Eusparassus syrticus Simon, 1909

Figs 24, 51c–d, 62c

Eusparassus argelasius syrticus Simon, 1909: 30–31 (description of female). [2 female and 1 immature syntypes from Tunisia, MNHN, examined] 1 female lectotype designated here, (for justification see remarks).

Eusparassus dufouri syrticus (Simon) . Denis 1945: 54.

Type material. Lectotype: female, TUNISIA: Governorat de Tataouine: Tataouine [N 32° 25' 32'', E 10° 10' 29''] (label: Eus. argel. syrticus E.S. Tunesia S of Triholitaine, Tatahouine), Jar number: 1668, Simon number: 22701 (MNHN).

Diagnosis. Copulatory duct very robust and wide like that of E. oraniensis but differing from it by TL not visible in dorsal view (Fig. 24b) and having larger and semispherical GP overlapping with distal end of CD (Fig. 24c) [see also diagnosis for dufouri species group above].

Description. Female (lectotype):

Measurements. Large sized Eusparassus species; total length 22.8, prosoma length 9.5, prosoma width 8.6, anterior width of prosoma 4.8, opisthosoma length 13.3, opisthosoma width 9.0. Eye diameters: AME 0.55, ALE 0.60, PME 0.55, PLE 0.62; eye interdistances: AME-AME 0.23, AME-ALE 0.05, PME-PME 0.50, PME-PLE 0.51, AME-PME 0.62, ALE-PLE 0.39, clypeus height at AME 0.52, clypeus height at ALE 0.58. PLE largest; LE larger than ME (Fig. 24d).

Chelicerae. Chelicerae with 2 anterior and 3 posterior teeth, intermarginal denticles absent (Fig. 24e).

Legs. Leg formula: IV II I III. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 11.2 [3.5, 1.7, 2.2, 3.8], I 34.4 [10.0, 4.3, 8.6, 9.1, 2.4], II 36.2 [10.7, 4.4, 9.4, 9.2, 2.5], III 34.1 [10.7, 4.0, 8.4, 8.5, 2.5], IV 37.5 [11.7, 3.8, 9.2, 10.2, 2.6].

Spination. Palp 131, 001, 1111, 1013; Legs: Femur I– III 424, IV 423; Patella I– IV 101; Tibia I–IV 2024; Metatarsus I 1014, II–III 2024, IV 3036.

Epigyne/vulva. As in diagnosis with EF longer than wide, MS as long as wide (Fig. 24a); CD widened and covered by TL, only parts of GP extending beyond CD in dorsal view of vulva (Fig. 24b); GP enlarged (Fig. 24c).

Colouration [in ethanol]. Reddish brown with banded legs: femur with a distal dark band, tibia with two strong bands (Fig. 51c); ventral opisthosoma with a robust V-shaped dark marking (Fig. 51d).

Male: unknown.

Remarks. The type series consists of two females and one immature female. The one medium sized female belongs to the known species E. barbarus . The larger female and immature female both belong to the same species. Thus, in order to conserve the specific name syrticus, this latter female is selected and designated here as lectotype. Levy (1989: 137, figs 22–23) studied one female (sub Sparassus syrticus) from Morocco but it was a misidentification and the species is actually belonged to E. atlanticus stat. nov.

Known geographical distribution. Southern Tunisia (type locality).