Rhene facilis Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000

Wesołowska, Wanda & Haddad, Charles R., 2013, New data on the jumping spiders of South Africa (Araneae: Salticidae), African Invertebrates 54 (1), pp. 177-177 : 223-224

Rhene facilis Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000

Figs 96, 97, 142–145

Rhene facilis: Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2000: 93 , figs 251–255.

Diagnosis: The male can be easily recognised from South African congeners by the distinctive markings on the body and the fine, slightly curved embolus. Females can be distinguished by the weakly sclerotized epigyne with an anterior arch and S-shaped copulatory openings.

Redescription:

Measurements (♂ / ♀). Carapace length 1.9/1.6, width 2.0/1.5, height 0.7/0.6.Abdomen length 2.2/2.5, width 1.9/1.5. Eye field length 1.3/1.0, anterior width 1.3/1.0, posterior width 2.0/1.5.

Male.

General appearance as in Fig. 96. Robust, flattened spider, with trapezoid carapace; carapace almost black, eye field pitted, some colourless hairs on carapace; white hairs forming thin line along anterior margin of eye field and median streak near posterior of carapace. Eye field large, trapezoid, eyes of last row placed on small tubercles. Chelicerae dark brown; labium and endites with narrow paler line along tips. Sternum brown. Abdomen dark brown, its anterior edge with median patch of white hairs, and fine transverse white band in posterior half ( Fig. 96). Venter brownish grey. Spinnerets dark. Legs brown, only tarsi slightly lighter, with some white scales on femora. First pair stouter and longer than others, with dense hairs on ventral surfaces of tibiae. Pedipalps dark, tibial apophysis curved ( Fig. 143); embolus thin and slightly curved ( Fig. 142).

Female.

General appearance as in Fig. 97. Carapace reddish brown; eye field black, pitted; colourless delicate hairs cover carapace. Mouthparts and sternum pale brown. Abdomen more elongate than in male, ovoid, flat, greyish brown; dorsum covered with scutum, with delicate hairs on it. Spinnerets dark. First pair of legs orange-brown, with black tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi; tibiae and metatarsi of other legs with black tips ( Fig. 97). Pedipalps yellowish orange. Epigyne very small, weakly sclerotized ( Fig. 144), with broad anterior arch, posterior notch, and S-shaped copulatory openings; internal structure as in Fig. 145.

Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu­Natal: 1♀ iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, near Mission Rocks Beach, 28°15.885'S 32°28.880'E, 83 m, indigenous bush, canopy fogging Albizia adianthifolia , 12.v.2012, J. Neethling & C. Luwes (NMSA, 26449); 3♂ 2♀ same locality, St Lucia, 28°23.038'S 32°24.428'E, 21 m, coastal forest, canopy fogging Trichilia dregeana , 13.v.2012, J. Neethling & C. Luwes (NMSA, 26458); 1♀ same locality, Crocodile Centre, 28°21.407'S 32°25.183'E, 24 m, wetland, canopy fogging Breonadia salicina , 14.v.2012, J. Neethling & C. Luwes (NMSA, 26493); 1♀ Ndumo Game Reserve, Shokwe Pan, 26°52.424'S 32°12.652'E, 43 m, Ficus forest, canopy fogging Kigelia africana , 5.vii.2009, C. Haddad, R. Lyle & V. Butler (NCA, 2012/1816); 2♂ same data (NCA, 2012/1817).

Distribution:Described from Tanzania, found for the first time in South Africa ( Fig. 155). Habitat and biology: Collected by canopy fogging various trees in forest and savanna woodland habitats.

Remark: The female is described for the first time.