Heliophanus (Helafricanus) transversus, Wesołowska & Haddad, 2014

Wesołowska, Wanda & Haddad, Charles R., 2014, An overview of the jumping spiders of Lesotho (Araneae: Salticidae), with descriptions of six new species, African Invertebrates 55 (2), pp. 229-229 : 248-250

Heliophanus (Helafricanus) transversus sp. n.

Figs 62–68

Etymology: The specific name refers to the orientation of the male palpal embolus, transverse to the palpal axis.

Diagnosis: This species can be distinguished from other members of the subgenus by the structure of the copulatory organs: the male palp has a characteristic embolus that is orientated transverse to the longitudinal axis of the palp, while the female differs by the relatively longer seminal ducts.

Description:

Measurements (♂ / ♀): Cephalothorax: length 1.8/1.9–2.2, width 1.4/1.5–1.8, height 0.6/0.6–0.7. Eye field: length 0.8/0.9–1.0, anterior width 1.1/1.2–1.3, posterior width 1.2/1.3–1.4. Abdomen: length 2.1/2.8–4.0, width 1.5/1.7–2.8.

Male.

Colour of body dark brown or black, some specimens with white line on thoracic part; some bristles on eye field, a few white hairs between anterior median eyes. Mouthparts and sternum dark brown. White hairs form narrow median streak on carapace and abdomen, in some specimens merging with indistinct chevrons in posterior half of abdomen; lateral margins of thoracic part of carapace and abdomen with narrow light line. Venter yellowish-grey with broad darker band. Spinnerets black. Legs dark brown, first pair black. Pedipalps black; patellar apophysis short, light and weakly sclerotized, with notched distal margin ( Figs 62–65 ); dorsal tibial apophysis long; ventral tibial apophysis with small spike at base ( Figs 62–64 ); embolus strongly bent towards bulb, transverse to longitudinal axis of palp ( Fig. 62 ).

Female.

Larger than male; body dark brown, clothed in short dense grey hairs, with tufts of light hairs between anterior eyes. Legs yellow to light brown; pedipalps yellow, with darker spots at bases of segments. Epigyne with two rounded depressions, plugged with waxy secretion in numerous specimens; copulatory openings situated prolaterally beneath oblique sclerotized cup-like atria within depressions ( Figs 66, 67 ); internal structure typical for members of the subgenus Helafricanus , with seminal ducts converging anteriorly, with small spermathecae ( Fig. 68 ).

Holotype: ♂ Quthing district: Near Ha Liphapang village, 30°27'S 28°00'E, 1660 m, under rocks near Sebapela River , 15.xi.2003 ( NCA 2013 /3034).

Paratypes: 2♂ 17♀ Same data as holotype ( NCA 2013 /3035) ; 1♂ 2♀ Same data as holotype ( MRAC) . Maseru district: 2♂ 1 subadult ♂ 3♀ Mohale Dam , 29°25'S 28°06'E, 4.iii.2003 ( NCA 2013 /3039) ; 1♀ Mohale Dam, Islands , 29°25'S 28°06'E, 2060 m, 13.xii.2003 ( NCA 2013 /3040) ; 5♂ 2♀ Same locality, 14.xii.2003 ( NCA 2013 /3041) ; 4♀ Same locality, sweep-netting grassland, 15.xii.2003 ( NCA 2013 /3042) ; 1♂ 5♀ Same locality, 16.xii.2003 ( NCA 2013 /3043) ; 2♂ 1♀ Molimo Nthuse , 29°26'S 27°56'E, in litter by stream, 14.iv.1977, leg. A. Russell-Smith ( BMNH) . Quthing district: 4♂ 20♀ Ha Lazaro , 30°18'S 28°08'E, 2355 m, under rocks on hillside, 12.xi.2003 ( NCA 2013 /3036) ; 1♀ Letšeng-la-Letsie , 30°19'S 28°10'E, 2360 m, sweeps along lakeside, 12.xi.2003 ( NCA 2013 /3038) ; 6♀ Near Ha Thlaku village, 30°10'S 28°14'E, 2100 m, under rocks near Qhoali River , 14.xi.2003 ( NCA 2013 /3037) .

Distribution: Known only from southern and central Lesotho ( Fig. 93 ).

Figures

Figs 62–65. Heliophanus transversus sp. n., ♂ paratype (62–65): (62) palpal organ, ventral view; (63) same, retrolateral-ventral view; (64) same, retrolateral view; (65) same, dorsal view.

Figs 66–68. Heliophanus transversus sp. n., ♀ paratypes (66–68): (66, 67) epigynes, ventral view; (68) internal structure of epigynes.

Fig. 93. Distribution of Salticidae from Lesotho.