Rafalus minimus Wesolowska & van Harten

Wesolowska, W. & van Harten, A., 2010, Order Araneae, Arthropod fauna of the UAE, Abu Dhabi: Dar Al Ummah, pp. 27-69 : 56-59

Rafalus minimus Wesolowska & van Harten nov. spec. Plate 23, Figures 83 86

Specimens examined: Holotype: ♂, United Arab Emirates, N of Ajman , 25 ° 26' N 55 °29' E, 15 16 iii 2009 in A. Harten MRAC 2♂‘, data.., water trap, leg. van () . Paratypes: same as holotype .

Diagnosis: The species differs from congeners by the smaller size and by short, wide tibial apophysis of male palp.

Description: Measurements. Cephalothorax length 2.1 2.3, width 1.5-1.6, height 0.9-1.0. Abdomen length 1.9-2.1, width 1.4-1.5. Eye field length 0.8-0.9, anterior 1.2-1.3, posterior width 1.3.

.

¬ _, _. _ _

Male. Small species, smaller and less hairy than other congeners, colouration pattern striped, typical for Phlegra species ( Plate 23). Carapace oval, slightly broader posteriorly, dark brown with two white longitudinal bands composed of light hairs. Slopes with some greyish hairs. Eye field short, long brown bristles near eyes. Clypeus brown with some grey hairs. Mouthparts and sternum dark brown, only inner margins of gnathocoxae yellowish. Dark patches on coxae. Abdomen ovoid, brown with whitish median stripe, covered with short hairs, among them sparse longer brown bristles. Sides of abdomen yellow, venter yellow tinged with grey. Spinnerets light, bases of posterior ones blackish. Legs I and II brownish with lighter metatarsi and tarsi, posterior pairs yellow, but lateral sides of femora brown and brown rings at bases of tibiae and metatarsi. Pedipalps yellowish, only basis of femur brown. Tibial apophysis short, wide at base ( Fig. 84 ), embolus as in Figures 85 and 86 . Female unknown.

Etymology: Thc specific name refers to the small size of this species.

Figures

Figures 83 - 86. Rafalus minimas nov. spec. 83: Palpal organ in ventral view; 84: Same in lateral view; 85: Embolus in dorsal view (cymbium removed); 86: Tip ofembolus.