Myrmarachne eidmanni Roewer, 1942

Fig. 38A–G

Myrmarachne eidmanni Roewer, 1942: 252, pl. 19 fig. 8.

Myrmarachne punctata Wanless & Clark, 1975: 290, figs 29–35.

Myrmarachne eidmanni – Wanless 1978b: 39, fig. 17a–h.

Diagnosis

The female may be distinguished by the form of epigyne with strongly sclerotized lateral borderlines of the epigynal ‘window’ which is relatively low, bell-shaped, and framed by a wide flange (Fig. 38G).

Material examined

IVORY COAST • 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀; Lamto; 24 Dec. 1975; “buissons au soleil au bord de Bandama”; MNHN .

Description

Male

See Wanless (1978b). General appearance of male shown in Fig. 38A–B.

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 3.0–3.1, height 1.0. Eye field length 1.2, anterior width 1.4–1.5, posterior width 1.6–1.7. Abdomen length 2.8–3.6, width 1.6–1.8. Body slender. Shape of body as in male. General appearance as in Fig. 38C–D.

CARAPACE. Pitted, with deep constriction and distinct thoracic hump (Fig. 38D). Colouration blackish brown with metallic sheen, white hairs in constrictions, sparse faint white hairs on thoracic part. Sternum and mouthparts light brown.

ABDOMEN. Light brown, with clearly visible anterior scutum, clothed in thin brownish hairs, venter greyish brown. Spinnerets dark.

LEGS. Slender, legs I and II yellowish with darker femora, black line along prolateral surface of femur, patella and tibia II. Legs III and IV brown with yellow distal segments. Coxae III brown, others yellow.

EPIGYNE. Very small, with short and wide triangular ‘window’, lateral edges of the ‘window’ are sclerotized flanges (Fig. 38E–G). Internal structure in Fig. 38F–G, seminal ducts long, coiled.

Remarks

The first description of the female is provided here.

Distribution

Recorded from Ivory Coast, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea (Bioko) and Congo.