Rafalus desertus

Wesolowska, W. & van Harten, A., 2010, Order Araneae, Arthropod fauna of the UAE, Abu Dhabi: Dar Al Ummah, pp. 27-69 : 55

Rafa l us desertus Wesolowska & van Harten nov. spec. Plate 22, Figures 74 -75

Specimens examined: Holotype: ♂, United Arab Emirates, N of Ajman , 25 °26'N 55 ° 29'E, 25.vi 5 _ vii.2008, in water trap, leg. A. van Harten ( MRAC) . Paratypes: 2♂, same Iocality but 21 25.x. 2007, WT ; 1♂, same locality but 5 — 16.vii.2008, WT . 1♂, SSW of ad-Dhaid , 27. xi-I. xii. 2005, PT .

Diagnosis: The male of the species is easily distinguished from other congeners by the striped pattern and the shape of the bulb with small triangular lobe at half of its length on retrolateral side.

Description: Measurements. Cephalothorax length 2.8-3.0 Width 2.2 2.3 height 1.2 1.4. Abdomen length 2.8-3.0, width 1.9 2.0. Eye field length 1.4, anterior 1.9, posterior width 1.9. Male. Slightly smaller than R. feliksi Prószynski, 1999 , and less hairy, colouration pattern Striped, typical for Phlegra species ( Plate 22). Carapace elongated, brown, with short, darker eye field. Vicinity of eyes covered with long brown bristles. White hairs form two wide

streaks running from anterior eyes to posterior edge of carapace. Slopes of carapace clothed also in white hairs. Clypeus brown, some white hairs on it. Chelicerae dark brown, two small teeth on promargin, retromarginal edge toothless. Mouthparts slightly lighter, sternum light brown with large darker spot. Abdomen brown with wide median white stripe, sides and venter yellowish. Dorsum of abdomen covered with dense hairs, longer and bushier at anterior edge. Spinnerets light. Legs dark yellow to orange with brown spots. First pair darker than remaining, femur and patella brownish, darker ventrally, tibia almost black. Leg hairs greyish and brown, dark scopulae. Pedipalps light, only base of femur brown, long white hairs densely cover palpal femur, patella and tibia, only on cymbium hairs dark. Tegulum large, convex, with characteristic small triangular lobe at half of its length on retrolateral edge, visible end of embolus very short ( Fig. 74 ).

Female unknown.

Etymology: The specific name refers to the presence of desert habitats in the UAE.

Figures

Figures 74 75. Rafalus deserrus nov. spec. 74: Palpal organ in ventral view; 75: Same in lateral view.