Tidarren ubickorum, Knoflach & Harten, 2006

Knoflach, Barbara & Harten, Antonius Van, 2006, The one-palped spider genera Tidarren and Echinotheridion in the Old World (Araneae, Theridiidae), with comparative remarks on Tidarren from America, Journal of Natural History 40 (25 - 26), pp. 1483-1616 : 1571-1575

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1080/00222930600940993
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/DC30557E-B31A-A73B-FE65-FDD3FD40FCE9
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Tidarren ubickorum
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Tidarren ubickorum View in CoL n. sp.

( Figures 181, 182 View Figures 181–186 , 193 View Figures 187–195 , 222–225 View Figures 222–225 ; Table XXII)

Type material

South Africa: 1♀ holotype , 2♀ paratypes, CAS, Mpumalanga, Songimvelo Nature Reserve, Diepgezet , 25 ° 599030S, 31 ° 049330E, 1050 m, grassland–highveld forest transition, 17 March 2001, leg. D. and S. Ubick.

Other material examined

Zimbabwe: 1♀, CTh, Harare, 17 ° 499040S, 31 ° 029410E, suburban garden, July 2004, leg. M. Cummings.

Etymology

The species epithet is dedicated to the collectors Drs Darell and Suzanne Ubick (Californian Academy of Sciences, San Francisco).

Diagnosis

Tidarren ubickorum is the only species from mainland Africa hitherto known, which has a rounded abdomen ( Figures 181, 182 View Figures 181–186 , 193 View Figures 187–195 ). Its epigynal protuberance is slender in side view and rather small ( Figures 222–225 View Figures 222–225 ). Copulatory orifices separate, copulatory ducts short. Male unknown.

Measurements (mm)

[3♀, respectively.] Total length 2.34/2.46/3.06, carapace length 0.86/0.88/1.05, width 0.74/ 0.74/0.96, length femur I 1.12/1.27/1.64, tibia I 0.74/0.70/0.96. Abdomen higher than long, 1.80/2.38/2.38 high, 1.35/1.70/1.89 long, and 1.33/1.60/1.99 wide. Ventral side (distance petiolus to spinnerets) 0.72/0.78/0.88 long. Clypeus 0.18–0.20 high, chelicerae 0.39 long. Labium 0.20–0.21 wide, 0.10–0.12 long, gnathocoxae 0.21–0.25 long, 0.10– 0.12 wide. Sternum about as long as wide, 0.45–0.58. Leg formula 1423, see Table XXII.

Somatic features, colouration ( Figures 181, 182 View Figures 181–186 , 193 View Figures 187–195 )

Abdomen without tubercle. Sternum without posterior tubercle, projecting between coxae IV and separating coxae IV by one diameter. Carapace uniformly dark brown, in one female with yellow posterior and lateral parts. Sternum dark brown with irregular light median area or stripe. Chelicerae light brown with dark longitudinal patches at margins. Legs and palps light yellow with dark patches and annulations. Abdomen dorsally with irregular, dark median band, which ends at the highest point ( Figure 193 View Figures 187–195 ). This band is surrounded by a zone of white guanin inclusions, in which dark spots are also embedded. Each side is flanked by a large dark patch within a light intermediate area. Aboral part of abdomen with clear white stripe from highest point to spinnerets, on a background of irregular dark pigmentation. Spinnerets brown, surrounded by a dark ring. Book lung covers yellow, epigaster dark brown, venter with white mark between epigastric furrow and spinnerets. Abdominal markings in one female faint.

Epigynum, vulva ( Figures 222–225 View Figures 222–225 )

Epigynal protuberance in side view slender and finger-like ( Figures 181 View Figures 181–186 , 222 View Figures 222–225 ), 0.09 mm long, rather small and tapered. In aboral view protuberance not clearly delimited, gradually merging with surrounding integument ( Figure 224 View Figures 222–225 ). Copulatory orifices close together, apparently separate ( Figure 223, 225 View Figures 222–225 ), situated anterior to epigynal protuberance, in ventral view close to posterior end of receptacula. Copulatory ducts separate, short, 0.07 mm, diverging laterally and entering receptacula posteriorly. Receptacula seminis 0.13 mm long and 0.10 mm wide. Epigynal protuberance about half as long as receptacula (in ventral view, Figure 223 View Figures 222–225 ).

