Selenops vigilans Pocock, 1899

Corronca, J. A., 2002, A taxonomic revision of the afrotropical species of Selenops Latreille, 1819 (Araneae, Selenopidae), Zootaxa 107, pp. 1-35 : 29-30

Selenops vigilans Pocock, 1899 ( Figs. 74­78 )

Selenops vigilans Pocock, 1899 . Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 2(7):349­350. fig. 2. Female holotype from Kenya, Giriama, near Fuladoya, J. W. Gregory Col., in BMNH?, not examined. Male of the species described by Lessert, 1915. Rev. suisse Zool. 23:40.

S. werneri Simon, 1906 . Sitzungsber. Ak. Wiss. Wien, 115:1167. First synonymized by Lessert (1929:125).

S. vigilans .­ Lessert, 1915. Rev. suisse Zool. 23:40, figs. 37­38. Described male.

S. vigilans .­ Benoit, 1968. Rev. Zool. Bot. Afr. 77(1­2):136, figs. 26­28.

Diagnosis. The females of S. vigilans are distinguished by the shape of the middle field resembling a big lobe that reaches the posterior margin of the epigynum ( Fig. 76 ). The males are characterized by the shape of the dorsal part of RTA having a tooth­like projection on the external margin ( Fig. 74 ) and by the conductor having its tip strongly sclerotized, elongated and sinuous ( Fig. 75 ).

Female. The female was described by Pocock (1899) and redescribed by Benoit (1968). Colour pattern of opisthosoma as in Fig. 78 . Epigynum and spermathecae as in Figs. 76­77 .

Male. The male was described by Lessert (1915) and redescribed by Benoit (1968). Palp as in Figs. 74­75 .

New records. CAMEROON: Mbam mountain area, near Koutouni, W. slope (gallery forest, together with S. raditus ), 1 female, 31/III/83, Bosmans & Van Stalle Col., MRAC 162.562. KENYA: Mt. Kenya, 1 female, VII/75, R. Bosmans Col., MRAC 161.803; Athi River (1530m), 1 male, 19/X/57, E. Ross & R. Leech Col., CAS; 15mi SW of Nairobi, 1 female, 15/I/79, M. Irwin & S. Ross, CAS; 15mi SW of Nairobi (5400ft), 3 females, 1 immature, 15/I/79, M. Irwin & E. Ross Col., CAS. UGANDA: Southern Province, Kabale Forest, Ngogo Camp (1500­1800m) (0°30´N, 30°35´E), 2 females, 30­31/X/92, V. D. Roth & B. Roth Col., CAS. TANZANIA: Tanganyika: W. flank Ngorongoro Crater (1750m), 2 females, 23/V/57, E. Ross & R. Leech Col., CAS; Serengeti National Park, Seronera, 1 female, 23/XI/69, M. Irwin & S. Ross Col., CAS. BURUNDI: Kanyania (1500m) 1 female, 1947, R. R. Dames de Marie Col., MRAC. 169.134. RWANDA: Nyanza, 3 males, VII/47, A. Lestrade Col., MRAC 61320­61321; Nyanza, 4 females, V/48, A. Lestrade Col., MRAC 59290­59295; Environs Lac Ihema, 7 females, 3 males, 10 immatures, 14­18/ VII/69, R. Kiss Col., MRAC 136.304; Astrida, 1 male, 3 females, 4 immatures, R. Laurent Col., MRAC 169.142; Kigali, 1 female, 1 immature, 10/V/78, R. André Col., MRAC 160.307; Mimuli (Mutera), terr. Bimuba, 1 female, 28/VII/59, G. Marbier Col., MRAC 114.122; Nyakizu­Butare, 2 females, 10/VII/77, P. Nyaligaka Col., MRAC 155.483; Kinasi, Nyanza, 1 female, 5/VIII/53, P. Basilensky Col., MRAC 75.770; Kissenyi, 1 female, X/51, A. Bertrand Col., MRAC 72.215. ZAÏRE: Butembo (1750m), 1 female, III/ 75, M. Lejeune Col., MRAC 161.151; Face N. du Ruwenzori, Camp de Kikura (2000m), 1 female, VII­VIII/74, M. Lejeune Col., MRAC 154.156.

Known distribution. Burkina Faso, Burundi, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Republic of Congo Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda ( Corronca 2000), Cameroon, Tanzania and Zaïre.

Figures

FIGURES 74 ­ 83. 74 ­ 78. Selenops vigilans Pocock, Fig 74. Male palp, lateral view. 75. Male palp, ventral view. 76. Epigynum, ventral view. 77. Vulva, dorsal view. 78. Colour pattern of opisthosoma, dorsal view. 79 ­ 80. Selenops viron sp. nov., female holotype, 79. Epigynum, ventral view. 80. Vulva, dorsal view. 81 ­ 83. Selenops zairensis Benoit, female holotype, 81. Epigynum, ventral view. 82. Vulva, dorsal view. 83. Colour pattern of opisthosoma, dorsal view. Scale: genitalia = 0.25 mm, other drawings = 1 mm.