Habrocestum mozambicum, Haddad & Wiśniewski & Wesołowska, 2024

Haddad, Charles Richard, Wiśniewski, Konrad & Wesołowska, Wanda, 2024, The jumping spiders of Mozambique (Araneae: Salticidae), Zootaxa 5560 (1), pp. 1-92 : 19-22

Habrocestum mozambicum sp. nov.

Figs 11–13

Diagnosis. The species is closely related to Habrocestum africanum Wesołowska & Haddad, 2009 . The male can be recognized by the oval bulb, whereas H. africanum has an irregular bulb with a large posterior lobe. Also, the tip of the embolus is different in the two species, i.e. pointed in H. mozambicum sp. nov. and notched in H. africanum (compare Fig. 12A with fig. 64 in Wesołowska & Haddad 2009). The female has an epigyne very similar to that of H. africanum and H. tanzanicum Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000 , and distinguishing these three species is challenging, although the seminal ducts in H. mozambicum sp. nov. are comparatively short (compare Fig. 12E with Wesołowska & Haddad 2009: fig. 67 and Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2000: fig. 57).

Etymology. The specific name is derived from Mozambique, the country of origin.

Type material. Holotype: ♂, MOZAMBIQUE: Inhambane: Morrungulo, Morrungulo Resort , 23°13.983’S, 32°29.587’E, leaf litter, dune forest, 6.XII.2007, leg. C. Haddad, R. Lyle & R. Fourie ( NCA 2020 /154).

Paratypes: 3♀, together with holotype; MOZAMBIQUE: Gaza: Chidenguele, Paraiso de Chidenguele , 24°57.276’S, 34°11.276’E, leaf litter, dune forest, 16.XII.2007, leg. R. Lyle & C. Haddad , 2♂ ( NCA 2020 /137) , 1♀ ( NCA 2020 /136); Xai-Xai, Montego’s Camp , 25°03.659’S, 33°40.633’E, beating shrubs, dune forest, 2.XII.2007, leg. C. Haddad , 2♂ ( NCA 2020 /176). Maputo: Inhaca Island , 25°58’S, 32°54’E, coastal woodland, pitfall traps, 30.IV–14.V.1994, leg. T. Steyn , 4♂ 2♀ ( MRAC 209754 ); Same data but 30.X–13.XI.1993 , 2♂ 2♀ ( MRAC 209052 ) .

Other material. MOZAMBIQUE: Maputo: Inhaca Island , 25°58’S, 32°54’E, coastal woodland, pitfall traps, 5–19.III.1994, leg. T. Steyn, 4♂ 2♀ ( MRAC 209433 ) ; Same data but 8–22.I.1994, 1♀ ( MRAC 209466 ) ; Same data but 25.XII.1993 – 8.I.1994, 5♂ 2♀ ( MRAC 209408 ) ; Same data, 21.VIII–4.IX.1994, 1♂ ( MRAC 209022 ) ; Same data but 2–16.X.1993, 2♂ ( MRAC 209045 ) ; Same data but 13–27.XI.1993, 5♂ ( MRAC 209305 ) ; Same data but 5– 19.II.1994, 3♂ ( MRAC 208936 ) ; Same data but 14–28.V.1994, 3♂ ( MRAC 209469 ) ; Same locality, open parkland, pitfall traps, leg. T. Steyn, 13–27.XI.1993, 1♂ ( MRAC 209410 ) ; Same data, 16–30.X.1993, 1♀ ( MRAC 216009 ) ; Same data but 11–25.XII.1993, 1♂ ( MRAC 209686 ) ; Same locality, beach and dunes, by hand, 28.V–19.VI.1994, 1♂ ( MRAC 215981 ) ; Same data but 20.VIII.1994, 2♂ ( MRAC 215943 ) .

Description. Male: Measurements. Cephalothorax length 2.3, width 1.9, height 1.0. Abdomen length 1.7, width 1.5. Eye field length 1.1, anterior width 1.7, posterior width 1.5. General appearance as in Fig. 11A . Carapace high, posteriorly sharply declining. Eye field almost black, with white streak starting between anterior median eyes (in some specimens rubbed off), thick short bristles on its anterior part, anterior eyes encircled by yellowish-fawn scales from above and white hairs from below ( Fig. 11B ). Thoracic part brownish, darkening on slopes, covered with white hairs, which form streaks along lateral edges. Clypeus low, light brown, naked. Chelicerae brown, single tooth on retrolateral edge, two teeth on prolateral edge. Labium and endites light brown with whitish tips. Sternum yellowish-grey. Abdomen almost spherical, whitish-yellow with brownish pattern ( Fig. 11A ), venter light with large black triangular patch. Spinnerets long, yellowish. First pair of legs brown, legs II with brown femora and yellowish distal segments, III and IV yellow with dark hairs on basal half of femora and at their distal ends. Leg III longest (femora especially long). Spines long, brown. Palps clothed in long dense white hairs. Palpal organ as in Figs 12A–C , 13A–C , bulb oval, embolus short, tibial apophysis with blunt tip.

Female: Measurements. Cephalothorax length 2.6–2.7, width 2.0–2.2, height 1.1–1.2. Abdomen length 2.8– 3.6, width 2.4–3.3. Eye field length 1.1–1.2, anterior width 1.8–1.9, posterior width 1.7–1.6. General appearance as in Fig. 11C, D . Larger than male, colouration similar, in some specimens abdomen darker, brownish, with pale markings. Epigyne very small, strongly sclerotized ( Fig. 12D , 13D ), internal structures compact ( Fig. 13E ).

Distribution. Found along the Maputaland coast in Mozambique.

Remarks. Mature specimens were collected throughout the year.

Figures

FIGURE 11. Habrocestum mozambicum sp. nov., male (A, B) and female (C, D), paratypes. A, C. General appearance, dorsal view; B. Frontal view; D. General appearance, lateral view.

FIGURE 12. Habrocestum mozambicum sp. nov., male (A–C) and female (D, E), paratypes. A. Palpal organ, ventral view; B. Same, ventrolateral view; C. Same, lateral view; D. Epigyne.

FIGURE 13. Habrocestum mozambicum sp. nov., male (A–C) and female (D, E), paratypes. A. Palpal organ, ventral view; B. Same, lateral view; C. Embolic division, ventrolateral view; D. Epigyne; E. Internal structure of epigyne.