Iberattus, Prószyński & Noordam & Oger & Schäfer, 2018

Prószyński, Jerzy, Noordam, Aart, Oger, Pierre & Schäfer, Michael, 2018, Delimitation of Mediterranean genus Iberattus gen. n., with comments on genus Saitis (Araneae: Salticidae) *, Ecologica Montenegrina 18, pp. 82-98 : 83-85

Gen. Iberattus gen. n. Prószyński, 2018

Figure 1

Type species. Attus semi-glabratus Simon, 1868 [= " Euophrys" semiglabrata (Simon, 1868) = Iberattus semiglabratus (Simon, 1868) comb. n.].

Etymology. Name created by combination of letters Iber [-ian Peninsula]- attus, derived from Iberian. Peninsula and the synonymic genus name Attus , commonly used in the past for these spiders. Remarks. Premises for the present delimitation of a new genus were documented by Hęciak & Prószyński (1984), who proved that palp, epigyne and internal structure of epigyne of Attus semi-glabratus does not agree with both Phlegra Simon, 1876 and Euophrys C. L. Koch, 1834 (see facsimiles of descriptions by Simon – Fig, 8) they have also noted analogy of the multi-chambered spermatheca to that structure in Habrocestum Simon, 1876 ( Fig. 2R - which, however, does not belong to EUPHRYINES). With these considerations, species semiglabrata was left provisionally ("provision" lasting 34 years, as it turned out) in the genus Euophrys , pending more research. There are obvious resemblances in spermathecae with " Saitis " imitatus ( Figs 2 B-C, M-N), but interpretation of these requires better documentation of the latter species.

Diagnosis. Euophrys like spider ( Figs 1 A-D), recognizable by internal structure of epigyne. ( Figs 1Q , S-T) reflected in part also in external appearance of epigyne - Figs 1F, P, R ), strikingly different from Euophrys and closely related genera (compare Figs 2 O-Q).. Palp ( Figs 1E , G-I) is obviously EUPHRYINES like, but pointing out generic characters on it require further comparative research. Change of dorsal color pattern after preservation in alcohol is as profound as in Euophrys , so may take place also as rapidly ( Prószynski et al, 2018 c: 44).

Description. General appearance and palps have some similarities to Euophrys (see facsimiles of the original descriptions - Fig. 5 , below), but multichambered spermatheca excludes closer proximity. Looking at epigyne alone, possible placement is indicated by anterior position and proportions of translucent chambers of spermathecae, in front of epigynal "windows" ( Figs 1 P-T), the detailed documentation of internal structures of epigyne ( Figs 1 Q , S-T) suggests relationship with little known multichambered genera discovered in tropical areas.

Distribution. I. semiglabrata has been reported from a few localities in Portugal, Spain, France, the issue of conspecificity of these specimens was not discussed, but there may be more species, misidentified or not yet discovered. The scarcity of information on several genera is presumably due to poor exploration of arachnofauna of Mediterranean, more relevant species could be possibly found in southern Mediterrranean countries of Africa and Near East ( Prószyński, 2003).

Composition. Type and heretofore the only known species - Iberattus semiglabrata (Simon, 1868) . SOURCES: A - ©Lecigne, S. (2017) Revista Ibérica de Aracnología 31: 25-48, f. 10G, B-F - ©Pierre Oger, G-T - Hęciak & Prószyński (1984a) Annales Zoologici 37: 377-390 (G-I - drawn by Prószyński), O - Barrientos et al. (2014) Revista Ibérica de Aracnología 25: 36, f. 15-17. All ©copyrights are retained by the original authors and copyright holders, used by their courtesy.

.

Figures

Figure 1. Diagnostic characters of Iberattus semiglabratus documented by color macrophotographs (A-F) and diagnostic drawings (G-M). A - live male, B-C - color pattern of a male, in different stage of fading during preservation, D - color pattern of preserved female, E - palp, F - epigyne, G-I - palp, J - dorsal pattern of preserved male, K - cheliceral dentition, L - frontal view of male, note reduction of clypeus, M-N - dorsal pattern of preserved two females, O - male by Barrientos et al., P-T - epigyne and internal structure of epigyne in two females.

Figure 2. Diagnostic characters of "Saitis" imitatus, documented by color photographs (A-J) and diagnostic drawings (K-N), the latter compared also with spermathecae and ducts in relevant genera (O-R). A - palp, B-D - epigyne seen on surface of abdomen and in cleared preparation, in ventral and dorsal views, E-G - color pattern in live male, H-J - color pattern in live female. Diagnostic drawings: K - palp and tibial apophysis, L - changed dorsal pattern in preserved male and female, M-N - epigyne and cleared spermathecae. Cleared epigyne in relevant genera: O - Euophrys frontalis, P - Talavera aequipes, Q - Pseudeuophrys erratica, R - comparison of multi-chamber spermatheca in Habrocestum pullatum.

Figure 5. General appearance and genitalic characters of Australian “Saitis” mutans (Figs 4B, D-E) and “S”. virgatus (Figs 4C, F-G) (note "bottle-brush" like leg III), A - map of distribution of 3 Mediterranean “Saitis” and two "Saitis" species.