Eusparassus barbarus ( Lucas, 1846 )

Moradmand, Majid, 2013, The stone huntsman spider genus Eusparassus (Araneae: Sparassidae): systematics and zoogeography with revision of the African and Arabian species, Zootaxa 3675 (1), pp. 1-108 : 31-32

Eusparassus barbarus ( Lucas, 1846)

Figs 15–16 , 51a–b , 61a–b

Olios barbarus Lucas, 1846: 202 , pl. 11, fig. 10 (description of male and female, from Algeria: Algiers, Constantine, Lacalle, type material not located in MNHN, presumably lost). Neotype designated here (for justification see remarks).

Sparassus barbarus (Lucas) . Simon 1874: 262 (transfer).

Eusparassus barbarus (Lucas) . Reimoser 1919: 177 (listing and transfer).

Type material: Neotype: male, ALGERIA: Wilaya de Ain Defla: Teniet el Haad [N 35° 52' 16'', E 2° 1' 41''], 1800 m, Cedar Forest , 19 February 1988, R. Jocqué & R. Bosmans leg. ( MRAC 168777 ).

Other material examined. ALGERIA: 1♀, with same data as for neotype ( MRAC); Wilaya de Batna: 1♂, Jebel Metlili, N 35° 15', E 5° 38', Pine forest , 1000m altitude, 13 April 1987, R. Jocqué leg. ( MRAC 167560 ); Wilaya de Biskra: 1♀, Biskra, King leg. ( ZSM A20110054 ); Wilaya de Tizi Ouzou: 1♂, Djurdjura Mountain, Tala Guilet , 1600m, April 1983, H. Franz leg. ( SMF); Wilaya de Adrar: 1♀, Great Atlas Mountains , Tadlest [N 29° 18', E 0° 16'], 2250 m, 20 June 1930 ( SMF 4604 ) ; 2♂, 6♀♀, 42 juveniles, 1866–67, W.T. Taczanovski leg. [label: Olios barbarus Luc. , Algeria 1866-67, leg & det. WT. Taczanovski] ( MIZ F15 ) ; TUNISIA: 1♂, 1959, Kahmann leg. ( SMF) .

Diagnosis. Male differs from other congeners by ET flattened dorso-ventrally and ET pointing first proximad and then ventrad ( Fig. 15c ); It resembles that of E. letourneuxi but differs in dRTA bending toward cymbium ( Figs 15a, b ); epigyne similar to that of E. letourneuxi but differs from it by the triangular-shape of the MS ( Fig. 16a ) (semicircular in E. letourneuxi ) [see also diagnosis for dufouri species group above].

Description. Male (ranges: n=6, single measurement: neotype):

Measurements. Medium sized; total length: 16.5–17.6, prosoma length 7.0–7.6, prosoma width 6.4–6.8, anterior width of prosoma 3.3–3.4, opisthosoma length 9.5–10, opisthosoma width 5.6–6.0; Eye diameters: AME 0.43, ALE 0.38, PME 0.32, PLE 0.41; eye interdistances: AME-AME 0.27, AME-ALE 0.17, PME-PME 0.43, PME-PLE 0.51, AME-PME 0.37, ALE-PLE 0.30, clypeus height at AME 0.35, clypeus height at ALE 0.40. AME largest ( Fig. 15e ).

Chelicerae. Chelicerae with 2 anterior and 4 posterior teeth; cheliceral furrow without intermarginal denticles ( Fig. 15d ).

Legs. Leg formula: II IV I III. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 9.4 [3.0, 1.4, 1.5, 3.5], I 30.5 [8.5, 3.6, 7.5, 8.4, 2.5], II 33.2 [9.4, 3.4, 8.5, 9.1, 2.8], III 28.3 [8.5, 3.1, 7.0, 7.2, 2.5], IV 31.2 [9.1, 3.2, 7.5, 8.8, 2.6].

Spination. Palp 131, 101, 1111; Legs: Femur I 324(5)/424, II–III 324(3)/424, IV 423/(3)424; Patella I–IV 101; Tibia I–IV 21(0)24/2224; Metatarsus I–III 1014 /2024, IV 3034/3036.

