Thiratoscirtus lamboji, SELTER & WESOŁOWSKA, 2015

Michael Seiter & Wanda Wesolowska, 2015, Two new Thiratoscirtus species from Gabon (Araneae, Salticidae, Thiratoscirtinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 123, pp. 1-9 : 5-8

Thiratoscirtus lamboji sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D14E2B1B-CFB0-4CA6-A70A-E96CB92BBB53

Figs 4–6

Differential diagnosis

The female can be recognized by the structure of the epigyne, which is similar to that in T. atakpa Wesołowska & Edwards, 2012 , but differs by having clearly longer, loop-forming, seminal ducts.

Etymology

The species name is a patronym dedicated to Anton Lamboj, who assisted during the field trip in Gabon and contributed by taking the habitat pictures.

Material examined

Holotype

GABON: ♀, 122 km south of Makokou, 0°17.213’ N, 13°14.743’ E, 500 m a.s.l., handcatch, 10–25 Feb. 2011, leg. M. Seiter ( NHMW 21939 ) .

Description

Dimensions

Cephalothorax: length 2.6, width 1.8, height 1.4. Abdomen: length 2.6, width 2.2. Eye field: length 1.1, anterior width 1.7, posterior width 1.5.

Male

Unknown.

Female

General appearance as in Fig. 4 A–B. Carapace oval, high, sloping abruptly behind eye field, fovea sulciform. Distance between anterior lateral eyes slightly larger than between posterior laterals, eye field black, iridescent. Thoracic part greyish brown, foveal area yellowish, yellow streak extending to posterior edge of carapace. Carapace clothed in short light hairs, denser in anterior part of eye field, hairs form small patch between anterior median eyes. Reddish fawn hairs surround anterior eyes from above and form patches between median and lateral anterior eyes. Large red patches laterally from eyes of the last row made by the same hairs. Clypeus moderately high, dark. Chelicerae with two teeth on promargin and single larger tooth on retromargin, dorsal surface of chelicerae blackish. Mouth parts brown, sternum yellow. Abdomen oval, slightly swollen, greyish brown with broad serrated median streak, abdominal sides yellow marked with grey, venter whitish yellow. Dorsal surface covered with short brown hairs. Spinnerets light. Legs yellow, first pair slightly darker, femora and tibiae tinged with grey. Spination of leg I: femur with 1-1 dorsally and 0-1 prolaterally, tibia 4 pairs ventrally and 1-1-0 prolaterally, metatarsus 2 pairs ventrally (ventral spines on tibia and metatarsus long). Pedipalps yellow, with single prolateral spine and two retrolateral spines on tarsus ( Fig. 5 A). Epigyne large with two oval anterior depressions ( Fig. 5 B), partially plugged with waxy secretion, lips of the depressions strongly sclerotized. Posterior epigynal edge strongly sclerotized, with oval convex process. Seminal ducts long, forming loop, spermathecae small ( Fig. 5 C).

Distribution

This species is known only from the type locality in Gabon.

Habitat

The specimen was found in a sandy habitat ( Fig. 6 ) in the vicinity of a secondary lowland rainforest. It was exposed to very high temperatures.

Figures

Fig. 4. Thiratoscirtus lamboji sp. nov, holotype, female. A. General appearance, dorsal view. B. General appearance, lateral view. Scale bar for all figures = 1 mm.

Fig. 5. Thiratoscirtus lamboji sp. nov., holotype. A. Female palp. B. Epigyne. C. Internal structure of epigyne. Scale bar for all figures = 0.2 mm.

Fig. 6. Natural habitat of Thiratoscirtus lamboji sp. nov., 122 km south of Makokou, Gabon (photo by A. Lamboj).