A revision of the African wolf spider genus Amblyothele Simon
Russell-Smith, Tony
Jocqué, Rudy
Alderweireldt, Mark
ZooKeys
2009
2009-07-29
16
16
149
180
CMWQ
Russell-Smith & Jocqué & Alderweireldt, 2009
Russell-Smith & Jocqué & Alderweireldt
2009
[140,443,483,510]
Arachnida
Lycosidae
Amblyothele
Animalia
Araneae
19
168
Arthropoda
species
latedissipata
sp. nov.
urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: BADCC224-DC23-4619-840A-C2634A0B2745 Figs 20-27, 41, Map 6
Diagnosis.The male may be recognised by the shape of the median apophysis, the proximal end of which tapers to a point and lacks any forward pointing lobe. The female differs from other members of the genus in possessing a broadly cordate central plate in the epigyne and by the shape and position of the spermathecae as seen through the cuticle.
Etymology.The specific name is derived from the Latin for “widely distributed” and refers to the wide separation of the three known localities for the species.
Typematerial. Holotype. Male. TANZANIA: Mkomazi Game Reserve, 4°00’S, 38°00’E, 26.XI.1994, pitfall trapsin open Acacia/ Commiphora bushland, A. Russell- Smithleg. ( MRAC 225507). Paratypes. TANZANIA: 8 ♁ 3 ♀: together with Holotype( MRAC 225508); MOZAMBIQUE: 2 ♀: near Marracuene, Blue Anchor Inn, 50 ma.s.l. 25°35.124’S 32°39.568’E, 28.XI.2007, sifting leaf litter, savannah, C. Haddadand R. Fourieleg. ( NCA); SOUTH AFRICA: 2 ♀: Tembe Elephant Park, Muzi Swamps, 27°01’S 32°24’E, pitfall traps, 22.I.2002, C. Haddadleg. ( NCA). Othermaterial examined. TANZANIA: 7 ♁ 8 ♀: Mkomazigame Reserve, near Ibayacamp, 4°00’S, 38°00’E, IV.1995, A. Russell-Smithleg.; 4 ♁ 2 ♀: same site, IV. 1995; 2 ♁: same site, IV.1995; 2 ♁: same site, VI.1995; 2 ♁ 2 ♀: same site, XI.1995; 3 ♁ 1 ♀: same site, XII.1995; 2 ♁ 1 ♀: same site, III.1996; 10 ♁ 4 ♀: Mkomazi Game Reserve, Ibayacamp, IV.1995, from pitfall traps, in mixed grassland on footslope, A. Russell-Smithleg.; 13 ♁ 7 ♀: same site, V.1995; 1 ♁: same site, VI.1995; 6 ♁ 2 ♀: same site, VI.1995; 2 ♁ 1 ♀: same site, XI.1995; 1 ♀: same site, III.1996; 3 ♀: Kyela, 09°35’S 033°48’E, 18.XI.1991, cashew nut litter, sieved, R. Jocquéleg. ( MRAC 173507). SOUTH AFRICA: 1 ♁: Kwazulu-Natal Province. Sani Pass, 29°39’S 029°27’E, 1200 m, 20.I.2008, pitfall trap, D. Prenticeleg. ( NCA); 2 ♁: same data as previous ( NCA); 1♀: 15 kmN of Richard’s Bay, 10.XII.1966, rehabilitated coastal forest, T. Wassenaarleg. ( NCA 97/946); 1♀: Kwazulu-Natal, Ndumo Game Reserve, Easternshore of Shokwe Pan, 26º52.516’S 32º12.407’E, wandering around in leaf litter, C. Haddadleg. ( MRAC 226176); 1♁: Kwazulu-Natal, Ndumo Game Reserve, 26º52.464’S 32º16.050’E, subtropical bush, Acacia nigrescenswoodland, C. Haddadleg. ( MRAC 226177).
