Genus Manzuma gen. nov.

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Type species

Saitis nigritibiis Caporiacco, 1941, designated here.

Etymology

This genus is dedicated to my mother, Manzuma Mavlyut kyzy Azarkina. At the same time, ‘manzuma’ is an Islamic poetry genre from Ethiopia, the area of origin of the type species, Manzuma nigritibia gen. et comb. nov. Gender feminine.

Diagnosis

The body shape of the new genus is very similar to that of Aelurillus Simon, 1884 . Manzuma differs from Aelurillus in the following characters: (1) base of the embolic division (ED) with an apical projection (Figs 52, 55, arrowed, ApP), which is absent in Aelurillus (Fig. 8); (2) the terminal apophysis (TA) is membranous and broad, situated on both pro- and retrolateral sides of the embolus, curved inwards prolaterally (Figs 56–59), while in Aelurillus the TA is more sclerotized, and connected to embolus by a membrane only on the retrolateral side (Fig. 9 and Azarkina & Zamani 2019: figs 5–11); (3) embolic tip wide, with a short apical membranous process (Figs 56, 58), while in Aelurillus the embolus is pointed apically, without a membranous process (Figs 8–9); (4) epigynal wings are always absent, while in Aelurillus they are always present (see e.g. Azarkina 2002, 2003, 2009, etc.); (5) introductory parts of the insemination ducts are fused around the copulatory openings to form a small tube and then bifurcated (Figs 36, 67, 94, 115, 142, 164, CD), while in Aelurillus copulatory openings are always separate, even if they lie in the same epigynal depression (Figs 1–3); (6) accessory glands are short, weakly sclerotized and in most cases seen only from an apical view (Figs 35, 67, 113–115, 140–141, 164, AG), while in Aelurillus accessory glands are strongly sclerotized and in most cases visible from a dorsal view of the spermathecae (Figs 2–3, AG).

Manzuma gen. nov. differs from Rafalus in the following characters: (1) palpal tibia without a ventral bulge, ventral RTA triangular and well developed, dorsal RTA small, rounded (Fig. 12), while in Rafalus the palpal tibia has a ventral bulge, ventral RTA triangular at the base and elongated apically, without dorsal RTA (Fig. 5); (2) base of embolic division with apical protuberance (Fig. 55, arrowed, ApP) which is absent in Rafalus (Fig. 6); (3) TA broad in Manzuma gen. nov. (Figs 56–59), narrow in Rafalus (Figs 6–7); (4) clypeus relatively high, ca. half of AME’s diameter, while in Rafalus the clypeus low, about ⅓ of AME’s diameter (Figs 23, 26); (5) the carapace is pear-shaped, almost half as wide at AME, while in Rafalus the carapace is rectangular (Fig. 24); (6) the copulatory openings are situated in the apical part of the epigyne, with short (except for M. kenyaensis, Figs 90–91, 93) introductory parts of the insemination ducts (Figs 34, 36, 69–71, 115, 140–142, 164, 167), while in Rafalus the openings are situated near the epigastric furrow, introductory parts of the insemination ducts are long and tube-shaped (see Prószyński 1999: figs 3–4, 11–12).

Except for Aelurillus and Rafalus, all other aelurilline genera are distinct from Manzuma gen. nov. in basic body form ( Langona, Langelurillus, Phlegra, Proszynskiana, Stenaelurillus) or composition of copulatory organs (e.g. coiled embolic division in Asianellus, Langona, Langelurillus, some Phlegra and Phanuelus or embolic division without apical projection in Proszynskiana).

Definition

Small spiders, ranging in body length from 2.80 to 3.75 mm in males and 3.80 to 4.60 mm in females. Sexes similar in general body shape. Males usually smaller and brighter coloured.

CARAPACE. Rather high, highest point located in PLE or just behind PLE. Colour pattern of both sexes usually with two longitudinal stripes running along the ALE–PLE lines (poorly visible or invisible in some females); fovea present and situated between PLEs; the anterior part of the eye field is covered with short erect bristles similar to the ‘rod-hairs’ described for Asianellus Logunov & Heçiak, 1996 (see Logunov & Heçiak 1996: figs 14–16).

CLYPEUS. Medium to high, ranging between 50–83% of the AME diameter in males and 44–63% in females.

CHELICERAE. Medium length, vertical and of usual shape; promargin with two small teeth, basally fused together, retromargin with one tooth (Figs 10–11).

