Thysanina serica Simon, 1910

Lyle, Robin & Haddad, Charles R., 2006, A revision of the Afrotropical tracheline sac spider genus Thysanina Simon, 1910 (Araneae: Corinnidae), African Invertebrates 47, pp. 95-116 : 100-102

Thysanina serica Simon, 1910

Figs 1 , 11–15

Thysanina serica: Simon 1910: 201–202 .

T. serica: Bosselaers & Jocqué 2000: 311 , figs 2a–e.

Diagnosis: This species is recognised from others by the coiled embolus, the elongated cymbium and the subtriangular retrolateral tibial apophysis of the male palp. The female can be recognised by the large globular spermathecae that have posterolateral bilobed terminal receptacles, and the comma-shaped ridges in which the copulatory openings are found.

Redescription:

Male.

Measurements: CL 1.68–2.5, CW 1.45–2.0, AL 1.88–3.0, AW 1.23–1.8, TL 3.5–5.2, FL 0.9–1.15, SL 0.98–1.48, SW 0.73–1.1, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE– ALE 0.36, PME–PME 0.13, PME–PLE 0.14, PLE–PLE 0.59. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 2.5+1.18+2.0+1.65+1.0=8.33; II 2.08+1.05+1.68+1.25+0.75=6.81; III 1.75+0.88+1.18+1.58+0.55=5.94; IV 2.4+1.0+2.05+1.73+0.55=7.73.

Carapace declining gradually towards midpoint; declining sharply posterior to midpoint; surface smooth; covered in short, fine setae throughout; fovea large, distinct; carapace bright orange to brown; ocular region dark orange to light brown. All eyes with black rings; AER slightly procurved, median eyes slightly larger than laterals; clypeus height equal to ALE diameter; AME separated by distance slightly smaller than their diameter; AME separated from ALE by 0.25 AME diameter; PER slightly recurved, median eyes slightly larger than laterals; PME separated by distance equal to distance from PME to PLE. Chelicerae dark orange, with black setae scattered on anterior surface; three promarginal teeth, median largest; three retromarginal teeth, smallest near to fang base. Sternum orange, dark orange at border; fine, long setae scattered throughout sternum.Abdomen oval-elongate, broader anteriorly, truncated posteriorly; dorsum white to grey with fine, short setae throughout; partial grey chevron marking on dorsum. Legs I to IV uniform yellow to pale orange; dense short, black setae ventrally on tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi; fine pale setae on all segments of legs I to IV; legs I to IV with uniform incomplete bands ventrally, grey in colour; femora with two close distal bands, patellae covered almost entirely by band, tibiae, metatarsi each with single distal and proximal bands. Leg spination: tibiae: I plv 7 cusps, II plv 5, rlv 1 cusps; metatarsi: I plv 5 cusps, II plv 6, rlv 1 cusps; tarsi: I plv 2 cusps, II plv 1 cusp ( Fig. 11 ); regular leg spines absent; palpal spination: femora: pl 1 do 1, tarsus do 1. Palp pale yellow throughout; tegulum elongate, with coiled distal embolus; small, subtriangular retrolateral tibial apophysis present ( Figs 12, 13 ).

Description:

Female.

Measurements: CL 1.72–2.05, CW 1.68–2.0, AL 3.2–3.4, AW 2.25–2.35, TL 5.1–5.4, FL 0.28–0.35, SL 1.23–1.3, SW 0.88–0.95, AME–AME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.05, ALE– ALE 0.45, PME–PME 0.17, PME–PLE 0.16, PLE–PLE 0.64. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 2.0+0.9+1.53+1.33+0.9=6.66; II 1.55+0.8+ 1.35+1.23+0.88=5.81; III 1.1+0.88+1.73+1.23+0.53=5.47; IV 2.15+0.9+1.6+ 1.88+0.68=7.21.

General appearance similar to male; female larger than male; body paler, with lighter grey chevron comprising thin median line with pale transverse branches. Eye region yellow-orange, eyes surrounded by dark brown rings; AER very slightly recurved, median eyes larger than laterals; clypeus height equal to distance 0.75 AME diameter; AME separated by 0.75 their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.5 AME diameter; PER recurved, eyes subequal in size; PME separated by 1.75 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by 1.75 PME diameter. Chelicerae with three well separated promarginal teeth, median largest, distal smallest; retromargin with two closely situated teeth, subequal in size. Legs I to IV similar in colouration to male, with incomplete bands; legs less robust than those of male. Regular leg spines, cusps absent; palpal spination: femora plv 1 rlv 1, tibiae plv 3 rlv 3. Genital area sclerotised; dark brown; copulatory openings situated laterally in epigyne, within sclerotised comma-shaped ridges; entrance ducts curving anteriorly to median spermathecae; spermathecae large, oval structures, with posterolateral bilobed terminal receptacles ( Figs 14, 15 ).

Syntype: ơ deposited in MNHN (examined). Accompanying label stating ‘ Museum Paris AR 14437 / Thysanina serica Simon / Namibia Lüderitz-Buch / Schultze leg. Simon det. & coll.’ The female syntype specimen, deposited in the Zoological Museum, Berlin, could not be traced and is probably lost .*

Other material examined: NAMIBIA:2ơ between Chameis Head & South Rock , 27º51'S: 15º39'E, 4.viii.1997, ground at night, E. Griffin ( SMN 43802 ) ; 1^same locality, 6.viii.1997, E. Griffin ( SMN 43799 ) ; 1^dunes behind Agate Beach , 6km N of Luderitz, 26º35'S: 15º10'E, 9.x.1984, C.E. Griswold & T. Meikle-Griswold ( NMSA) ; 1ơ 1^Omaruru River Mouth, 22º05'S: 14º14'E, 17.ii.1969, B.H. Lamoral ( NMSA) ; 2ơ sand dunes E of Swakopmund , 22º40'S: 14º31'E, 10.ii.1969, B. Lamoral & R. Day ( NMSA) . SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng: 1ơ Roodeplaat Dam Nature Reserve , 13.xi.1980, sweep net, M. Stiller ( NCA 81 /901) .

Distribution: Distributed in western Namibia and Gauteng Province of South Africa ( Fig. 41 ).

Natural history: The natural history of this species is poorly known. It occurs in arid habitats in western Namibia and savannah in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Specimens were collected from the ground surface and grass. No distinctive activity pattern could be distinguished, as specimens were collected by day and by night.

Figures

Fig. 1. General appearance of Thysanina serica Simon, 1910.

Figs 11–15. Thysanina serica Simon, 1910: (11–13) male: (11) schematic representation of cusp arrangement on legs I and II, (12) left palp, ventral view, (13) left palp, retrolateral view; (14, 15) female: (14) epigyne, ventral view, (15) vulva, dorsal view. Scale bar (Figs 12–15) = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 41. Distribution of Thysanina in the Afrotropical region.