; III 1.18+0.59+0.76+1.00+0.43=3.96; IV 1.63+0.65+ 1.25+1.51+0.57=5.61.

Carapace dark red-brown ( Fig. 121 ), slightly darker at eye region; first third of carapace convex, last third with steep decline; surface smooth, covered in short fine setae; fovea at ⅔ CL. Ocular region brown, eyes with brown rings; AER slightly recurved, ALE larger than AME; clypeus height equal to AME diameter; AME separated by distance equal to 0.58 their diameter; AME separated from ALE by 0.29 AME diameter; PER recurved, PME and PLE subequal; PME separated by 1.6 PME diameter; PME separated from PLE by 1.6 PME diameter. Chelicerae brown, slightly paler towards base; anterior surface with scattered long and short, fine setae; fang orange-brown; 2 promarginal teeth, proximal tooth largest; 2 retromarginal teeth, proximal tooth largest. Sternum orange brown; surface smooth with scattered short, fine setae.Abdomen orange-grey dorsally; abdomen oval, broadest at midpoint, tapering posteriorly; brown scutum covering entire abdominal dorsum; two pairs of pale, indistinct brown sigilla; venter cream. Legs light brown to pale yellow; anterior legs larger and more robust than posterior ones; leg spines and cusps present. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1, II pl 1; patellae spineless; tibia: I plv 4–10 cusps, II plv 5–8 cusps, III plv 1, IV plv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I plv 13–18 rlv 6–10 cusps, II plv 13–14 rlv 5–7 vt 2 cusps, IV plv 1; tarsi: I plv 4–7 rlv 4–6 cusps, II plv 2–7 rlv 1–2 cusps ( Fig. 141 ). Palp brown; femur with small retrolateral apophysis with fine denticles; patella with large retrolateral apophysis, slightly longer than patella and extending beyond base of cymbium, with groove on outer margin; tibia with pointed dorsal apophysis, anterior margin approx. as long as tibial width ( Fig. 142 ); embolus nearly straight, very slightly curved, fine with swollen tip, directed distally ( Fig. 143 ).

Female.

Measurements: CL 1.85–2.04, CW 1.50–1.73, AL 2.65–2.88, AW 1.73–1.96, TL 4.50– 4.92, FL 0.08–0.16, SL 1.06–1.18, SW 0.94–1.04, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.04, ALE–ALE 0.35, PME–PME 0.14, PME–PLE 0.12, PLE–PLE 0.59. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 1.67+0.75+1.25+1.10+0.80=5.57; II 1.49+0.67+1.12+1.06+0.73=5.07; III 1.16+0.59+0.84+1.06+0.51=4.16; IV 1.69+0.67+ 1.39+1.59+0.57=5.91.

Carapace dark red-brown ( Fig. 122 ), slightly darker at eye region; first third of carapace convex, last third with steep decline; surface smooth, covered in short fine setae; fovea at ⅔ CL. Ocular region dark brown, eyes with black rings; AER slightly recurved, AME slightly larger than ALE; clypeus height equal to AME diameter; AME separated by distance equal to 0.71 their diameter; AME separated from ALE by 0.29AME diameter; PER recurved, PME and PLE subequal in size; PME separated by 1.33 PME diameter; PME separated from PLE by 1.67 PME diameter. Chelicerae brown, slightly paler at base; anterior surface with scattered long, fine setae; fang orange-brown; 2 promarginal teeth, distal tooth largest; 2 retromarginal teeth, distal tooth largest. Sternum brown; surface smooth with scattered short, fine setae.Abdomen grey with cream mottling dorsally, oval, broader medially, rounded posteriorly; dorsum with narrow anterior scutum extending ⅓ abdomen length; two pairs of pale brown sigilla; venter cream. Legs light brown to pale yellow; anterior legs larger and more robust than posterior ones; ventral cusps absent. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1; patellae spineless; tibia: IV vt 1; metatarsi: IV plv 1. Epigyne with broad membranous median septum separating laterally placed spermathecae; copulatory openings situated laterally, anteriorly of spermathecae, flanked laterally by abruptly ending oblique epigynal hoods ( Fig. 144 ); copulatory ducts directed anteromedially for short distance, bending sharply before running posteriorly to oval ST II, connected anteriorly to narrow duct leading to teardrop­shaped ST I reaching epigastric fold ( Fig. 145 ).

Holotype: ♂ DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC): Ruwenzori W., kampi ya Tshupa, 00°20'N: 29°50'E, 4000 m, 3.vii.1935, H.J. Bredo ( MRAC, 177193).

Allotype: ♀ DRC: Kivu, vallée de Kaisola, plaine de la Ruindi, Battag , 3.vii.1972, M. Lejeune ( MRAC, 144353).

Paratypes: DRC: 2♂ 2♀ Rutshuru , 01°11'S: 29°27'E, v.1937, J. Ghesquière (MRAC 174312) ; 1♀ same data ( MRAC, 174284) ; 1♂ Sake , 01°34'S: 29°02'E, v.1937, J. Ghesquière ( MRAC, 174293) . KENYA: 1♀ Kakamega forest, 00°13'N: 34°54'E, 1654 m, 17–24.iii.2004, D. Shilabira Smith, Malaise trap ( MRAC, 212612) ; 1♂ same data ( MRAC, 212624) ; 1♀ same locality, 3–10.ii.2002, D. Shilabira Smith, Malaise trap ( MRAC, 212626) ; 2♀ same locality, 6–13.i.2002, D. Shilabira Smith, Malaise trap ( MRAC, 212629) ; 1♂ same locality, 10–17.ii.2002, D. Shilabira Smith, Malaise trap ( MRAC, 212690) ; 2♀ same locality, 17–24. ii.2002, D. Shilabira Smith, Malaise trap ( MRAC, 212636) .

Other material examined: TANZANIA: 1♀ Manyara National Park, 3150 ft, 22.i.1970, M.E. Irwin & E.S. Ross ( CASC); Mkomazi Game Reserve , 03°52.94'S: 37°52.56'E, 31.xii.1995, G. McGavin, canopy fogging 3/15, Acacia senegal (OUMNH) . UGANDA: 1♂ 3♀ Rubaga , 00°18'N: 32°33'E, vi.1994, D. Penney, on tree trunks ( MRAC, 219697) .

Distribution: Known from scattered localities in equatorial central and east Africa ( Fig. 146 ).

Figures

Figs 118–122. General appearance of Patelloceto gen. n. species: P. secutor sp. n. male (118) and female (119); P. denticulata sp. n. male (120); P. media sp. n. male (121) and female (122).

Figs 141–145.Patelloceto media sp. n. male (141–143) and female (144–145): (141) schematic representation on cusp arrangement on legs I and II; (142)left palp, ventral view; (143) left palp, retrolateral view; (144) epigyne, ventral view; (145) vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars (142–145) = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 146. Distribution of Patelloceto gen. n. species in the continental Afrotropical Region.