First description of the male of Rothus vittatus Simon, 1898 (Araneae: Pisauridae), with a review of the African nursery web spider genus Rothus Simon, 1898 Author Cruz Da Silva, Estevam L. Author Sierwald, Petra text African Invertebrates 2015 2015-08-12 56 2 325 342 journal article 2305-2562 Rothus vittatus Simon, 1898 Figs 24–42 Rothus vittatus Simon, 1898 b : 15 ; Blandin 1977: 554, figs 13, 30. Diagnosis: Specimens of R. vittatus , even subadults, can be distinguished from R. aethiopicus by the presence of rows of short, dark, stiff bristles ventrally on the metatarsi and tarsi, mainly on legs I and II ( Fig. 42 ). Adult specimens of R. vittatus are generally smaller than those of R. aethiopicus . The females of R. vittatus ( Fig. 30 ) resemble those of R. aethiopicus in the prominent lateral lobes ( Fig. 8 ) and by the excavated middle field of the epigynum. In R. vittatus females the excavation of the middle field extends posteriorly less than half the length of the epigynum; the trajectory of the lateral lobes is almost straight in the posterior half of the epigynum ( Figs 30, 31 ). The head of the spermathecae is elongated ( Figs 32, 33 ). Males can be distinguished from R. aethiopicus by the acute apex of the median apophysis ( Figs 36 , 38, 39 ) and by the acute tips of the divided apex of the retrolateral tibial apophysis ( Figs 37 , 40, 41 ). Redescription: Female ( South Africa , NCA 2002/989). Total length 12.11. Prosoma 4.6 long, 3.7 wide, light brown with two wide lateral whitish bands ( Fig. 24 ). Clypeus light brown, 0.38 high ( Fig. 26 ). Anterior eye row straight, 1.24 wide ( Fig. 26 ); posterior recurved, 1.52 wide ( Fig. 24 ). Eye measurements: AME 0.15, ALE 0.26, PME 0.28, PLE 0.30; AME–AME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.20, PME–PME 0.27, PME–PLE 0.22, OQA 0.46, OQP 0.82, OQH 0.74. Chelicerae light brown with white bristles ( Fig. 26 ). Sternum light brown, bristly; 1.91 long, 1.95 wide ( Fig. 25 ). Labium dark brown, light brown distally, 0.24 long, 0.54 wide ( Fig. 25 ). Legs light brown, relative length: IV-I-II-III, I – femur 8.37/ patella-tibia 11.25/ metatarsus 7.50/ tarsus 4.62/ total 31.74; II – 9.35/ 11.75/ 7.87/ 4.87/ 33.84; III – 8.35/ 10.01/ 7.62/ 3.63/ 29.61; IV – 10.12/ 12.50/ 10.50/ 4.75/ 37.87. Ventral pairs of macrosetae on tibiae: I-4; II-4; III-3; IV-4. Superior tarsal claw with 11 teeth ( Fig. 34 ). Inferior tarsal claw with two teeth ( Fig. 35 ). Rows of dark, robust short bristles present ventrally on metatarsus and tarsus, mainly on legs I and II. Opisthosoma 7.10 long, light brown, with a dark brown band at the anterior portion ( Fig. 24 ). Venter light brown, with thin dark brown median band ( Fig. 25 ). Middle field with short anterior excavation ( Fig. 31 ). Lateral lobes prominent ( Fig. 30 ), anteriorly with wide lateral curve, almost straight in posterior section. Copulatory ducts strongly curved ( Fig. 32 ). Head of spermathecae elongated and with conspicuous pores ( Fig. 33 ). Figs 24–29. Rothus vittatus Simon, 1898 , female (24–26) [NCA 2008/427] and male habitus (27–29) [NCA 2009/5599]: (24, 27) dorsal, (25, 28) ventral and (26, 29) frontal views. Variation: Females (N=9) range in size from 3.5 to 5.0 in prosoma length, average 4.18. Coloration varying from light yellow-brown to dark grey-brown. The female epigyna are rather variable, with several of them being very similar to that of the single type specimen of R. auratus , indicating possibly synonymy (discussed below). Figs 30–35. Rothus vittatus Simon, 1898 : (30–33) female epigynum (30, ventral; 31, detail of middle field [NCA 2002/989]; 32, dorsal; 33, detail of head of spermathecae [NCA 2004/182]); (34, 35) female tarsal claws (34, detail of superior tarsal claw; 35, detail