Heliophanillus

Wesolowska, W. & van Harten, A., 2010, Order Araneae, Arthropod fauna of the UAE, Abu Dhabi: Dar Al Ummah, pp. 27-69 : 35-36

Heliophanillus

metallifer

Wesolowska

&

van

Harten

nov

.

spec

.

Figures

22

24

Specimens

examined

:

holotype

:

(

♂

,

United

Arab

Emirates

,

Khor

Kalba

lagoon

,

24

°

59

'

N

56

°

2

l'E

,

12

.

iii

.

2005

,

hand-collected

,

leg

.

A

.

van

Harten

(

MRAC

)

.

Paratype

:

1♂

‘

,

Wadi

Shawkah

,

24

.

ii

.

2009

,

HC

.

Diagnosis: The species is closely related to H. sııedicola (Simon, 1901) . The male may be recognized by the longer strongly bent embolus and the shape of dorsal tibial apophysis, which is spike-like (bifurcate in H. suedico / a).

Description: Measurements. Cephalothorax length 1.2 1.7, width 0.9-1.3, height 0.6. Abdomen length 1.3-1.9, width 0.9-1.3. Eye field length 0.6 0.8, anterior width 0.8 _ 1.1, posterior width 0.9-1.1.

Male. Diminutive, dark coloured spider. Carapace oval, low, almost black with metallic shine. Colourless hairs cover carapace, white hairs form line along lateral edges and small patches behind posterior lateral eyes. Some dark bristles on eye field. Mouthparts brown, only chewing margins of gnatocoxae light, sternum light brown. Abdomen ovoid, black with three pairs of white spots, anterior pair extends to streak on abdominal sides. Shiny scales cover abdomen. Venter blackish. Spinnerets black. Legs orange, femur of first pair with brown lateral surfaces. Leg hairs and spines brown. Pedipalps dark brown. Palpal femur without apophyses, two apophyses on tibia, dorsal one short, spike-like ( Figs 23, 24 ), tegulum irregular, embolus bent ( Fig. 22 ).

Female unknown.

Etymology: The specific name refers to metallic shine of the body of this species.

Figures

Figures 22 - 24. I _ - leli 0 phani _ llııs metallifer nov. spec. 22: Palpal organ in ventral view; 23: Same in lateral view; 24: Same m dorsal View.