Stenaelurillus fuscatus Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000

Logunov, Dmitri V. & Azarkina, Galina N., 2018, Redefinition and partial revision of the genus Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886 (Arachnida, Araneae, Salticidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 430, pp. 1-126 : 37-41

Stenaelurillus fuscatus Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000

Figs 136–155 , 512

Stenaelurillus fuscatus Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000: 101 , figs 277–280 (D♂); ♂ holotype in MRAC, examined.

Diagnosis

Of the described species, S. fuscatus is most similar to S. darwini ( Figs 105–110 ) and S. uniguttatus (see Wesołowska 2014b: fig. 13). The males of S. fuscatus differ from both related species in having a very wide, square distal projection (DP) on the functional tegulum and a different arrangement of bunches of black shining hairs on the palpal tibia; the females of S. fuscatus can be distinguished from those of S. darwini by the much wider insemination ducts.

Material examined

Holotype

TANZANIA: ♂, Mkomazi GR, Umba River , ca 4°00′ S, 38°00′ E, riverine scrub, 18 Apr. 1995, A. Russell-Smith leg. ( MRAC 207.953 ).

Other material

KENYA: 9 ♂♂, 8 ♀♀, Kenya Coast, Taita Discovery Centre, ca 03°48′ S, 38°38′ E, pitfall traps, 6–24 Jan. 2001, E. Selempo leg. ( MRAC 213.080, MRAC 213.133, MRAC 212.904, MRAC 213.041); 1 ♀, Mathews Range forest, ca 03°15′ N, 37°20′ E, 1294 m a.s.l., on rocks, 11 Dec. 2002, D. van den Spiegel leg. ( MRAC 212.576).

Description

Male (holotype)

Measurements: carapace: 2.60 long, 2.00 wide, 1.35 high. Abdomen: 2.80 long, 2.00 wide. Ocular area: 1.10 long, 1.60 wide anteriorly, 1.55 wide posteriorly. Cheliceral length 0.70. Clypeal height 0.30.

Diameter of AME 0.45. Length of leg segments: I 1.20 + 0.75 + 0.85 + 0.60 + 0.50 (3.90); II 1.20 + 0.75 + 0.80 + 0.65 + 0.50 (3.90); III 1.70 + 0.95 + 1.20 + 1.45 + 0.60 (5.90); IV 1.70 + 0.90 + 1.15 + 1.60 + 0.70 (6.05). Leg formula IV,III,II/I. Leg spination: I: Fm d 0-1-1-5; Pt pr 1; Tb pr 1-1, v 1-2-2ap; Mt pr and rt 1-1ap, v 2-2ap. II: Fm d 0-1-2-5; Pt pr 1; Tb pr 1-1, v 1-1-2ap; Mt pr and rt 1-1-1ap, v 2-2ap. III: Fm d 1-0-2-5; Pt pr and rt 1; Tb d 1-0-0, pr and rt 1-1-1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt d 2-2-0, pr and rt 1-0-2ap, v 0-2-2ap. IV: Fm d 1-0-1-5; Pt pr and rt 1; Tb d 1-0-0, pr and rt 1-1-1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt d 2-2-0, pr 1-1-2ap, rt 1-0-2ap, v 0-2-2ap. Coloration (in alcohol; Figs 146–151 ). Carapace dark brown, covered with dark brown recumbent scales, with two longitudinal stripes of white scales running from PLEs to approximately ¼ of the carapace length. Clypeus brownish yellow, covered with white/transparent hairs. Sternum brownish yellow. Endites and labium brownish yellow. Chelicerae yellow-brown, covered with short dark brown hairs. Abdomen: dorsum dark brown, with dark brown scutum occupying ¾ of the abdomen length, covered with dark brown scales and with a small white spot behind the scutum; venter grey-yellow; sides with long hairs (brown dorsally and white ventrally). Book-lung covers yellow. Spinnerets yellow-brown. Legs I dark brown, covered with dark brown hairs. The remaining legs brown, covered with dark brown hairs. Palps brown, covered with dark brown hairs, except Fm retro-apically and Pt, Tb and cymbium prolaterally, which are densely covered with white hairs. Palpal structure as in Figs 136–142 : tibial apophysis with bunches of black shining hairs; VTA bulge-shaped; RTA hookshaped; the cymbium simple, without a cymbial lateral process; the tegulum small, poorly marked, without a tegular process; the functional tegulum elongated, with well-developed, pointed proximal (PP) and very wide, square distal (DP) projections; the embolus thick, hook-shaped, with a heavy base.