Geographic variation

Body dimensions of the female from Zimbabwe are slightly larger than those from South Africa (in mm: total length 3.21, carapace length 1.09, width 0.98), and legs are considerably longer (in mm: length femur I 2.01, tibia I 1.19).

Distribution

Known from the type locality Mpumalanga in South Africa and from a suburban garden in Zimbabwe.

Tidarren usambara n. sp.

( Figures 183 View Figures 181–186 , 226–229 View Figures 226–229 ; Table XXIII)

Type material

Tanzania: 1♀ holotype , 1♀ paratype, CAS, Tanga, W Usambara Mtns, Mazumbai , forest, 4 ° 499S, 38 ° 309E, 1400–1800 m, 10–20 November 1995, leg. C. E. Griswold, N. Scharff, and D. Ubick.

Material examined

Only the types.

Etymology

Noun in apposition referring to the type locality.

Diagnosis

The species is characterized by the aquiline shape of the epigynal protuberance in lateral view ( Figures 183 View Figures 181–186 , 226–229 View Figures 226–229 ). Copulatory ducts short. Abdomen with large dorsal hump ( Figure 183 View Figures 181–186 ). Male unknown.

Measurements (mm)

[2♀.] Total length 2.54/2.93, carapace length 0.98/1.01, width 0.86/0.84, length femur I 1.76/1.72, tibia I 1.01/1.01. Abdomen higher than long, 2.38/2.99 high, 1.58/1.81 long, and 1.52/1.68 wide. Ventral side (distance petiolus to spinnerets) 0.98/0.94 long. Clypeus 0.20 high, chelicerae 0.41 long. Labium 0.23 wide, 0.10 long, gnathocoxae 0.31 long, 0.14 wide. Sternum 0.59 long and 0.53 wide. Leg formula 1423, see Table XXIII. Metatarsi I– III with one trichobothrium, position on I 0.24, on II 0.32, on III 0.41.

Somatic features, colouration

Abdomen higher than long, forming a large dorsal hump ( Figure 183 View Figures 181–186 ). Sternum without posterior knob. Carapace dark brown except for posterior-median, light, triangular area. Sternum, gnathocoxae, and labium reddish brown. Chelicerae brown, with dark longitudinal stripes at margins. Legs and palps light yellow with dark patches and annulations. Dorsum of abdomen with clear, white outlined, serrated, longitudinal band which ends at tip of abdomen; from longitudinal band one or two pairs of white stripes curve downwards along sides; upper lateral area between these stripes dark. Aboral area of abdomen with distinct white median stripe from apex to spinnerets, surrounded by a large whitish zone and some dark lateral pigmentation downwards to spinnerets. Venter with whitish marking. Spinnerets brown.

Epigynum, vulva ( Figures 226–229 View Figures 226–229 )

Epigynal protuberance aquiline and rounded in side view ( Figures 183 View Figures 181–186 , 226 View Figures 226–229 ), 0.15 mm long, triangular in ventral view, its outlines slightly curved. In aboral view protuberance clearly delimited from surrounding integument ( Figure 228 View Figures 226–229 ). Copulatory orifices well separated, situated anterior to epigynal protuberance, in ventral view close to posterior end of receptacula. Copulatory ducts separate and short ( Figures 227, 229 View Figures 226–229 ), ca 0.09 mm long, diverging posteriorly and laterally and entering receptacula posteriorly. Receptacula seminis 0.15 mm long and 0.12 mm wide. Epigynal protuberance as long as receptacula ( Figure 227 View Figures 226–229 ).

Distribution

Known only from the type locality Usambara Mtns at Mazumbai. The species was collected together with Tidarren cuneolatum .