Nemesia dorthesi Thorell, 1875

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 : 108-113

Nemesia dorthesi Thorell, 1875

( Figs 104–120, 151–153)

Mygale africana : Lucas 1846: 92. Based on the misidentification.

Nemesia dorthesii Thorell, 1875 a: 102 (♂).

Nemesia dorthesi : Thorell 1875 b: 122; Reimoser 1919: 7; Frade & Bacelar 1931 b: 237; Denis 1960: 186, 1961: 145; Roewer 1942: 181; Bonnet 1958: 3041; Platnick 1993: 94; Le Peru 2011: 94, fig. 67 (♂).

Nemesia ariasi Simon, 1914: 13 (♂); Reimoser 1919: 6; Frade & Bacelar 1931 a: 129, figs 7–11 (♂); Roewer 1942:179; Blasco Feliu 1986 a: 347, fig. 2F (♀); Platnick 1989: 88. First sYnonYmized with N. dorthesi by Denis 1960: 186.

The male lectotype and one male paralectotype of Nemesia ariasi (both are stored in the MNHN in the same vial AR4419) are designated here. Since N. dorthesi cannot be considered as adequatelY described (especiallY the female characters), the species is rediagnosed; its redescription, based on the corresponding MNHN material from Algeria, follows below.

Diagnosis: In possessing a combination of the broadly tipped embolus with the sack-shaped spermathecae, Nemesia dorthesi appears to be similar to the South European N. santeugenia Decae, 2005 , N. santeulalia Decae, 2005 , N. uncinata Bacelar, 1933 and N. valenciae Kraus, 1955 . However, males of N. dorthesi differ from those of the other species belonging to this group, in having gently dentate embolic keels vs. toothed keels in N. uncinata or edentate keels in N. santeulalia and N. valenciae ( Figs 111–113 cf. Decae 2012: fig. 1Ba–b, d–e; Zonstein 2017: figs 21, 22, 37, 38, 40, 41). The structure of spermathecae in N. dorthesi also noticeably differs from that in the other species of the same group ( Fig. 119 cf. Decae 2005: figs 46, 60, 2012: fig. 2Ea–d; Decae et al. 2007: fig.43; Zonstein 2017: fig. 14).

Redescription: Male (MNHN 6163/AR4486; Fig. 104): Body length 13.55.

Colour in alcohol: most part of carapace, entire chelicerae, leg and palp femora dark reddish brown (medial area and margins of carapace paler); other palpal and leg segments medium brownish orange; eye tubercle brownish black; sternum brownish yellow; labium, maxillae, and leg coxae light brownish orange; ventral surface of abdomen and spinnerets light yellowish brown; darker brown dorsal abdominal pattern consisting of diffuse median strip and several pairs of poorly discernible lateral chevrons.

Cephalothorax dorsally and ventrally as in Figs 105 and 107, respectively. Carapace 5.51 long, 4.28 wide. Eye tubercle as in Fig. 106. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.18(0.24), ALE 0.22, PLE 0.18, PME 0.11, AME–AME 0.16(0.10), ALE– AME 0.13(0.10), ALE–PLE 0.12, PLE–PME 0.06, PME–PME 0.47. Chelicerae: each furrow with 6 promarginal teeth and about 15 mesobasal denticles; rastellum with 5 heavy and about 10 smaller cone teeth in front of cheliceral fang. Labium 0.46 long, 0.83 wide. Sternum 2.73 long, 2.12 wide. Each maxilla with 5–6 thick bristles (instead of true cuspules), confined to inner maxillary heel.

Palp and leg structures. Tibia and metatarsus I as in Fig. 108. Spines (tarsi I–IV aspinose). Palp: femur d1–1–2, dp1; patella p1; tibia with ca. 20 apical and subapical dorsal spines; cymbium with about 20 short dorsal spines. Leg I: femur d1–1–1–1–2, pd1–1–1, rd1–1–1; patella p1–1; tibia d0–1–1–0, p1–1–1, r1–1–1, pv1–1–M; rv1–1–1; metatarsus d1–1–1, p0–1–1, r1–1–1, v1–1–2. Leg II: femur d1–1–1–1–2, pd1–1–1, rd1–1–1; patella p1–1, r1; tibia d1–1–1, p1–1–1, r1–1–1,

v2–2–2; metatarsus d1–1–1, p1–1–1, r1–1–1, v2–1–2. Leg III: femur d 1–1–1–1–2, pd1–1–1, rd1–1–1; patella p1–1–1(0), r1; tibia d1–1–1–1(0), p1–1–1–1, r1–1–1, v2–2–3; metatarsus d1–1–1–1, p1–1–1, r1–1–1, v2–2–3; Leg IV: femur d 1–1–1– 1–2, pd1–1–1, rd1–1–1; patella p1–1, r1; tibia d1–1–1–1, pd1–1–1, p1–1–1, r1–1–1, v2–2–3; metatarsus d1–1–1–1–1, p1–1–1, r1–1–1, v2–2–3. Metatarsal preening combs absent. Scopula entire on metatarsus I, and tarsi I and II; entire and distal on metatarsus II; present but mixed with setae on tarsus III, reduced to unnumerous sparse hairs on tarsus IV. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 8–9 in each row on tibiae, 10–12 on metatarsi, 12–15 on tarsi, 8–9 on cymbium. Inner/outer margins of PTC I–II and PTC III–IV with 8–9/8–11 and 9–11/11–13 teeth, respectively.