ENDITES. Subparallel, of usual shape, with pale yellow to white apices; in males of all species with small retrolateral “cavity” (EnC) at the base of endites (Fig. 15), while in females this character is absent (Fig. 14).

STERNUM. Ovoid, longer than wide.

PEDICEL. Short, in live specimens not visible in dorsal view (Figs 46, 50, 182–183).

ABDOMEN. Elongate, without scutum; colour markings simple – with white median longitudinal stripe in males (Figs 37, 46, 72–73, 95–96, 117–119, 143–144, 168–169, 182–183, 185, 194) and usually with two median longitudinal lines of white spots in females (Figs 42, 50, 79, 103, 150, 178).

BOOK- LUNG COVERS. Not sclerotized.

SPINNERETS. Medium in size.

LEGS. Subequal in length, with femora of legs III longer than others; female metatarsi I without retrolateral spines; in four species ( M. jocquei, M. kenyaensis, M. nigritibia and M. petroae gen. et sp. nov.) femora I of male with long white or yellow-white hairs prolaterally; tarsal claws narrow, on legs I–II of male with 7–8 teeth prolaterally and 4–5 retrolaterally (Figs 18–19), on legs I–II of female with 1 or 3–4 small teeth pro- and retrolaterally. Leg formula: III/IV/II/I or III/IV/I/II in both sexes.

FEMALE PALP. General form, without an apical claw.

MALE PALP. Femora of usual form, densely covered with long white hairs; tibia short, with ventral short membranous apophysis (Fig. 13, arrowed) and a well-developed sclerotized ventral apophysis and bulgelike dorsal apophysis (Figs 12, 28, 61, 84, 108, 132, 155, 189), in M. kenyaensis gen. et comb. nov. with dorsal bulge (Fig. 84). Cymbium oval, without apical claw; cymbial apex densely covered with short erect hairs and poorly-marked ventral groove. Basal haematodocha is well-developed (Figs 20–22, BH) and subtegulum is simple, visible in an expanded palp only (Figs 21, 54, ST). Tegulum is narrow and elongated, with small apical tegular projection (Fig. 20, TP), in M. lympha and M. nigritibia poorly visible. The distal haematodocha is well-developed (Figs 20–22, DH) and the salticid radix has a small and rounded proximal projection (Figs 22, 52, 54, PP). Sperm duct runs from the subtegulum, down to the tegulum, and around the salticid radix in a clockwise direction to the ED (Figs 20–22, SD). The embolic division consists of the embolus with a large embolic base bearing an apical projection (Figs 20, 52, 54–55, ED, E and ApP) and a broad membranous paddle-shaped terminal apophysis curved inside, situated in both pro- and retrolateral sides of the embolus (Figs 56–59). Embolus slightly curved retrolaterally, apex broad, apically with a short membranous process (Figs 53–54). For an explanation of the male palpal composition see Logunov & Azarkina (2018). For an explanation of the embolic division and its complex origin see Logunov (1996b), Azarkina (2002) and Azarkina & Zamani (2019); in the latter paper EO refers to the ED in this paper.

FEMALE COPULATORY ORGANS. The epigyne has a small epigynal depression around the copulatory openings. The epigynal pocket is situated at the edge of epigastric furrow, deep, protruding ventrally, with cavity inside (Fig. 166) but epigynal wings are absent (Figs 34, 69–71, 90–91, 93, 113, 140– 141, 161–163). The introductory part of insemination ducts is weakly sclerotized, fused around the copulatory openings to a small tube and then bifurcated (Figs 36, 67, 94, 115, 142, 164, ID). The remaining parts of insemination ducts are heavily sclerotized, complex and consist of two multichamber sections (Figs 35, 68, 89, 114, 141, 167). The accessory glands are short (contra Wesołowska & van Harten 1994), weakly sclerotized and in most cases seen only from an apical view or through the epigynal tegument (Fig. 164, AG). Fertilization ducts arise anteriorly at the top of spermathecae, near the copulatory openings (Fig. 164, FD).

Composition

Manzuma gen. nov. consists of seven species known from both sexes, except for M. tanzanica gen. et sp. nov. known from the male only. It includes M. botswana gen. et sp. nov. (♂ ♀, from Botswana and Republic of South Africa), M. jocquei gen. et comb. nov. (♂ ♀, from Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Central African Republic), M. kenyaensis gen. et comb. nov. (♂ ♀, from Kenya), M. lympha gen. et comb. nov. (♂ ♀, from Kenya), M. nigritibia gen. et comb. nov. (♂ ♀, from Ethiopia and Yemen), M. petroae gen. et sp. nov. (♂ ♀, from Republic of South Africa), and M. tanzanica gen. et sp. nov. (♂, from Tanzania).

