Pseudicius flabellus, Wesołowska & Haddad, 2013

Wesołowska, Wanda & Haddad, Charles R., 2013, New data on the jumping spiders of South Africa (Araneae: Salticidae), African Invertebrates 54 (1), pp. 177-177 : 218-219

Pseudicius flabellus sp. n.

Figs 129–132

Etymology: Derived from Latin flabellum (a fan), in reference to the shape of the male palpal tibial apophysis.

Diagnosis: This species is closely related to Pseudicius dependens Haddad & Wesołowska, 2011 from central South Africa and P. dentatus sp. n. described above. The male differs from both by the shape of the cymbium tip (without the retrolateral outgrowth that is present in the other two species). The tibial apophysis of this species is larger and has a unique shape, with a broad, blunt end and some small denticles on the upper surface. Female unknown.

Description:

Male.

Measurements. Cephalothorax: length 2.0, width 1.4, height 0.6. Abdomen: length 2.3, width 1.4. Eye field: length 0.8, anterior width 1.1, posterior width 1.2.

Shape of body typical for the genus, elongate and flattened. Carapace brown, brilliant, eyes surrounded by black area; traces of paler median streak on posterior part of thoracic area. Carapace covered in adpressed colourless hairs, with long brown bristles near eyes and some whitish hairs on eye field. White hairs form clypeal mat and pale stripes on sides of carapace. Stridulatory bristles present on sides of carapace. Sternum, chelicerae and labium brown, endites slightly paler.Abdomen elongate, brown, clothed in colourless hairs, with longer brown setae at anterior edge; sides streaked with white, with traces of paler median belt. Venter dark. Spinnerets brownish. Legs greyish yellow (partially damaged, first pair missing). Femur of pedipalp slightly longer than in P. dependens , with small outgrowth on ventral surface ( Fig. 132). Tibial apophysis flabelliform, with broad blunt end, inner and dorsal surface of apophysis dotted with minute denticles ( Figs 129–131); embolus attached to bulb prolaterally, with sharp initial and distal bends, gradually narrowing from base to tip ( Fig. 129).

Holotype: ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: Malmesbury, Rondeberg , 33°24'S 18°16'E, 25.x.1987, R. Wels ( NMBA).

Distribution: Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 139).

Habitat and biology: The type locality is in the Fynbos Biome.