Clubiona hitchinsi, Saaristo, Michael I., 2002

Saaristo, Michael I., 2002, New species and interesting new records of spiders from Seychelles (Arachnida, Araneaea), Phelsuma 10, pp. 1-32 : 4-6

Clubiona hitchinsi n. sp. ( Figs. 6-10 )

Types: Holotype male and two female paratypes from Cousine , 23.01.1999, M. Saaristo leg. ( MZT AA 0.990 ) ; 5 male and 3 juvenile paratypes from Aride, litter sampling, July-November 2000, John Bowler leg. ( MZT AA 2.118 ) ; one male and one female paratype from North, 30.07.2000, J. Gerlach Ieg.( MZT AA 1.327 ) ; one male, 3 female and 2juvenile paratypes from Silhouette, La Passe , 06- 19.01.1999, M. Saaristo leg. ( MZT AA 0.991,0.992, and 0.995 ) ; 2 male, 6 female and 10 juvenile paratypes from Silhouette, Anse Cimitiere , 17.- 18.01.1999, M. Saaristo leg. ( MZT AA 0.993 and 0.994 ) ; one female paratype from Silhouette, Belle Vue , (pitfall traps), 16.- 20.07.1999, J. Gerlach leg. ( MZT AA 1.312 ) ; one male paratype from St. Francois , 08.04.2001, J. Gerlach leg. ( MZT AA 2.202 ) .

Other material examined: Alphonse , 1juv., 09.04.2001, J. Gerlach leg. ( MZT AA 2.165 ) ; Mahé, 1juv., 03.12.1993, J. Gerlach leg. ( MZT AA 0.989 ) and Roche Caiman Bird Sanctuary , among vegetation, 1j., ( MZT AA 0.308 ) ; Silhouette, La Passe , 1juv., Dec. 1993, J. Gerlach leg. ( MZT AA 0.988 ) .

Etymology: Named for my friend Mr. Peter Hitchins who kindly invited me to Cousine during my arachnological excursion to Seychelles in 1999 I then learned his deep concern about the future of the native flora and fauna of Seychelles and especially that of the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).

Diagnosis: C. hitchinsi is readily distinguished from the other Seychellian Clubiona species, viz. C. mahensis Simon, 1893 by having only two small, well separated teeth on the lateral side of the biggest one while in C.mahensis there are five teeth touching each other; this character seems to hold true even for very small juveniles.

Description: Medium-sized species; female larger than male (TL = 4.4-6.4, CL = 2.2-2.9). Carapace pale orange - brown; chelicerae and endites dark brown; sternum and legs pale yellowish; abdomen mouse grey, venter lighter. Chelicerae protruding with 4 promarginal and 3 retromarginal teeth. Male palpal tibia with simple, pointed apophysis; embolus long, whip-like. Vulva consisting of a pair of large, somewhat club-like receptaculae; their posterior ends are wide apart while apical ends almost touch each other; dark, transverse collar-like bands form a border between the spherical anterior parts and the larger posterior parts of receptaculae.

Discussion: Earlier ( Saaristo 1995) I wrongly determined the Roche Caiman Bird Sanctuary juvenile as "C." mahensis as is now shown by the cheliceral dentition.

Figures

Figs. 6 - 10. Clubiona hitchinsi n. sp. (Figs. 6 - 9) and C. mahensis Simon, 1893 (Fig. 10). - 6: Right male palp ventrally. - 7: Right male palp laterally. - 8: Epigyne ventrally. - 9 and 10: Right chelicer from behind. - Scale bars = 0.2 mm. Orig.