Afroneta sarahae, Frick & Scharff, 2018

Frick, Holger & Scharff, Nikolaj, 2018, Description of one new genus and four new species of mynoglenine spiders from Africa (Araneae: Linyphiidae: Mynogleninae), European Journal of Taxonomy 415, pp. 1-27 : 20-24

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5852/ejt.2018.415
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D3B2953A-7727-4FA6-BADA-A74AEA6DF00B
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5986254
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/ACC8A04A-41EE-489B-B929-3912135333E2
taxon LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:act:ACC8A04A-41EE-489B-B929-3912135333E2
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Afroneta sarahae
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Afroneta sarahae View in CoL sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:ACC8A04A-41EE-489B-B929-3912135333E2

Figs 11D–F View Fig.11 , 12–13 View Fig. 12 View Fig. 13

Diagnosis

The presence of serrations on the ventral margin of the paracymbium is seen in only one more species, Afroneta serrata sp. nov. The shape of the serrations is variable (see Fig. 13B–E View Fig. 13 ), ranging from many shallow fine denticles to a few deep strong teeth. The tegular mynoglenine process is roundish and smaller compared to what is seen in Afroneta serrata sp. nov. The radix is situated in the distal half of the cymbium ( Fig. 13F View Fig. 13 ) and is shorter than in Afroneta serrata sp. nov. ( Fig. 9C View Fig. 9 ). The copulatory duct in females is correspondingly shorter ( Fig. 12G–H View Fig. 12 ) than in Afroneta serrata sp. nov. ( Fig. 10G–H View Fig. 10 ) and the dorsal plate with the dorsal plate scape is also narrower in its longitudinal dimension ( Fig. 9D View Fig. 9 vs Fig. 13G View Fig. 13 ).

Etymology

The species epithet sarahae is a name in apposition. It refers to Holger Frick’s partner, Sarah Küffer, who has supported Holger Frick’s passion for spiders for more than a decade.

Type material

Holotype

KENYA: ♂, Rift Valley Prov., Trans-Nzoia Distr., Mount Elgon National Park, upper course of Kimothon Riv. , 1°5 ′ 53.1 ″ N, 34°37 ′ 13.7 ″ E [WGS84], 3645 m a.s.l., 19 Jan. 2009, N. Yunakov leg., H. Frick det., collection Natural History Museum of Oslo (sample KE005, ZMUN 24056 GoogleMaps ).

Allotype

KENYA: ♀, same data as for holotype ( ZMUN 24056 ). GoogleMaps

Other material examined (1 ♂, 7 ♀♀)

KENYA: 1 ♂, 7 ♀♀, together with holotype, collection Natural History Museum of Oslo (sample KE005, ZMUN 24056 ). GoogleMaps

Description

Male (holotype, ZMUN 24056)

SIZE. Total length 1.88. Cephalothorax 1.06 long, 0.76 wide. Sternum 0.59 long (0.54 without labium), 0.53 wide. Abdomen 0.91 long, 0.72 wide. AME diameter 0.04. Femur I 0.79 long, 0.75 times as long as cephalothorax.

COLOUR (preserved specimens, Fig. 11D, F View Fig.11 ). Cephalothorax and chelicerae brownish, sternum darker and with blackish-grey margin. Legs and pedipalps yellowish white, without annulations. Black rings around eyes. Abdomen dark grey, with white markings. Figure 11D–F View Fig.11 illustrates recently collected material (2009), stored in 96% ethanol. The colour is probably close to the colour of the live animals.

BODY. Cephalothorax with short pale setae in the midline. No fovea ( Fig. 11F View Fig.11 ). Ocular area without setae between eyes. Clypeus height 4 times AME diameter. Subocular sulci present below ALE, clearly demarcated, longer than wide and narrow ( Fig. 11D View Fig.11 ). Cephalothorax more elongated and narrower ( Fig. 11E–F View Fig.11 ) as compared to Afroneta serrata sp. nov. ( Fig. 11B–C View Fig.11 ).

CHELICERAE. With 3 large widely spaced prolateral teeth ( Fig. 11D View Fig.11 ). Without stridulating file. Three small closely spaced retrolateral denticles, positioned between the two first prolateral teeth.

LEGS. All femora with short thin setae dorsally and ventrally. Ventral setae shorter than diameter of femora. Leg formula 1243. Trichobothrium metatarsus I = 0.37 (0.41 on other male specimen in vial). No tibial spines.

PEDIPALP ( Figs 12A–D View Fig. 12 , 13A–F View Fig. 13 ). Patella with long strong macrosetae ( Fig. 12A View Fig. 12 ). Tibia with two retrolateral and one prolateral trichobothrium ( Fig. 12D View Fig. 12 ). Cymbium with two prolateral macrosetae ( Fig. 13A View Fig. 13 ). Paracymbium J-shaped, with unusual distal serrations on ventral margin ( Fig. 13A–F View Fig. 13 ). It holds two basal setae ( Fig. 13A View Fig. 13 ) and its distal part is well set off from the cymbium in dorsal view ( Fig. 12D View Fig. 12 ). Suprategulum narrow and triangular. Tegular mynoglenine process short and roundish ( Figs 12A View Fig. 12 , 13A View Fig. 13 ), smaller than in Afroneta serrata sp. nov. ( Figs 9A View Fig. 9 , 10A View Fig. 10 ). Radical division small restricted to distal half of alveolus ( Fig. 13F View Fig. 13 ). Radix drop-like. Embolus with broad base, robust and almost straight and tapering towards the tip ( Figs 12C View Fig. 12 , 13C View Fig. 13 ). Embolic membrane exceeding the embolus and the alveolus only slightly ( Fig. 13F View Fig. 13 ), less than in Afroneta serrata sp. nov.

Female (allotype, ZMUN 24056)

SIZE. Total length 2.41 (abdomen strongly bent downwards so total length difficult to measure). Cephalothorax 1.44 long, 0.96 wide. Sternum 0.79 long (0.71 without labium), 0.63 wide. Abdomen 1.32 long, 0.91 wide. AME diameter 0.06. Femur I 1.00 long, 0.71 times as long as cephalothorax.

COLOUR (preserved specimen, Fig. 11E View Fig.11 ). As holotype.

BODY. Sternum shield–shaped. Clypeus height 3.5 times AME diameter.

CHELICERAE. With 3 large widely spaced prolateral teeth. Retrolateral denticles not visible. Chelicerae without stridulating file.

LEGS. Spination of legs like male. Leg formula 1243. Trichobothrium metatarsus I = 0.47.

EPIGYNUM AND VULVA ( Figs 12E–H View Fig. 12 , 13G–H View Fig. 13 ). The epigyne has a dorsal plate scape that is moderately developed and neither extends much ventrally nor posteriorly ( Fig. 12E–F View Fig. 12 ). The copulatory ducts expand anteriorly as far as the receptacula and are separated from each other by less than their diameter ( Fig. 12G–H View Fig. 12 ). The receptacula are round.

Distribution

Only know from Mount Elgon, Kenya, at altitudes of 3700 m a.s.l.

Life history

Little is known about the biology of this species. Specimens have been collected in the alpine belt above the forest zone.