The velvet spiders: an atlas of the Eresidae (Arachnida, Araneae)
Author
Miller, Jeremy A.
Author
Griswold, Charles E.
Author
Scharff, Nikolaj
Author
Řezac, Milan
Author
Szűts, Tamas
Author
Marhabaie, Mohammad
text
ZooKeys
2012
195
1
144
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.195.2342
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.195.2342
1313-2970-195-1
Paradonea striatipes Lawrence
Figs 10A, B13J, K68
A-C
, G, H71
Paradonea striat
ipes Lawrence, 1968: 116-118, figs 2f, 3b.
Diagnosis.
Distinguished from other
Eresidae
except
Gandanameno
, some
Dresserus
,
Stegodyphus dumicola
,
Stegodyphus tentoriicola
, and
Loureedia annulipes
by the bifid conductor
(
Figs 13J, K, 68G, H); distinguished from
Dresserus
and
Gandanameno
by the palpal conformation, which has a proximal-ventral axis with the helical embolus encircling the distal part (obliquely ventral-dorsal in
Dresserus
and
Gandanameno
with the embolus encircling the ventral part, Figs 12
G-I
, 13
D-F
, 33
I-K
, 48
A-C
); distinguished from
Stegodyphus dumicola
,
Stegodyphus tentoriicola
, and
Loureedia annulipes
by the shape of the conductor branches, which strongly diverge in orientation and feature a curved, spine-like dorsal branch and a broad ventral branch with several small sharp processes
(
Fig. 68H). Distinguished from other eresids except
Paradonea parva
,
Paradonea presleyi
sp. n.,
Seothyra
, and some
Stegodyphus
by the enlarged leg I (Fig. 68A, B), distinguished from
Paradonea parva
,
Paradonea presleyi
sp. n., and
Seothyra
by the presence of a dense brush of setae, especially on the tibia (Fig. 68A, B); distinguished from
Paradonea presleyi
sp. n. and
Stegodyphus
by the separation of the median eyes on the vertical axis (Fig. 10A; broadly overlapping in
Paradonea presleyi
sp. n. and
Stegodyphus
, Figs 11E, 70I).
Paradonea striatipes
has the PLE in a more advanced position (ca. 0.25) than most other eresids (Fig. 11B;
Dresserus
,
Gandanameno
, and
Stegodyphus
may also have the PLE around 0.25). The markings, especially the distribution of white setae, are unique (Fig. 68
A-C
). The palpi are relatively small proportional to body size compared to other eresids (Fig. 68B).
Description.
Male (Outjo Namibia, NMBA05700, BMSA): Carapace with broad band of white setae around margin and between AME; cephalic region subtriangular, longer than wide, strongly raised; AME distinctly smaller than PME (AME/PME 0.33), median eyes widely separated on horizontal axis, adjacent on vertical axis; ALE on distinct tubercles; PER much narrower than AER (PER/AER 0.82), PLE position on carapace 0.25; clypeal hood forms acute angle; fovea shallow. Chelicerae with lateral boss, basal three quarters covered in white setae, contiguous mesally. Legs with bands of white setae, especially dorsally along the length of most segments; leg I somewhat thickened and elongated, tibia I with brush of dark setae; with scattered ventral macrosetae on tibia
II-IV
and metatarsus and tarsus
I-IV
. Abdomen black with series of irregular transverse stripes formed by thick patches of white setae (Figs 10A, B, 68
A-C
).
Male palp with proximal-distal axis; tegulum moderately elongate, subtrapezoidal; second loop of sperm duct follows complicated path featuring multiple switchbacks; conductor and embolus together form apical complex making 1.5 helical turns; conductor with conspicuous bifid apophysis arising from retrolateral side, consisting of a spine-like dorsal branch curving distally for nearly 180° and a broad, flattened ventral branch with several small sharp processes along the ventral and distal margins; tegular division longer than embolic division; cymbium with a few mesosetae (only slightly thicker than normal setae) over dorsal to prolateral surface (Figs 12J, K, 68G, H).
Female: Unknown.
Figure 68.
A-J
males of
Paradonea striatipes
and
Paradonea splendens
.
A-C
, G, H
Paradonea striatipes
, male from Otjivasandu, Namibia (NMN)
D-F
, I, J
Paradonea splendens
, male from Sunnyside, South Africa (C1076, SAM)
A-F
habitus of male, photomicrographs
G-J
illustrations of left male palp A, D dorsal view B, E ventral view C, F anterior view G, I prolateral view H, J retrolateral view. C conductor E embolus ST subtegulum T tegulum.