Iranattus principalis ( Wesołowska, 1999 )

Wesołowska, Wanda & Russell-Smith, Anthony, 2022, Jumping spiders from Ivory Coast collected by J. - C. Ledoux (Araneae, Salticidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 841 (1), pp. 1-143 : 47-50

Iranattus principalis ( Wesołowska, 1999)

Figs 29–30

Monomotapa principalis Wesołowska, 2000: 160 , figs 42–46.

Monomotapa principalis – Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2011: 581, figs 96–98, 229–230.

Iranattus principalis – Prószyński 2017: 36.

Diagnosis

The shape of body is characteristic, robust with a high carapace and posterior lateral eyes set on tubercles. The female is distinctive in having a unique form of the epigyne with a small oval cavity in its posterior part.

Material examined

IVORY COAST • 2 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Lamto ; 17 Sep. 1975; “savane brulée en face de Tournier”; MNHN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 16 Sep. 1975; “savane, sur branches”; MNHN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 12 Aug. 1975; “savane gruyère, sur branches”; MNHN • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 15 Aug. 1975; “savane, secouage de branches”; MNHN • 5 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding; 26 Aug. 1975; “savane entre Tournier et le Grande Nord, branches”; MNHN • 3 ♀♀; same collection data as for preceding, Grand Nord; 22 Aug. 1975; “savane, sur branches”; MNHN .

Redescription

Male

See Wesołowska & Russell-Smith (2011).

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.3, width 2.0, height 1.2. Eye field length 1.1, anterior width 1.7, posterior width 2.0. Abdomen length 2.2, width 1.5. General appearance as in Fig. 29A–B , similar to male.

CARAPACE. rounded, high, short and wide, widest at last row of eyes, abruptly sloping posteriorly. Large trapezoid eye field, occupying half of carapace, posterior row of eyes clearly wider than the anterior row. Anterior eyes encircled by small white scales ( Fig. 29C ). Colouration of carapace brown, vicinity of eyes black, white hairs on slopes of carapace, dorsum with brown hairs and long bristles at anterior row of eyes. Clypeus medium high, clothed in white hairs. Chelicerae massive, brown, retromargin with single small tooth. Sternum brown, labium and endites light brown with light tips.

ABDOMEN. Oval, narrower than carapace, greyish brown, hairy, brown and whitish hairs form pattern, posteriorly light chevrons ( Fig. 29A ). Venter brown. Spinnerets yellowish grey.

LEGS. Light brown, bearing white and brown hairs, spines numerous, brown. Femora of legs III long. Pedipalps light brown, clothed in white hairs.

EPIGYNE. With small deep oval depression and pair of pockets posteriorly ( Figs 29D , 30A–B ). Internal structures as in Fig. 30C–D , copulatory openings hidden in depression at its anterior rim, seminal ducts wide with additional diverticula, spermathecae composed of two chambers, first of them larger.

Remarks

The first description of the female is provided here.

Biology

This species was confined to savannah habitats at Lamto where it was collected on the branches of shrubs.

Distribution

A species previously known from Zimbabwe and Nigeria.

Figures

Fig. 29. Iranattus principalis (Wesołowska, 1999), ♀ (MNHN). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Habitus, lateral view. C. Frontal view. D. Epigyne.

Fig. 30. Iranattus principalis (Wesołowska, 1999), ♀ (MNHN). A–B. Epigyne. C–D. Internal structure of epigyne.