of inferior tarsal claw [NCA]).Abbreviations: CD = copulatory duct; CO = copulatory opening; FD = fertilisation duct; HS = head of spermathecae; LL = lateral lobes; MF = middle field. Male ( South Africa , NCA 2008/427). Total length 6.6. Prosoma 3.7 long, 6.6 wide, light brown with two wide lateral whitish bands ( Fig. 27 ). Clypeus light brown, 0.16 high ( Fig. 29 ). Anterior eye row straight, 0.86 wide ( Fig. 29 ); posterior recurved, 1.02 wide ( Fig. 27 ). Eye measurements: AME 0.12, ALE 0.18, PME 0.20, PLE 0.26; AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.12, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.24, OQA 0.32, OQP 0.58, OQH 0.56. Chelicerae light brown, with white bristles ( Fig. 29 ). Sternum light brown, bristly; 1.28 long, 1.24 wide ( Fig. 28 ). Labium dark brown, light brown distally, 0.31 long, 0.46 wide ( Fig. 28 ). Legs light brown, relative length: I-II-IV-III, I – femur 3.10/ patella-tibia 4.10/ metatarsus 3.20/ tarsus 2.20/ total 12.60; II – 3.30/ 3.90/ 3.10/ 1.90/ 12.20; III – 2.80/ 3.10/ 2.90/ 1.20/ 10.00; IV – 3.50/ 4.00/ 3.20/ 1.50/ 12.20. Ventral pairs of macrosetae on tibiae: I-4; II-4; III-3; IV-4. Rows of dark, robust, short and almost bladelike bristles present ventrally on metatarsi and tarsi, mainly on legs I and II ( Fig. 42 ). Opisthosoma 3.7 long, light brown, with dark brown band at anterior portion ( Fig. 27 ). Venter light brown, with thin dark brown median band ( Fig. 28 ). Cymbium 1.3 long ( Figs 36, 37 ). Palpus with elongated bulbus. Distal tegular projection prominent ( Figs 36 , 38, 39 ). Median apophysis with acute apex ( Fig. 39 ). Conductor short and translucent ( Fig. 36 ). Ventral tibial apophysis prominent ( Figs 39, 41 ). Retrolateral tibial apophysis short and divided ( Figs 40, 41 ). Variation: Males (N=10) vary in size from 2.75 to 4.2 in prosoma length, average 3.52. Male mostly lighter in colour than females and colour pattern less pronounced. Figs 36, 37. Rothus vittatus Simon, 1898 , male palpus: (36) ventral and (37) retrolateral views.Abbreviations: C = conductor; DTP = distal tegular projection; E = embolus; MA = median apophysis; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; ST = subtegulum; T = tegulum; VTA = ventral tibial apophysis. Type material (not examined): Syntypes : 1♂ 7♀ SOUTH AFRICA : Cape Province ( MNHN 9921 ) Material examined: SOUTH AFRICA : Mpumalanga : Ohrigstad , 14 km south of Belfast [ 25°31'S 30°30'E ], 27–29.xii.1990 , V.D. Roth & B. Roth , 1♂ , 1♀ ( CASENT 9046708 ). Northern Cape : Prieska [ 29°38'S 22°57'E ], 15.i.2001 , C. Haddad , 2♂ , 1♀ (NCA 2004/182). Western Cape : Borrelfontein , 8 km W of Gouritz Mouth [ 33°59'S 22°16'E ], 15.v.2008 , H. Leibel , 1♂ , 1♀ (NCA 2009/5599); Jacobsbaai , Saldanha Bay district [ 33°00'S 18°04'E ], 2.x.2007 , R. Lyle & C. Haddad , 3♂ , 3♀ (NCA 2008/427); Sedgefield [ 34°01'S 22°48'E ], 30.xii.1986 , A. Le Roy , 1♂ (NCA 1988/778); Swartberg Nature Reserve [ 32°59'S 22°55'E ], 15.x.2001 , Z. van der Walt , 3♂ , 5♀ (NCA 2002/989); same locality, 15.iii.2003 , Z. van der Walt , 2♂ (NCA 2003/1092). Remark : Males and females were found together at several localities in South Africa (NCA collection) . Figs 38–41. Rothus vittatus Simon, 1898 , S.E.M. of male palpus: (38) ventral view; (39) detail of bulbus; (40) retrolateral view; (41) detail of RTA [NCA 2009/5599]. Abbreviations: C = conductor; DTP = distal tegular projection; E = embolus; MA = median apophysis; RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis; ST = subtegulum; T = tegulum; VTA = ventral tibial apophysis. Fig. 42. Rothus vittatus Simon, 1898 : legs I and II of male, metatarsus and tarsus (NCA 2002/989). Distribution: South Africa ( Mpumalanga , Western Cape and Northern Cape ) ( Fig. 1 ).