Studies in Liocranidae (Araneae): redescriptions and transfers in Apostenus Westring and Brachyanillus Simon, as well as description of a new genusAuthorBosselaers, JantextZootaxa200921413755journal article10.5281/zenodo.188586ddfbe6a3-4ba0-477c-82ba-0190603b6c151175-5326188586Arabeliagen. n.Figs. 2 K
; 7 A–G; 8 H; 9.
Diagnosis.Arabelia
is close to
Andromma
Simon 1893
from Africa (
Ethiopia
, Central and
South Africa
), but differs from this genus by its single chilum, flattened as opposed to slender PMS, presence of feathery hairs, spineless ti and mt III, absence of true claw tufts and presence of epigynal hood.
Arabelia
can be distinguished from all other liocranids by the almost spineless legs III and IV and the combination of large CO of the vulva and a narrow, anterior epigynal hood.
Description.
Small (2–4) spiders. Carapace unicolorous reddish brown (
Fig. 9
), fading to orange in ethanol (
Fig. 8 H
). A short but distinct fovea in posterior third. Chilum small and weakly sclerotised, single, triangular. PLB weak and thin, isolated. Eyes in two transverse rows of four, in fr view AER slightly recurved and PER slightly procurved (Fig. 7 D); in do view both eye rows recurved (Fig. 7 A). All eyes subequal, AME circular, LE oval, PME subtriangular. ALE and PE pearl, AME with dark retina restricted to median half of eye. MOQ widest posteriorly. Clypeus slightly larger than diameter of AME. Chelicerae yellow-brown, slightly bulging, tapering towards tip. Fangs sickle-shaped, with one large, knee-shaped seta and a row of long curved setae in front. Sternum shield shaped, smooth, yellow-brown in ethanol. Small PCT present, no ICS. Labium subtrapezoidal, with thickened anterior rim, slightly longer than wide. Endites subrectangular, frontally rounded, with oblique depression, apical hair tuft and serrula. Legs unicolorous pink in living animal (
Fig. 9
), fading to yellow ochre in ethanol (
Fig. 8 H
). No rh, no trochanter notch. Patellar indentation long and narrow, 1/2–2/3 of pa length. Leg formula 1423. Femora with one basal do spine, ti I and II with 5 ve spine pairs, mt I and II with 3 ve spine pairs, legs III and IV almost spineless. Sparse ve preening brush on mt III and IV. Tarsi without claw tufts, but with several pairs of tenent hairs, claws pectinate.
FIGURE 7 A–G.Arabelia pheidoleicomessp. n.
A,
holotype,
do; B, holotype carapace, lat; C, holotype sternum and
mouth parts, ve; D, holotype carapace, fr; E, paratype
Abdomen pink (
Fig. 9
), fading to pale yellow in ethanol (
Fig. 8 H
), covered with pointed grey hairs. Small and weak inframamillary sclerite present (Fig. 7 G). ALS conical, separated by their width, with short apical segment. PMS large and compressed, with three large cylindrical gland spigots and one minor ampullate gland spigot. PLS cylindrical, separated by their length, with large white apical segment 1/3 of total length of spinneret bearing two large cylindrical gland spigots (Fig. 7 G).
Epigyne with small anterior hood (Fig. 7 F), vulva with anterior CO, posterior ST1 and small ST2 (Fig. 7 E).Etymology.
The genus name
Arabelia
refers to the Belgian Arachnological Society Arabel (
Jocqué 2004; http://www.arabel.ugent.be/
), which organised expeditions to the Greek islands, during which the new species was collected.
Discussion.
Whether
Arabelia
should be placed in
Corinnidae
or
Liocranidae
remains a matter of debate, since both families lack distinct synapomorphies (
Platnick & Baptista 1995
;
Bosselaers & Jocqué 2002
;
Wunderlich 2008
). Eye morphology, leg spination and clear myrmecophyly (see below) suggest a proximity of
Arabelia
to
Andromma
, a genus which is traditionally placed in
Liocranidae (
Platnick 2009
)
, but ended up in the corinnid clade in an analysis by
Bosselaers & Jocqué (2002)
. However, the affinities of enigmatic dionychan genera such as
Andromma
and
Hortipes
(which also has almost spineless legs III and IV) remains unclear and their place in cladograms has not yet stabilised.
Arabelia
is attributed to
Liocranidae
based on its flat carapace, narrow eye field, lack of conspicuous abdominal sclerotisation and presence of an anterior epigynal hood similar to
Liocranum
and
Mesiotelus
.