Distribution

Afrotropical Region (sensu Dippenaar-Schoeman & Jocqué 1997) (Fig. 200).

Natural history

Like other members of the Aelurillina (Prószyński 2017; Logunov & Azarkina 2018), members of Manzuma gen. nov. are ground-dwellers, occurring in different biotopes with high insulation.

Remarks

Females of six Manzuma gen. nov. species show close similarity in coloration and great intraspecific variability in the structure of copulatory organs (Figs 69–71, 90–91, 113, 140, 161–163) and are almost indistinguishable from each other. Females of M. botswana gen. et sp. nov., M. kenyaensis gen. et comb. nov. and M. petroae gen. et sp. nov. have a short white stripe on the eye field just behind the AMEs and cheeks with two narrow lines of whitish dense scales running from AMEs to the sides of the carapace (Figs 42, 45, 49–50, 103, 106). Females of M. jocquei, M. lympha and M. nigritibia are almost indistinguishable except that M. jocquei and M. lympha have the cephalic part of the carapace slightly narrower, than that of M. nigritibia . Females of M. kenyaensis are most distinguishable from other species in structure of spermathecae, they have very long introductory parts of the insemination ducts, almost two-three times longer compare to other species (Figs 90–91, 93). For these reasons I was unable to produce a useable key to females.

Key to species (males)

1. Eye field with median short longitudinal stripe behind AMEs (Figs 37–39, 46, 48, 168–171, 176– 177, 182–183) ................................................................................................................................... 2

– Central area of eye field covered with brown short scales, without such a stripe (Figs 72–73, 75–77, 95–96, 99–102, 117–119, 121–125, 143–145, 147–148, 194, 196–199) ......................................... 3

2. Clypeus covered with short brown scales, with central transverse stripe of white hairs (Figs 38–39, 48). Cheeks with two stripes of white scales running from ALEs to the lateral sides of carapace (Fig. 38). Fm I prolaterally without dense long yellow-white hairs ..... M. botswana gen. et sp. nov.

– Clypeus and cheeks covered with long white hairs; clypeus with diamond-shaped patch of brown hairs between AME and on upper half of clypeus (Figs 170–171, 176–177, 186–187). Fm I prolaterally with dense long yellow-white hairs .......................................................... M. petroae gen. et sp. nov.

3. Clypeus covered with sparse long brownish-white hairs (Figs 99–102). Palpal patella brown or brownish yellow dorsally, flattened, without hairs, iridescent (Figs 100–102). Palpal tibia with dorsal bulge (Fig. 84) ................ M. kenyaensis (Dawidowicz & et Wesołowska, 2016) gen. et comb. nov.

– Without these characters ................................................................................................................... 4

4. Clypeus densely covered with long white hairs, without diamond-shaped patch of brown hairs between AMEs; upper half of cheeks under ALEs covered with short brown scales, basal half covered with long white hairs (Figs 75–77, 121–125, 196–197) ..................................................... 5

– Clypeus with diamond-shaped patch of brown hairs between AME and on upper half of clypeus; cheeks covered with long white hairs from ALEs to margin of carapace (Figs 145, 147–148) ......... .......................................................................... M. nigritibia (Caporiacco, 1941) gen. et comb. nov.

5. TA with well developed ApP (Figs 62, 64, 111); T with poorly visible TP (Figs 61, 64, 108, 111) ... ........................................................................................................................................................... 6

– TA with poorly developed ApP (Fig 192); T with clearly visible TP (Figs 189, 192). Ts, Mt and Ti I ventrally not dark brown (Figs 195, 197–199) ..................................... M. tanzanica gen. et sp. nov.

6. Ts, Mt and Ti I ventrally brown or dark brown (Figs 74–78); tip of ApP pointed dorsally (Fig. 64); tibial apophysis broad (Fig. 61) .......................................................................................................... ................................ M. jocquei (Azarkina, Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2011) gen. et comb. nov.

– Ts, Mt and Ti I ventrally yellow or brownish (Figs 116, 120–122); tip of ApP ponted ventrally (Fig. 111); tibial apophysis narrow (Fig. 108) .................................................................................... .......................................................... M. lympha (Próchniewicz & Heçiak, 1994) gen. et comb. nov.