Redefinition and partial revision of the genus Stenaelurillus Simon, 1886 (Arachnida, Araneae, Salticidae)
Author
Logunov, Dmitri V.
Author
Azarkina, Galina N.
text
European Journal of Taxonomy
2018
2018-05-02
430
1
126
journal article
22376
10.5852/ejt.2018.430
cfc8b353-070f-4081-a954-8ee7cec84a16
3787622
5902A879-CD11-4CC3-A802-7C0D2F8059BE
Evarcha werneri
(
Simon, 1906
)
comb. nov.
Figs 499–503
, 515
Stenaelurillus werneri
Simon, 1906: 1174
(D♂
♀
);
lectotype
♀
(designated here) in NHMW, examined.
Evarcha elegans
Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000: 26
, figs 37–44 (D♂
♀
); type series in MRAC, not
examined.
Syn. nov.
Stenaelurillus werneri
–
Prószyński 1984: 139
(
♀
).
Diagnosis
The female of
E. werneri
comb. nov.
(
Figs 502–503
) is most similar to that of the widespread African species
Hyllus dotatus
(Peckham & Peckham, 1903)
(see
Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2000
: sub
Evarcha
d.
), but differs in having a wider epigynal plate. A diagnosis for the male and a detailed description of this species were provided by
Wesołowska & Russell-Smith (2000
: sub
Evarcha elegans
).
Material examined
Lectotype
(designated here)
AFRICA:
♀
, from “Afrika, Mongalla, Werner 1905” [
Mongalla
,
5.18002° N
,
31.76798° E
, currently in
South Sudan
] (
NHMW
).
Other material
NAMIBIA
:
1 ♂
,
Karas Region
,
Okahondja
shore,
Washing
,
26°39′ S
,
16°52′ E
,
12 Sep. 1974
,
S. Endrödy-Younga
leg. (
TM
19409
)
;
1 ♂
, same region,
Windhouk
,
Enos Mt.
,
22°34′ S
,
17°06′ E
,
20 Oct. 1974
,
S. Endrödy-Younga
leg. (
TM
19216
)
.
SOUTH AFRICA
:
1 ♂
,
Limpopo Province
,
Pafuri
(
Wallers Camp
),
22°25′ S
,
31°02′ E
,
pitfall traps
,
18 Feb. 2008
,
S.H. Foord
leg. (
NCA 2009
/2581)
;
1 ♂
, same prov.,
Entabeni
, ca
23°02′ S
,
30°11′ E
,
11 Feb. 2008
,
N. Hahn
leg. (
NCA 2016
/1727)
.
Remarks
According to the original description (
Simon 1906: 1174
), the author examined and described both the male and the female of this species (
syntypes
). In his diagnosis,
Simon (1906: 1174)
mentioned
Figs 499–503.
Evarcha werneri
(
Simon, 1906
)
comb. nov.
(
lectotype
♀
of
Stenaelurillus werneri
Simon, 1906
).
499–501
. General appearance.
502
. Epigyne, ventral view.
503
. Spermathecae, dorsal view. Scale bars: 499–501 =
1 mm
; 502–503 =
0.1 mm
.
that the male of
S. werneri
was close to that of
S. triguttatus
, which is currently known from
Nepal
and Tibet (
Wesołowska 2014a
). Unfortunately, the whereabouts of the male are unknown; it is absent from either the NHMW or the MNHN. In order to assess the validity and taxonomic affinities of this species and to stabilize its taxonomic status, the studied
syntype
female was designated as the
lectotype
of
S. werneri
.
The wide transverse plate of the epigyne and the conformation of spermathecae (viz., S-shaped membranous insemination ducts ending up by the heavily sclerotized, multi-chambered primary receptacles;
Fig. 503
) are evidence that this species is to be transferred to the genus
Evarcha
Simon, 1902
. The larger problem of the generic assignment of this and many other African species of
Hyllus
/
Evarcha
is beyond the scope of the present paper and will be considered elsewhere.
Having re-examined the
lectotype
female of
Stenaelurillus werneri
, it has become evident that the conformation of its copulatory organs (
Figs 502–503
) is identical with those of
Evarcha elegans
(cf.
Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2000
: figs 42–44) and therefore both species names are to be synonymized.
Description
Male
See
Wesołowska & Russell-Smith (2000
: sub.
E. elegans
).
Female
(
lectotype
, designated here)
The specimen is in poor condition, visibly faded and with half of its legs on both sides being detached from the body (
Figs 499–501
). Measurements: carapace 2.45 long, 1.70 wide and 1.20 high at PLE. Ocular area: 1.13 long, 1.53 wide anteriorly and 1.68 wide posteriorly. Diameter of AME 0.48. Clypeal height 0.18, chelicera length 0.63. Abdomen 3.05 long, 1.70 wide. Length of leg segments: I 1.08 + 0.60 + 0.75 + 0.55 + 0.40 (3.38); II 1.00 + 0.55 + 0.58 + 0.40 + 0.40 (2.93); III 1.65 + 0.78 + 0.95 + 0.83 + 0.55 (4.76); IV 1.30 + 0.53 + 0.53 + 0.80 + 0.43 (3.59).
Leg
formula III,IV,I,II.
Leg
spination: I: Fm d 0-1-1-5; Pt pr 0-1-0; Tb pr 1-1, rt 0-1, v 2-2-2ap; Mt pr 1-1ap, v 2-2ap. II: Fm d 0-1-2-4; Pr pr 0-1-0; Tb pr 1-1-1, v 2-2ap; Mt pr 1-1ap, v 2-2ap. III: Fm d 1-0-2-4; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb pr and rt 1-1-1, v 1-0- 2ap; Mt pr, rt and v 1-0-2ap. IV: Fm d 1-2-3; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb pr and rt 1-1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt pr, rt and v 1-0-2ap. Coloration (in alcohol;
Figs 499–501
). The specimen is markedly faded. Entire body, all legs, book-lung covers, spinnerets and palps pale yellow, with no visible colour pattern or patches; only black areas around eyes. Clypeus pale yellow, without hair/scale cover. Epigyne and spermathecae as in
Figs 502–503
: epigyne as a transverse, slightly procurved plate (as in all
Evarcha
species); insemination ducts wide and membranous; receptacle elongated, its basal section round and markedly larger than distal sections.
Distribution
South Sudan
(
Simon 1906
: sub.
Stenaelurillus
w
.),
Namibia
(present data),
Ethiopia
,
Tanzania
and
South Africa
(
Wesołowska & Russell-Smith 2000
;
Wesołowska & Tomasiewicz 2008
;
Wesołowska & Haddad 2009
; all sub.
E. elegans
) (
Fig. 515
).