Nemesia dido, Zonstein, 2019

Zonstein, Sergei L., 2019, New data on the spider genus Nemesia in Algeria (Araneae: Nemesiidae), Israel Journal of Entomology (Oxford, England) 49 (1), pp. 69-130 : 105-108

Nemesia dido n. sp.

( Figs 96–103)

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9DA494B1-26D0-4007-89B3-7A4F9F4A84F7 .

Etymology: The species is named after the Phoenician Princess Dido (also known as Didona; 839–785 BCE), who is believed to be a legendary founder and the first queen of the ancient state Carthage; the species name is a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis: In possessing the metatarsal preening combs on metatarsi IV, in combination with a specific (dumbbell- or hourglass-shaped) form of the spermathecae and very small PMS, females of N. dido n. sp. resemble those of three Balearic species, N. bristowei Decae, 2005 , N. ibiza Decae, 2005 and N. randa Decae, 2005 . N. dido n. sp. differs from these congeners in having a short but wide eye group, broader sternum and bases of the spermathecae and even smaller PMS lacking spigots ( Figs 97–103 cf. Decae 2005: figs 29, 31, 32, 36, 38, 39, 64, 66, 67).

Description: Female (holotype MNHN 1689/AR4468; Fig. 96): Body length 14.40.

Colour in alcohol: carapace light brownish orange, with slightly darker brownish clypeus and radial grooves; eye tubercle brown with wide blackish brown rings around eyes; chelicerae medium yellowish red; labium, maxillae, palps and legs light to medium brownish yellow; sternum (with more intensely yellow sigilla) and spinnerets pale yellow; abdomen mostly light greyish brown, with reticulate dorsal pattern of small and partially fused darker and paler brown chevrons and spots.

Cephalothorax dorsally and ventrally as in Figs 97 and 99, respectively. Carapace 5.93 long, 4.89 wide. Eye tubercle as in Fig. 98. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.15(0.22), ALE 0.33, PLE 0.24, PME 0.17, AME–AME 0.16(0.09), ALE– AME 0.15(0.11), ALE–PLE 0.05, PLE–PME 0.05, PME–PME 0.49. Chelicerae: each furrow with 5–6 promarginal teeth and 18–20 small mesobasal denticles; rastellum includes 3–4 very heavy cone teeth and 12–15 smaller spines in front of cheliceral fang. Labium 0.61 long, 1.29 wide. Sternum 3.39 long, 2.69 wide. Each maxilla with 2 cuspules confined to inner maxillary heel.

Palp and leg structures. Spines: femora III–IV with clusters of dense and short dorsoapical setae; tarsi I and II with 5–9 small ventroapical spines; patellae I, IV and tarsi III–IV aspinose. Palp: femur d1–1–1–2, pd1; tibia v2–2–2; tarsus ventrally with 2 proximal and 7(8) small subapical spines. Leg I: femur d1–1–1–1–2, pd1, tibia rv1–1–1; metatarsus v2–1–2. Leg II: femur d1–1–1–1–2, pd1; patella p1; tibia rv1–1–1; metatarsus v3–1–2. Leg III: femur d1–1–1–1, pd1–1–1, rd1–1–1; patella p1; tibia r1, v2–2–2; metatarsus pd1–1, p1, r1–1, v0–1–3. Leg IV: femur d1–1–1–1; tibia v2–1–2–1–2; metatarsus pd1, v1–1–3. Metatarsal preening combs present on metatarsus IV ( Figs 100, 101). Scopula entire on and distal on metatarsui I and II; narrowly divided on palpal tarsus and tarsus I; widely divided on tarsus II; elsewhere absent. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 9–10 in each row on tibiae, 14–15 on metatarsi, 14–17 on tarsi, 12 on palpal tarsus. Palpal tarsal claw with 2–3 teeth on promargin. Paired claws on tarsi I–III with 2–3 teeth in inner and 3–4 teeth in outer rows, paired claws on tarsus IV with 0–1 and 3–4 teeth in these rows, respectively. Unpaired tarsal claw sharply curved.

Leg and palp measurements:

Palp

I II III IV

Femur 3.12 3.82 3.41 3.17 4.11

Patella 1.76 2.31 2.14 2.13 2.76

Tibia 2.05 2.55 2.17 2.16 4.28

Metatarsus – 2.22 2.03 2.51 3.73

Tarsus 2.09 1.49 1.49 1.60 1.72

Total 9.02 12.39 11.24 11.57 16.60

Copulatory organs. Spermathecae dumbbell-shaped with very broad bases and relatively small heads ( Fig. 102).

Spinnerets as in Fig. 103. PMS: length 0.27; diameter 0.16. PLS: maximum diameter 0.79; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.89, 0.36, 0.13, respectively; total length 1.38; apical segment domed.

Male: Unknown.

Variation: Carapace length in females varies from 5.6 to 5.9 mm.

Holotype: ♀ Algeria: Chlef Province: surroundings of Chlef (“OrlÉansville”, as labelled; 36°13′N 1°20′E), no other data (MNHN 1689/AR4468).

Paratype: Algeria: 1♀, same data as in holotYpe .

Distribution: Known only from the type locality.