Phintella transversa sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 1BCB99E9-19E7-4785-BBA6-73A860CB001F

Fig. 49

Diagnosis

The male pedipalp is slightly similar to that in Phintella brevis sp. nov., but differs in the presence of a hook-shaped process at the apex of the bulb and a small triangular lobe on the retrolateral side of the bulb posteriorly (both absent in P. brevis). The shape of the tibial apophysis is also different, sharp in Phintella transversa sp. nov., and with an extra tooth in P. brevis .

Etymology

The specific epithet refers to abdominal pattern of this species.

Material examined

Holotype IVORY COAST • ♂; Lamto, towards Segou; 23–24 Dec. 1975; “ tête de roniers ”; MNHN.

Paratype IVORY COAST • 1 ♂ (together with holotype); same collection data as for holotype; MNHN .

Description

Male

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.0–2.4, width 1.5–1.8, height 1.0–1.1. Eye field length 1.1–1.2, anterior and posterior width 1.4–1.5. Abdomen length 2.1–2.4, width 1.2–1.4. General appearance as in Fig. 49A.

CARAPACE. Dark brown, slightly lighter behind eye field, black near eyes. White hairs between anterior median eyes and in front of eyes of last row. White stripes on lateral margins of carapace. Chelicerae long, brown, promargin with two small teeth, retromargin with single tooth. Mouthparts brown with lighter tips. Sternum dark brown.

ABDOMEN. Ovoid, slightly narrowing posteriorly, brownish black with four whitish transverse streaks. Abdominal dorsum clothed in hairs that correspond with background colour. Venter brownish grey. Spinnerets yellow tinged with grey.

LEGS. First pair dark brown with lighter distal segments, other legs light brown with dark bands on lateral surfaces of femora, patellae and tibiae. Pedipalps bearing many white hairs dorsally.

PEDIPALP (Fig. 49B–F). Palpal tibia thin, pointed (Fig. 49C, E), bulb with small triangular lobe on retrolateral side and a small, curved appendix at top near the embolus, embolus tiny, bent towards the bulb (Fig. 49B, D).

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

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