Heliophanus (Heliophanus) minimus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 435B2BE2-78B5-4AC3-84CD-539BFF617922

Fig. 18

Diagnosis

One of the smallest species in the genus Heliophanus, apart from Heliophanus pygmaeus Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2000 . Its pedipalp is similar to that in Heliophanus splendidus Wesołowska, 2003 (both species have a slender bulb), but may be identified by the forked tibial apophysis ( H. splendidus has an undivided apophysis and a second very thin dorsal one, placed horizontally to the palpal axis). The shape of the palpal femur also differs between these two species (in H. splendidus the femur is clearly thinner) – compare Fig. 18D with Wesołowska (2003: figs 127–132). The female has an epigyne that somewhat resembles that in Heliophanus pauper Wesołowska, 1986, but the copulatory openings are hidden in deep, oval atrial depressions.

Etymology

The specific epithet is Latin, meaning ‘tiny’, referring to the size of this spider.

Material examined

Holotype IVORY COAST • ♂; Lamto; 6°13′ N, 5°01′ W; 24 Aug. 1975; “ savane, hautes des herbes ”; MNHN.

Paratypes IVORY COAST • 1 ♀ (together with holotype); same collection data as for holotype; MNHN • 1 ♂; same collection data as for holotype; 18 Sep. 1975; MNHN • 2 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; 15 Aug. 1975; MNHN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype; 25 Aug. 1975; MNHN .

Other material

IVORY COAST • 1 ♀; Lamto; 13 Oct. 1975; “ savane, au sol ”; MNHN • 1 ♂; same collection data as for preceding; 19 Oct. 1975; “ savane gruyère, à la base des herbes ”; MNHN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 12 Aug. 1975; “ savane gruyère, hautes des herbes ”; MNHN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 26 Sep. 1975; “ savane non-brulée ”; MNHN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 7 Dec. 1975; “ herbes ”; MNHN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 18 Aug. 1975; “ au sol ”; MNHN • 2 ♂♂; same collection data as for preceding; 24 Mar. 1975; “ savane du rocher ”; MNHN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding; 12 Aug. 1975; “ piste Bony, marais ”; MNHN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding, Grand Nord; 22 Aug. 1975; “ hautes des herbes ”; MNHN .

Description

Male

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 1.0, width 0.9, height 0.6. Eye field length 0.5, anterior width 0.7, posterior width 0.8. Abdomen length 1.1, width 0.8. General appearance as in Fig. 18A. Very tiny, dark coloured spider.

CARAPACE. High, abruptly sloping posteriorly, dark brown to blackish, clothed in delicate colourless hairs. Eye field pitted, black. Mouthparts and sternum brown.

ABDOMEN. Oval, dark brown or black, slightly flattened, dorsum totally covered with sclerotized scutum, venter brown.

LEGS. Yellow, only femora and both ends of patellae brown, with dark streak along prolateral surface of tibiae.

PEDIPALPS. Yellow, structure of palpal organ as in Fig. 18B–D. Palpal femur with long pointed apophysis, tibia with forked apophysis, bulb oval, elongated.

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 1.1, width 0.9, height 0.5. Eye field length 0.6, anterior width 0.7, posterior width 0.8. Abdomen length 1.6, width 1.3. Similar to male, slightly lighter coloured.

CARAPACE. As in male, with delicate white hairs on slopes.

ABDOMEN. Dark grey with traces of light chevrons posteriorly, venter greyish with pair of whitish spots behind epigastric furrow and second pair at spinnerets.

EPIGYNE. As in Fig. 18E. With two depressions (plugged with waxy secretion). Internal structure simple (Fig. 18F–G), copulatory openings hidden in large sclerotized ‘bowls’.

Biology

This species is confined to savannah habitats where it was collected in both the field and ground layer.

Distribution

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