Eratigena feminea, (SIMON, 1870)

Bolzern, Angelo, Burckhardt, Daniel & Hänggi, Ambros, 2013, Phylogeny and taxonomy of European funnel-web spiders of the Tegenaria-Malthonica complex (Araneae: Agelenidae) based upon morphological and molecular data, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Zool. J. Linn. Soc.) 168 (4), pp. 723-848 : 763-764

ERATIGENA FEMINEA ( SIMON, 1870) COMB. NOV.

( FIGS 8J–K, P–Q , 11A–B, G–H )

Tegenaria feminea Simon, 1870: 283 , 284, male; Barrientos, 1980: 15–20, figs 1, 2.

Tegenaria cisticola Simon, 1870: 286–288 , male.

Tegenaria patula Simon, 1870: 285 , 286, male.

Tegenaria maderiana Thorell, 1875a: 76 , 77, syn. nov.

Tegenaria carpetana Brignoli, 1978a: 276 , 277, fig. 4, female.

Types

Probable syntypes. Spain: Malaga , Sevilla, Cepeda, 4 ♂, 1 ♀ ( MNHN, 1974, 468), Simon .

Sub Tegenaria cisticola : Probable syntypes. Spain: Sierra Morena, 1 ♂, 3 ♀ ( MNHN, 1974, 477), Simon .

Sub Tegenaria maderiana : Holo- and paratypes. Portugal: Madeira, ‘ Insula Madera’ , 3 ♀ ( SMNH, Burk 226), Heer .

Sub Tegenaria carpetana : Holotype. Spain: Madrid: Galapagar , ♀ ( MCSN, 100), 10.v.1967, Osella.

Other material examined

Portugal (9 ♂, 9 ♀) ; Spain (5 ♂, 13 ♀) .

Africa : Algeria (3 ♀). Asia: Syria (1 ♂) .

Diagnosis

Eratigena feminea can be separated from other Eratigena gen. nov. species by the reduced RTA and the presence of a two-pointed patellar apophysis at the male palp (as in E. bucculenta sensu Machado, 1941 ; all other Eratigena gen. nov. species with RTA and without patellar apophysis), the presence of dorsal trichobothria on the female and male palp tarsus/ cymbium (shared character with E. bucculenta sensu Machado, E. barrientosi and E. incognita ; absent in all other Eratigena gen. nov. species, also absent in E. bucculenta sensu Barrientos, 1991 ) and the male tibia I shorter than or equal to the length of carapace (as in E. barrientosi , E. incognita , and E. fuesslini , all other Eratigena gen. nov. species tibia I longer). It can be separated from the closely related E. bucculenta sensu Machado (1941) by the patellar apophysis having two well-separated points, the conductor being as long as the alveolus and the straight terminal end of the conductor ( E. bucculenta : three-pointed patellar apophysis, close together, conductor shorter than the alveolus with terminal end bent ventrad). Females can be separated by the rectangularly shaped posterior sclerite with CO facing laterally ( E. bucculenta sensu Machado : triangular posterior sclerite and CO facing anteriorly).

Description

Measurements: Some measurements were provided by Simon (1870: 283–287, sub Teg. feminea , Teg. patula , and Teg. cisticola ) and Brignoli (1978a: 276–277, sub Teg. carpetana ). The specimens examined here are in the same range. Eyes: PME 0.11, PLE 0.15, AME 0.13, ALE 0.13. Eye distances: PME- PME 1.5 x PME, PME–AME 1 x PME, PME–PLE 1–1.5 x PME, PME–ALE 1.5–2 x PME, AME–AME 0.5–1 x AME, AME- ALE <0.5 x AME, CLY1 1.5–2 x AME, CLY2 1–1.5 x ALE.

Male palp: Patellar apophysis at male palp present, dorsally with large and sclerotized point, lateroventrally with smaller point, both well separated. RTA reduced. Short dorsal spike on male palp tibia absent. Embolus length 0.75–1.25 x CB, originating at 9 o’clock position, distal tip at 4 o’clock position. Conductor with distal portion as long as wide, not reaching distal margin of alveolus, lateral margin folded only at terminal half. Terminal end simple, long, drawn out, straight, and inconspicuously pointed. Transversal ridge of conductor expressed as membranous lamella. Conductor membranously connected to tegulum. MA originating at 5–6 o’clock position, moderately protruding, as long as wide, distally with pocket-like sclerite. MA membranously connected to tegulum.

