Hyllus unicolor sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9B362516-D690-47F6-881C-C532937F4526

Fig. 26

Diagnosis

This species may be distinguished by its uniform colouration (other species in the genus have a contrasting pattern). The epigyne resembles that of Hyllus dotatus, but its internal structure is different, the seminal ducts are short as compared to longer and coiled in other species of the genus.

Etymology

The specific name refers to the uniform body colouration of this spider.

Material examined

Holotype IVORY COAST • ♀; Lamto, at the edge of the Bandama Forest; 5 Oct. 1975; “sur branches”; MNHN.

Paratype IVORY COAST • 1 ♀; Lamto, at the edge of the Bandama Forest; 26 Dec. 1975; “buissons au soleil”; MNHN .

Description

Male

Unknown.

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 3.7–3.8, width 2.8–3.0, height 1.4–1.5. Eye field length 1.5– 1.6, anterior width 2.1–2.2, posterior width 2.2–2.4. Abdomen length 5.0–5.5, width 2.9–3.3. General appearance as in Fig. 26A.

CARAPACE. Oval, dark brown with blackish eye field and poorly contrasted median yellowish band on thoracic region. Very short white hairs on carapace, denser on slopes. Long brown bristles near eyes. Mouthparts and sternum brown.

ABDOMEN. Oval, dark brown, clothed in brown hairs, three pairs of almost invisible very small patches medially (Fig. 26A). Ventral abdominal surface brown with four lines composed of white dots. Sparse long, colourless hairs on dorsum of body. Spinnerets brown.

LEGS. Brown, hairy.

EPIGYNE. Strongly sclerotized, with large shallow depression in center and two widely separated pockets at epigastric fold (Fig. 26B–C). Copulatory openings placed posteriorly, seminal ducts wide and short, spermathecae bean-shaped, thick-walled (Fig. 26D).

Distribution

Only known from the type locality, Lamto, Ivory Coast.