Artema, Walckenaer, 1837

Aharon, Shlomi, Huber, Bernhard A. & Gavish-Regev, Efrat, 2017, Daddy-long-leg giants: revision of the spider genus Artema Walckenaer, 1837 (Araneae, Pholcidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 376, pp. 1-57 : 44

Artema sp. a from Oman

Fig. 170

Material examined

OMAN: 1 ♀, Jebal Akhdar, E of Al Hamra, Wadi Fallah, Al Ghubrat [23.1° N, 57.4° E], “Quellhöhle”, Nov. 2001, Sattmann leg. ( NHMW).

Notes

Female distinguished from all other Artema females by simple rectangular epigynum ( Fig. 170). Stridulatory files laterally on chelicerae present. Epigynum almost twice as wide as long, posterior margin almost straight, epigynal plate consisting of two gently sclerotized lateral areas that appear swollen posteriorly, pale median area wider anteriorly, dark median sclerite absent. Pair of projections anterior to epigynum ( AEP) present but not prominent.

Female genitalia in the genus Artema often show high intra-specific variation, e.g., as in A. nephilit sp. nov. ( Figs 45–54) and in A. doriae ( Figs 103–114), both of which occur close to Oman ( Yemen and the United Arab Emirates). Therefore, we prefer not to describe this putative species formally until more individuals (females and males) are avilable.