Epigyne and vulva: Epigyne with distinct posterior sclerite, forming a strongly sclerotized, rectangularly shaped pocket, opening towards posterior. Epigynal teeth present, originating posteriodistally of posterior sclerite, pointing posteriomediad. CO located laterally of posterior sclerite, opening laterad. Vulva consists of distinguishable CD, RC, and FD. CD long and convoluted, without appendages but expanded region at its beginning (probably homologous to the appendages of E. bucculenta ). RC oblong, irregularly formed, and sclerotized, enclosing convoluted ducts, separated by less than or about their diameter. FD only represented by small, leaf-shaped appendages.

Other important characters: Cheliceral promargin with three, retromargin with seven to 11 teeth. Colulus rectangularly shaped with distal margin w-shaped. Distal segment of PLS as long as basal segment. PMS with one prominent minor ampullate gland spigot and three to four cylindrical gland spigots laterally. Tarsal trichobothria present on cymbium and palpal tarsus. Seven to nine tarsal trichobothria. Small teeth on paired claws of leg I 11–13. Leg spination: male palp (2–0–0–0, 2–0–0, 2–2p–0–0), female palp (2–0–0–0, 2–0–0, 2–2p–0–0), leg femora (1–2–1–0 or 2–2–0–0 or 2–2–1–0 or 3–2– 0–0, 2–2–1–0 or 2–3–1–0, 2–1–2–0 or 2–2–2–0 or 2–2–3–0, 1–1–1–0), patellae (all 2–0–0), tibiae (0–0– 0–2p or 0–0–0–3p, 0–1–0–3p or 0–2–0–3p, 2–2–2– 1+1p or 2–2–2–2+1p or 2–2–2–2p or 2–2–2–3p, 1–2– 2–1+2p+1 or 2–2–2–1+3p or 2–2–2–2+1p+1 or 2–2–2– 4p), metatarsi (0–0–0–4p+1, 0–2–0–4p+1, 1p–4–3– 4p+1, 1p–4–3–4p+1 or 2–4–4–4p+1), tarsi (I & II 0, III & IV 0–2–3–0).

Coloration: Two symmetrical longitudinal dark bands dorsally on carapace present, sometimes reduced to only triangular dots. Sternum with a distinct pale median region. Opisthosoma brown-grey-green, dorsoanteriorly with two symmetrical longitudinal pale bands continuing posteriorly in chevrons and then in dots. Legs either without a pattern or spotted. ALS indistinctly darkened (occasionally only distally), PLS both segments darkened.

Distribution

Reported from the Iberian Peninsula and northern Africa ( Algeria).

The specimen from Algeria has already been mentioned by Machado (1941). In one tube labelled by Simon with the number ‘469 ( Syria)’, one male was determined as E. feminea , together with other specimens belonging to other species. It is known that Simon added later specimens to some tubes. There is some doubt as to whether the specimen in question really is from Syria.

Discussion

Eratigena feminea has very distinct male and female genitalia. The coloration (spotted legs or not, black dots on cephalothorax) and the size are very variable, which led to the description of several species that were subsequently synonymized. One synonym, established by Lehtinen (1967: 267) has to be corrected: the specimens of Teg. cisticola preserved in MNHN (Simon’s no. 477) belong, as mentioned by Machado (1941), Barrientos (1980), and Brignoli (1978a), to E. feminea and not to E. bucculenta .

Eratigena feminea seems to be closely related to E. bucculenta . In one sample from Portugal (Boticas) both species are present with one male (male of E. bucculenta sensu Machado, 1941 ). For further discussion see E. bucculenta .

Figures

Figure 8. A, B, Eratigena atrica; C-F, Eratigena agrestis; G-I, Eratigena fuesslini; J, K, P, Q, Eratigena feminea; L–O, R, S, Eratigena bucculenta s.l. Left male palp in ventral (A, C, G, J, L, N) and retrolateral views (B, D, H, I, K, M, O); epigyne in ventral view (E, P, R); vulva in dorsal view (F, Q, S).

Figure 11. A, B, G, H, Eratigena feminea; C–F, I–P, Eratigena bucculenta s.l. Left male palp in ventral (A, C, E) and retrolateral views (B, D, F); epigyne in ventral (G, I, K, N) and posterior views (O); vulva in ventral (J, L) and dorsal views (H, M, P). Scale bars = 0.5 mm (scale for I is missing).