Palp. As in diagnosis, with cymbium approximately twice as long as tibia; dRTA widened dorso-ventrally, vRTA small in size and shifted toward cymbium in ventral view ( Figs15 a–c ).

Female (ranges: n=9, single measurement: MM 205):

Measurements. Medium to large sized; total length: 17.5–22.5, prosoma length 7.0–10.2, prosoma width 6.1– 8.6, anterior width of prosoma 3.8–5.1, opisthosoma length 10.5–12.5, opisthosoma width 7.5–8.0. Eye diameters: AME 0.54, ALE 0.41, PME 0.42, PLE 0.46; eye interdistances: AME-AME 0.36, AME-ALE 0.14, PME-PME 0.65, PME-PLE 0.75, AME-PME 0.45, ALE-PLE 0.28, clypeus height at AME 0.50, clypeus height at ALE 0.60.

Chelicerae. Chelicerae as in males.

Legs. Leg formula: II IV I III. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 10.7 [3.2, 1.7, 2.0, 3.8], I 31.7 [9.1, 4.3, 7.5, 8.5, 2.8], II 35.0 [10.2, 4.5, 8.5, 9.0, 2.8], III 30.7 [9.4, 4.2, 7.2, 7.3, 2.6], IV 33.7 [10.2, 3.8, 8.1, 8.8, 2.8].

Spination. Palp 131, 001, 1111, 1013; Legs: Femur I–II 324/424, III 424, IV 322/423; Patella I–IV 000/101; Tibia I–IV 0004/2024; Metatarsus I–III 0004/ 2024, IV 3036.

Epigyne/vulva. As in diagnosis with EF longer than wide ( Fig. 16a ); MS hyaline with a longitudinal sclerotized strip dorsally ( Fig. 16b ); GP present ( Fig. 16c ).

Colouration [in ethanol]. Reddish cream, prosoma with a dark Y-shaped patch and additional transverse lines, opisthosoma with a brown band along the entire length and additional small patches ( Figs 51a–b ); opisthosoma ventrally with V-shaped marking with bold inner lines ( Fig. 51b ).

Remarks. Lucas (1846) described two species (sub Olios ) currently assigned to the genus Eusparassus : E. barbarus and E. oraniensis . The type material is not available at MNHN and presumed to be lost, as confirmed by other researchers (i.e. Azarkina & Logunov 2006) and verified by author’s direct investigation in MNHN. Fortunately, Lucas (1846) illustrated the habitus and eye arrangement, and provided a description of the colouration of the ventral opisthosoma. The illustration of prosoma in O. barbarus is unique. This colouration is recognized in this study among some Eusparassus specimens found nearby the type locality. Since E. barbarus can easily be mistaken with the similar parapatric species E. letourneuxi , one male is designated here as neotype to avoid taxonomic problems and misidentification in the future. The eye arrangement and colouration of the neotype correspond to the original drawings and description.

Known geographical distribution and habitat. From Northern Algeria to Tunisia, up to 1800 meters altitude in mountainous pine and cedar forests, found under stones.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Eusparassus barbarus (Lucas, 1846), neotype male from Algeria: Teniet el Haad (MRAC). (a) left palp, ventral; (b) left palp, retrolateral; (c) embolus tip and conductor, ventral; (d) left chelicera, ventral; (e) eye arrangement, dorsal.

FIGURE 16. Eusparassus barbarus (Lucas, 1846), female from the type locality, Algeria (MIZ). (a) epigyne, ventral; (b) vulva, dorsal; (c) left vulva, anterio-dorso-lateral.

FIGURE 51. Habitus of species of the dufouri group. (a–b) Eusparassus barbarus (Lucas, 1846) female from Algeria; (c–d) Eusparassus syrticus Simon, 1909, lectotype female from Tunisia. (a, c) dorsal, (b, d) ventral.

FIGURE 61. Eusparassus dufouri group. (a–b) Eusparassus barbarus (Lucas, 1846); (c–d) Eusparassus fritschi (Koch, 1873) stat. rev.; (e–f) Eusparassus letourneuxi (Simon, 1874). (a, c, e) left male palps, ventral; (b, d, f) epigynes, dorsal.