Steriphopus lacertosus Simon, 1898

Zonstein, Sergei, Marusik, Yuri M. & Ras, Feb, 2023, New data on the spider genus Steriphopus, with description of a new species from India (Araneae: Palpimanidae), Israel Journal of Entomology (Oxford, England) 52, pp. 41-50 : 45-47

Steriphopus lacertosus Simon, 1898

( Figs 1–8)

Steriphopus lacertosus Simon, 1898: 374 (♀); Marusik & Zonstein, 2018: 491.

Chediminae sp.: Saaristo 2010: 156, fig. 24.1–3 (♀).

Diagnosis: Female of this species can be distinguished from those of S. macleayi (sensu Marusik & Zonstein 2018) and S. benjamini n. sp. in possessing a different structure of the abdominal scuta and the endogyne. In S. lacertosus , a small unpaired ventral scutum (Us) is vestigial, and dot-like scuta (Ds) are completely absent ( Fig. 6). In other species examined, these structures are either well-defined ( Marusik & Zonstein 2018, fig. 10), or at least present ( Fig. 16). The gloBular structures (Gs) of the endogyne in S. lacertosus , are connected with the accessory grape-shaped glands (Gg) by long tightly-coiled stalks (Sg), while in two other examined species these stalks either form several loops more broadly spaced from each other, or are bent only once each forming a single loop ( Fig. 8 cf. Figs 9, 10, 21; Marusik & Zonstein 2018, figs 21–23, 25). In S. lacertosus , the median ocular quadrangle is noticeably wider than long ( Fig. 3; Saaristo 2010, fig. 24.1), whereas in S. crassipalpis , the remaining fourth congener known only from the holotype male, it is only slightly wider than long, according to the original description ( Thorell 1895).

Description: Female. Habitus as in Figs 1, 2. Total length 4.02.

Colour in alcohol: Carapace, chelicerae, labium, sternum and petiolar tube intensely scarlet red; maxillae, coxa and trochanter I, and entire epigastral scutum light tangerine orange, other segments of leg I and entire palp intensely yellowish orange, while legs II–IV, including coxae, and spinnerets pale yellowish orange. Unsclerotized part of abdomen dorsally and ventrally pale whitish orange.

Prosoma: Carapace ( Figs 3, 4), with gently sloping thoracic hump, 1.53 long, 1.14 wide. Clypeus 0.29 long. Eyes: AME 0.12, ALE 0.07, PLE 0.06, PME 0.06, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.08, ALE–PLE 0.01, PLE–PME 0.16, PME–PME 0.17. Fovea short, narrow and deep, not slit-like. Cheliceral furrow with 10–12 fairly long peg teeth on promargin and 2 small teeth on retromargin. Sternum, labium and maxillae as in Fig. 5.

Palp and legs: Palp short and thick: femur L/ W 1.7 (0.29/0.17), patella L/ W 1.67 (0.20/0.12), tibia L/ W 1.61 (0.29/0.18), tarsus L/ W 2.07 (0.31/0.15). Femur I L/ W 2.42 (1.16/0.48). Legs and palp length as following:

Palp I II III IV

Femur 0.29 1.16 0.91 1.04 1.53

Patella 0.20 0.87 0.55 0.46 0.57

Tibia 0.29 0.72 0.61 0.59 0.88

Metatarsus – 0.40 0.52 0.53 0.89

Tarsus 0.31 0.46 0.40 0.36 0.39

Total 1.09 3.61 2.99 2.98 4.26

Abdominal scuta: As in Fig. 6. Epigastral scutum (Es) accompanied with 3 distinct scuta, pair of stripe-shaped scuta (Ss) and unpaired scutum (Us) in front of copulatory opening; stripe-shaped scuta long and extending posterior edge of epigastral scutum; median part of epigastral scutum arch-bow shaped.

Endogyne:As in Figs 7, 8. Endogyne wider than long, with pair of globular structures (Gs), brush of fine threads (Ft) originates from globular structure; 4 pairs of large grape-shaped glands (Gg) having long and lopped stalks (Sg).

Male. Unknown.

Ecology: According to the label data, most specimens were found inhabiting the litter on the forest floor.

Holotype ♀ (MNHN, not examined): Seychelles: Mahé Island , no detail locality indicated, 1.v–30. vi.1895, A. Brauer.

Material examined: Seychelles: 1♀ (ZMUT AA 1.389), Aride Island , 4°13'S 55°40'E, 1‒31.vii.2000, J. Gerlach ; 1 juv. (ZMUT AA 1.391), same, Silhouette Island , Corgat­Cocos Marrons Ridge, 4°29'S 55°13'E, 18.vii.2000, J. Gerlach ; 3 juv. (ZMUT AA1.392), same, Praslin Island , Jardin Marron, 4°18'S 55°43'E, 5.vii.2000, J. Gerlach .

Distribution: Seychelles Archipelago: Mahé (the type locality), Silhouette, Praslin and Aride Islands.