Description. Male.Total length, 3.75 mm. Carapace.Length 1.64 mm, width 1.24 mm. Colour pale yellow-brown with a feint paler longitudinal median band extending from behind the head region to hind margin. With some darker striae radiating from the fovea. Fovea relatively long (ca. 20% of carapace length). Head region not noticeably elevated. Eyes. Anterior row straight or very slightly procurved. AME 2.7 × diameter of Map 6.Localities of A. latedissipata. very small ALE and touching them. Middle eyes 2.25 × diameter of AME and about 0.33 × their own diameter apart. PLE 0.66 × diameter of PME and widely spaced, by ca. 2.0 × their own diameter. Immediate region of eyes densely black pigmented. Chelicerae. Long and narrow with a small fang. Coloured as carapace. Posterior margin with two very small teeth, anterior margin toothless. Maxillae and labium. Maxillae ca. 2 × length of labium, slightly broadened and strongly truncate distally. Colour very pale yellow. Labium slightly longer than broad, sub-quadrate, coloured as the maxillae and with a scattering of dark setae. Sternum. Shield shaped, slightly longer than broad, coloured as maxillae and with a scattering of dark setae. Legs. Typical of genus, long and thin, especially in male. Leg IV 1.27 × length of leg I. All segments pale yellow without any darker pigmentation. Ventral spines of leg I; metatarsus 2-2-(2), tibia 2-2-(2). Spines long, thin and pale. With three tarsal claws, the outer pair with five long thin teeth, the central claw small, on a raised pad and having two long serrated bristles adjacent. Abdomen. Dark grey-brown with a pale orange folium dorsally and, posterior to this, a pattern of chevrons with adjacent pale spots. The dorsal part densely clothed in dark setae. Ventrally pale whitish-yellow. Spinnerets. The PLS long, almost 2 × length of AMS. Basal segment of PLS ca. 2 × length of terminal segment. Coloured as abdomen. Palp. Figs 20-24. Median apophysis situated distally, anterior lobe sickle-shaped, posterior lobe without a forward pointing projection on the proximal end, which tapers to a point. Embolus also situated distally, relatively narrow, the tip obscured by a narrow functional conductor. Female.Total length 4.58 mm. Carapace. Length 1.75 mm, width 1.24 mm. Colour as in male but somewhat darker. Pattern more diffuse than in male. Head region not at all elevated. Eyes. Anterior row slightly recurved, all eyes touching. AME 1.66 × diameter of ALE. Middle eyes 1.8 × diameter of AME, separated by 0.33 × their own diameter. PLE 0.55 × diameter of PME and widely separated by 2.73 × their own diameter. Immediate region of eyes suffused with black. Chelicerae. Similar to those of male in coloration and shape but slightly broader. Posterior margin with two small teeth, anterior margin with one very minute tooth. Maxillae and labium. Maxillae similar to those of male in colour and shape but rather broader in relation to length. Labium broader than in male but otherwise similar. Sternum. Identical in shape and colour to that of male. Legs. Similar of those of male but relatively shorter. Spination as in male but spines shorter, darker and more robust. Tarsal claws as in male but teeth longer and more robust. Abdomen. Dorsally, similar in colour to that of male but pattern much more indistinct. Ventrally, pale whitish yellow. Spinnerets. Long, proportions and coloration as in male. Epigyne. Figs 31, 32, 41. Central plate broadly cordate in shape with posterior margin slightly indented. Outline of spermathecae relatively small and positioned near the anterior end of central plate. Dorsal view Fig. 32. Variation.Total length, males 3.50-4.17 mm( 10 specimens), females 3.83-5.00 mm ( 9 specimens). There is some variation in the depth of pigmentation between individuals and in the distinctness of the dorsal pattern of the abdomen, with females generally having a less well defined pattern. The appearance of the female epigyne varies somewhat with the internal structures more visible through the cuticle in some specimens than others.
Distribution.Known from Mkomazi Game Reserve, Tanzania, Marracuene, Mozambiqueand Tembe Elephant Park, South Africa( Map 6).
Biology.Over one hundred specimens of this species were taken in pitfall traps in Mkomazi Game Reserve between April 1995and March 1996. Traps were operated for four days in each month in both Acacia/Commiphorabushland on a hillside and tall grassland on a footslope below. Amblyothele latedissipatawas found in both habitats but was most abundant in bushland that had not been recently burnt. It also occurred commonly in a grassland area that had been burnt a few months previously but was almost absent from recently burnt bushland. It showed a peak of activity in all habitats in the wet months of April and May with a second minor peak in October.
2608939728
1994-11-26
MRAC
Commiphor & Smith
Tanzania
-4.0
Mkomazi Game Reserve
1307
38.0
19
168
MRAC 225507
1
holotype
2608939722
[185,767,941,969]
Tanzania
TANZANIA
19
168
3
3
paratype
2608939720
[779,1103,941,968]
MRAC
Mozambique
19
168
MRAC 225508
1
holotype
2608939727
2007-11-28
NCA
C. Haddad & R. Fourie
Mozambique
50
-25.5854
Marracuene
1
32.659466
Blue Anchor Inn
19
168
2
2
holotype
2608939730
2002-01-22
NCA
C. Haddad
South Africa
-27.016666
Tembe Elephant Park
1239
32.4
Muzi Swamps
19
168
2
2
holotype
2608939729
1995-04
A. Russell-Smith
Tanzania
Mkomazi
-4.0
Ibaya
1307
38.0
Reserve
19
168
8
8
2608939723
1995-04
A. Russell-Smith
Tanzania
Ibaya
Mkomazi Game Reserve
19
168
4
4
2608939719
1991-11-18
MRAC
R. Jocque
Tanzania
-9.583333
Kyela
1299
33.8
19
168
MRAC 173507
3
3
2608939725
2008-01-20
NCA
D. Prentice
South Africa
1200
-29.65
Sani Pass
1226
29.45
19
168
1
KwaZulu-Natal
2608939739
2008-01-20
NCA
D. Prentice
South Africa
1200
-29.65
Sani Pass
1226
29.45
19
168
1
KwaZulu-Natal
2608939726
1966-12-10
NCA
T. Wassenaar
South Africa
Richard's Bay
19
168
NCA 97
1
1
2608939716
MRAC
C. Haddad
South Africa
Ndumo Game Reserve
-26.875267
Shokwe Pan
1
32.206783
Eastern
19
168
MRAC 226176
1
1
KwaZulu-Natal
2608939717
MRAC
C. Haddad
South Africa
-26.8744
Ndumo Game Reserve
1
32.2675
19
168
MRAC 226177
1
KwaZulu-Natal