Eratigena balearica, (BRIGNOLI, 1978)

Bolzern, Angelo, Burckhardt, Daniel & Hänggi, Ambros, 2013, Phylogeny and taxonomy of European funnel-web spiders of the Tegenaria-Malthonica complex (Araneae: Agelenidae) based upon morphological and molecular data, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society (Zool. J. Linn. Soc.) 168 (4), pp. 723-848 : 761-762

ERATIGENA BALEARICA (BRIGNOLI, 1978) COMB. NOV.

( FIG. 13A–B, I–J )

Malthonica balearica Brignoli, 1978a: 278 , 279, fig. 8, female; Barrientos & Febrer, 1986: 123–128, figs 1–3.

Types

Holotype: Spain: Balearic Islands: Majorca, Porto Cristo , ‘près de Cueva del Drach’, ♀ ( MHNG), 1.iv.1968, Hauser.

Paratype. Spain: Balearic Islands: Majorca, ‘sur route de Palma-Valldemosa’ , ♀ ( MHNG), 4.iv.1968, Hauser .

Other material examined

Spain (3 ♂, 3 ♀)

Diagnosis

See Diagnosis section of E. picta . For illustrations see Barrientos & Febrer (1986).

Description

Measurements: Measurements of males were provided by Barrientos & Febrer (1986). Female (N = 1): CL 2.1, CW 1.4, STL 1.2, STW 1.0. Leg I (2.1, 0.7, 2.0, 1.7, 1.2), II (1.75, 0.7, 1.5, 1.4, 1.0), III (1.7, 0.6, -, -, -), IV (2.2, 0.8, 2.1, 2.0, 1.1). Pedipalp (0.85, 0.3, 0.55, 0.8). Eyes: PME 0.095, PLE 0.124, AME 0.105, ALE 0.114. Eye distances: PME- PME 1–1.5 x PME, PME- AME 1–1.5 x PME, PME- PLE 1 x PME, PME- ALE 1.5 x PME, AME–AME 0.5–1 x AME, AME- ALE <0.5– 0.5 x AME. CLY1 1.5–2 x AME, CLY2 0.5–1 x ALE.

Male palp: RTA with two branches, lateral branch broad, flattened, and distally truncated, dorsal branch broad, elongated, and bent posteriad. Short dorsal spike on male palp tibia present (arrow in Fig. 13B ). Embolus length about 1.5–1.75 x CB, originating at 8 o’clock position, distal tip at 2–4 o’clock position. Conductor long oval, distal portion moderately elongated, as long as wide, lateral margin almost completely folded. Terminal end complex, strongly sclerotized, and with two spirally twisted points. Transversal ridge of conductor expressed as membranous lamella. Conductor membranously connected to tegulum. MA originating at 5 o’clock position, wider than long, distally with pocket-like sclerite. Connection of MA to tegulum at least partly strongly sclerotized.

Epigyne and vulva: Epigyne medially with distinct, oval atrial cavity, posteriorly limited by narrow margin. Epigynal teeth absent. Anteriorly, CD are visible through epigynal plate. Vulva consists of distinguishable CD, RC, and FD. CD convoluted, ending in irregularly sclerotized, thickened, tube-like RC, separated by about 1.5 x their diameter. FD only represented by small, leaf-shaped appendages.

Other important characters: Cheliceral retromargin with eight to nine teeth. Colulus rectangularly shaped with distal margin w-shaped. Distal segment of PLS longer than basal segment. PMS with one prominent minor ampullate gland spigot and two cylindrical gland spigots on both lateral sides. Tarsal trichobothria on cymbium and palp tarsus absent. Tarsal trichobothria five to six. Small teeth on paired claws of leg I 16. Leg spination: female palp (2–0–0, 2–0–0, 2–2–0, several), male palp (2–0–0, 2–0–0, 1–2–0, several), leg femora (2–2–0–0, 2–1–0–0 or 2–1–1–0 or 2–2–1–0, 2–1–1–0, 1–1–1–0 or 2–1–1–0), patellae (all 2–0–0), tibiae (0–0–0–2+1p or 0–0–0–2p or 0–0–0–4, 0–1–0–1+1p or 2–1–0–1+1p, 2–2–1–1+1p or 2–2–2– 1+1p or 2–2–2–1+1p+1, 2–2–2–2+1p+1 or 2–2–2–3), metatarsi (0–0–0–3p+1, 0–2–0–3p+1 or 0–3–0–3p+1, 1–3–3–4p+1 or 1–4–3–1p+1+2p+1, 1–4–4–1p+1+2p+1 or 1–4–4–3p+1), tarsi (I and II 0, 0–1–2–0, 0–1–1–0 or 0–1–2–0).

Coloration: Carapace with two symmetrical longitudinal dark bands. Sternum with distinct pale median region. Opisthosoma brownish to dark brownish, anteriorly with three bands, yellowish, posteriorly continuing in chevrons. Legs weakly but continuously darkened. ALS and both segments of PLS darkened.

Distribution

Reported from the Balearic Islands. Discussion

Barrientos & Febrer (1986) suggested that this species is closely related to E. picta . The generic assignment of this species was controversial until the restricted definition of Malthonica by Barrientos & Cardoso (2007). Their hypothesis, that E. balearica does not belong to Malthonica and that it is closely related to E. picta , is fully supported here.

Figures

Figure 13. A, B, I, J, Eratigena balearica; C, D, K, L, R, Eratigena inermis; E, F, M–Q, Eratigena vomeroi; G, H, Eratigena picta. Male left palp in ventral (A, C, E) and retrolateral views (B, D, F); epigyne in ventral (G, I, K, M) and vulva in dorsal view (H, J, L, N); carapace (O) and abdomen (Q) in dorsal view, sternum in ventral view (P, R). Scale bars = 0.5 mm.