Female (MRAC 213.133)

Measurements: carapace: 2.50–3.00 long, 1.95–2.35 wide, 1.30–1.50 high. Abdomen: 3.00–3.60 long, 2.60–2.95 wide. Ocular area: 1.00–1.20 long, 1.50–1.75 wide anteriorly, 1.45–1.70 wide posteriorly. Cheliceral length 0.60–0.70. Clypeal height 0.25–0.30. Diameter of AME 0.40–0.50. Length of leg segments (big female): I 1.50 + 0.90 + 0.80 + 0.60 + 0.55 (4.35); II 1.50 + 0.90 + 0.85 + 0.70 + 0.60 (4.55); III 2.20 + 1.10 + 1.50 + 1.70 + 0.70 (7.20); IV 2.15 + 1.00 + 1.45 + 1.90 + 0.75 (7.25). Leg formula IV,III,II,I. Leg spination: I: Fm d 0-1-1-5; Pt pr 1; Tb pr 1-1, v 1-1-2ap; Mt pr 1-1ap, rt 1-1ap, v 2-2ap. II: Fm d 0-1-2-5; Pt pr 1; Tb pr 1-1, v 1-1-2ap; Mt pr and rt 1-1ap, v 2-2ap. III: Fm d 1-0-2-5; Pt pr and rt 1; Tb d 1-0-0, pr and rt 1-1-1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt d 2-2-0, pr and rt 1-0-2ap, v 0-2-2ap. IV: Fm d 1-0-1-5; Pt pr and rt 1; Tb d 1-0-0, pr and rt 1-1-1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt d 2-2-0, pr 1-1-2ap, rt 1-0-2ap, v 1-2-2ap. Coloration (in alcohol; Figs 152–155 ). Carapace dark brown, laterally covered with dark brown recumbent scales, dorsally with brown-yellow recumbent scales, with two longitudinal white stripes of scales running from PLEs to approximately ¼ of the abdomen length. Clypeus and cheeks yellowbrown, sparsely covered with brownish hairs. Endites and labium brown-yellow. Chelicerae brown. Abdomen: dorsum brown, with a poorly marked pattern of a central inverted triangle (its apex is directed posteriad) and an oval spot of white scales having a small brown dot in its centre; venter brownish yellow, with numerous brown speckles. Book-lung covers yellow. Spinnerets brownish yellow. Legs brown, covered with dark brown hairs and bristles. Palps yellow, sparsely covered with dark brown hairs and bristles. Epigyne and spermathecae as in Figs 143–145 ; the epigynal plate flat, without visible structures; the epigynal pocket poorly marked (as a wide invagination of the epigastric furrow); the copulatory openings as ovoid holes, widely separated and facing laterad; the insemination ducts very wide and short, running towards the median line; the primary spermathecae ovoid.

Distribution

A few localities in Kenya and Tanzania ( Fig. 512 ) ( Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2000; present data).

Figures

Figs 136–145. Stenaelurillus fuscatus Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000, ♂ (136–142), and ♀ from Kenya (Taita Discovery Centre; MRAC 213.133) (143–145). 136. Male palp, ventral view. 137. Male palp, retrolateral view. 138. DTA, dorsal view. 139–142. Embolic division. 139. Ventral view. 140. Retrolateral view. 141. Median view. 142. Dorsal view. 143–144. Epigyne, ventral view. 145. Spermathecae, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: see Material and methods.

Figs 146–151. Stenaelurillus fuscatus Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000, holotype, ♂ (150–151) and ♂ from Kenya (Taita Discovery Centre; MRAC 213.133) (146–149), general appearance. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figs 152–155. ♀ of Stenaelurillus fuscatus Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000 from Kenya (Taita Discovery Centre; MRAC 213.133), general appearance. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Figs 105–110. Stenaelurillus darwini Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000 from Tanzania (Mkomazi GR; MMUE G7571.48,50). 105. Male palp, ventral view. 106. Male palp, retrolateral view. 107. Embolic division, dorsalview. 108. Embolic division, median view.109. Epigyne, ventral view.110. Spermathecae, dorsal view. Abbreviations: see Material and methods. Scale bars: 0.1 mm

Fig. 512. Collecting localities of six African species of Stenaelurillus Simon, 1885.