Leg and palp measurements:

Palp I II III IV

Femur 2.84 4.82 4.43 3.95 5.48

Patella 1.42 2.51 2.34 1.73 2.53

Tibia 2.10 3.30 3.21 2.96 5.30

Metatarsus – 3.36 3.47 4.06 5.43

Tarsus 0.97 2.14 2.02 2.30 2.75

Total 7.33 16.13 15.47 15.00 21.49

Copulatory organs. Palpal tibia moderately short, with numerous dorsoapical spines ( Figs 109, 110). Palpal organ with broadly tipped embolus ( Figs 111–113). Spinnerets. PMS: length 0.14; diameter 0.10. PLS: maximum diameter 0.56; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.83, 0.28, 0.13, respectively; total length 1.24; apical segment domed.

Female (MNHN 6547/AR4470; Fig. 114); Body length 15.30.

Colour in alcohol: as in male.

Cephalothorax dorsally and ventrally as in Figs 115 and 117, respectively. Carapace 5.66 long, 4.38 wide. Eye tubercle as in Fig. 116. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.17(0.24), ALE 0.25, PLE 0.24, PME 0.12, AME–AME 0.17(0.10), ALE–AME 0.17(0.13), ALE–PLE 0.11, PLE–PME 0.05, PME–PME 0.51. Chelicerae: each furrow with 6 promarginal teeth and 15–16 mesobasal denticles; rastellum with 6 heavy and 10–12 smaller cone teeth in front of cheliceral fang. Labium 0.69 long, 1.23 wide. Sternum 3.10 long, 2.37 wide. Each maxilla with 8 cuspules confined to inner maxillary heel.

Palp and leg structures. Spines (retrolateral spines on tibia III enlarged and flattened as on Fig. 118; tarsi I–II with row of 8–10 small ventroapical spines, tarsi III–IV aspinose). Palp: femur d1–1–1–1–2, pd1; patella p1–1; tibia p1–1, v2–2–3; tarsus v2. Leg I: femur d1(0)–1–1–1–1–1–2, pd0–0–1; patella p1–1; tibia p1–1–1, v1–1–3(2); metatarsus v2–0–3. Leg II: femur d1–1–1–1–2, pd0–0–1; patella p1; tibia p1–1–1, v1–1–3(2); metatarsus pd0–1–0, v2–1–3(2). Leg III: femur d1–1–1–1–2(3), rd1–1–1; patella p1–1; tibia p1–1, rM–M, v2–2–3; metatarsus p1–1–1–1, r1–1–1, v2–1–3. Leg IV: femur d 1–1–1–1–1(0), rd0–0–1; patella d2; tibia r1–1–1–0, v2–2–3; metatarsus pd2–1–1, p0–1–1, r0–1–1, v2–2–3. Metatarsal preening combs absent. Scopula entire and distal on metatarsi I and II; narrowly divided on palpal tarsus and tarsi I–II; elsewhere absent. Trichobothria: 2 rows of 11–13 in each row on tibiae, 15–17 on metatarsi, 15–16 on tarsi, 11 on palpal tarsus. Palpal claw with 3–4 teeth on promargin. Inner/outer margins of PTC I–II and PTC III–IV with 5–7/5–7 and 1–3/5–6 teeth, respectively.

Leg and palp measurements:

Palp I II III IV Femur 3.14 4.33 3.69 3.15 4.43 Patella 1.74 2.59 2.30 1.82 2.67 Tibia 1.94 2.86 2.54 1.93 5.48 Metatarsus – 2.49 2.28 2.74 3.99 Tarsus 2.05 1.69 1.68 1.99 1.93 Total 8.87 13.96 12.49 11.63 18.50

Copulatory organs. Spermathecae sack-shaped ( Fig. 119).

Spinnerets as in Fig. 120. PMS: length 0.16; diameter 0.12. PLS: maximum diameter 0.63; length of basal, medial and apical segments 0.77, 0.22, 0.13, respectively; total length 1.12; apical segment domed.

Material examined: Algeria: 1♀, ” Algerie ”: no date, H. Lucas (MNHN AR4302; labelled as “ Mygale africana ”); Oran Province : 5♂, vicinitY of Oran (35°42′N 0°38′W) , no other data (MNHN 6163/ AR4486); Mascara Province: 2♀, surroundings of Mohammadia 65 km WSW Oran (labelled as “ Perregaun ”; 35°35′N 0°04′W), no other data (MNHN 6547/AR4470) .

Lectotype of Nemesia ariasi Simon, 1914 (designated here): ♂, ” Melilla ( Arias )” (35°17′N 2°57′W), no other data (MNHN AR4419).

Paralectotype: 1♂, with same collection data and number as lectotYpe .

Distribution: Spain, Morocco ( WSC 2019) and western Algeria.