Stenaelurillus pilosus Wesolowska & Russell-Smith 2011

Stenaelurillus pilosus Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2011

Figs 406–416, 514

Stenaelurillus pilosus Wesołowska & Russell-Smith, 2011: 595, figs 161–166, 244–246 (D♂ ♀); ♂ holotype in BMNH, examined.

Diagnosis

By the conformation of the copulatory organs (Figs 406–410), the males of S. pilosus are almost identical to those of S. glaber (Figs 156–160), S. hirsutus (Figs 239–242, 246–251), and S. striolatus (Figs 463–467). Males of all these species can easily be distinguished by the clypeal colour pattern: with a transverse dark brown band in S. pilosus (Fig. 413), yellow clypeus with long sparse white hairs in S. glaber (Fig. 161), black with three vertical white stripes in S. hirsutus (Fig. 255), and entirely dark brown/black in S. striolatus (Fig. 468). The shape of the distal projection (DP) of the functional tegulum also seems to be diagnostic (cf. Fig. 406 with Figs 156, 239, 463). The females of S. pilosus

(Figs 411–412) are most similar to and are poorly separable from those of S. hirsutus (Figs 262–263); the shape of the primary spermathecae seems to be diagnostic: round in S. pilosus and elongated, sacshaped in S. hirsutus.

Material examined

Holotype

NIGERIA: ♂, Ibadan, IITA, 7°22′39.1″ N, 3°56′49.3″ E, fallow bush, 8 Feb. 1973, A. Russell-Smith leg. (BMNH).

Paratypes

NIGERIA: 4 ♂♂, 4 ♀♀, together with the holotype (BMNH).

Other material

NIGERIA: 2 ♂♂, Oyo State, Ibadan, IITA, 7°22′39.1″ N, 3°56′49.3″ E, fallow bush, 27 Apr. 1973, A. Russell-Smith leg. (MMUE G7583.5).

Description

Male (holotype)

Measurements: carapace: 2.55 long, 1.85 wide, 1.40 high. Abdomen: 2.40 long, 1.70 wide. Ocular area: 1.10 long, 1.53 wide anteriorly, 1.48 wide posteriorly. Cheliceral length 0.53. Clypeal height 0.38. Diameter of AME 0.43. Length of leg segments: I 1.28 + 0.68 + 0.70 + 0.60 + 0.53 (3.79); II 1.25 + 0.69 + 0.65 + 0.63 + 0. 48 (3.70); III 1.88 + 0.88 + 1.10 + 1.28 + 0.53 (5.67); IV 1.55 + 0.70 + 1.05 + 1.28 + 0.53 (5.11). Leg formula III,IV,I,II. Leg spination: I: Fm d 0-1-1-5; Pt pr 0-1-0; Tb pr 1-1, v 1-2- 2ap; Mt pr and rt 1ap, v 2-2ap. II: Fm d 0-1-1-5; Pt pr 0-1-0; Tb pr 1-1, v 1-1-2ap; Mt pr 1-1ap, rt 1ap, v 2-2ap. III: Fm d 0-1-2-4; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb d 1-0-0, pr 1-1-1, rt 1-1-1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt d 1-1, pr and rt 1-0-2ap, v 0-2-2ap. IV: Fm d 0-1-1-4; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb d 1-0-0, pr 1-1-1, rt 1-2-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt pr 1-2ap, rt 1-1-1, v 0-1-1-2ap. Coloration (in alcohol; Figs 413–416). Carapace yellowish brown, with two pairs of longitudinal (dorsal and lateral) yellow stripes covered with white recumbent scales;

sides (on their front halves) bear bunches of dense brown hairs. Eye field brown, with a mane-like bunch of brownish and transparent hairs. Eyes of the first row are surrounded by dense white hairs, clypeus covered with dark brown hairs and scales (Fig. 416). Sternum light yellow, densely covered with white hairs. Labium, endites and chelicerae light yellow. Abdomen: dorsum dark brown, with paired white spots; sides and venter light yellow. Book-lung covers light yellow, spinnerets brownish. All legs yellow, Fm III–IV apically with patches of brown scales. All palps light yellow. Palpal structure as in Figs 406– 410: VTA bulge-shaped, poorly marked; RTA straight, with wide base and sharpened, stiletto-like tip; the cymbial lateral process (CLP) is poorly marked; the tegulum small, poorly marked, with a short, cone-shaped tegular process (TP); the functional tegulum with a well-developed proximal projection (PP), its distal projection (DP) flat and bifurcated; the embolus short, ribbon-shaped, with a wide base.

Female (a paratype)

Measurements: carapace: 3.10 long, 2.25 wide, 1.80 high. Abdomen: 2.85 long, 2.20 wide. Ocular area: 1.35 long, 1.73 wide anteriorly, 1.65 wide posteriorly. Cheliceral length 0.78. Clypeal height 0.29. Diameter of AME 0.48. Length of leg segments: I 1.50 + 0.80 + 0.78 + 0.60 + 0.53 (4.21); II 1.50 + 0.83 + 0.78 + 0.68 + 0.48 (4.27); III 2.23 + 1.05 + 1.42 + 1.60 + 0.65 (6.95); IV 2.00 + 0.93 + 1.33 + 1.65 + 0.68 (6.59). Leg formula III,IV,II,I. Leg spination: I: Fm d 0-1-1-5; Pt pr 0-1-0; Tb pr 1-1, v 1-2-2ap; Mt pr and rt 1ap, v 2-2ap. II: Fm d 0-1-2-5; Pt pr 0-1-0; Tb pr 1-1, v 1-1-2ap; Mt pr 1-1ap, rt 1ap, v 2-2ap. III: Fm d 0-1-2-5; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb pr and rt 1-1-1-1, v 1-2ap; Mt d 0-1-0, pr 1-1-2ap, rt 1-0-2ap, v 0-1-2ap. IV: Fm d 0-1-1-5; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb d 1-0, pr and rt 1-1-1, v 1-2ap; Mt pr and rt 1-1-2ap, v 0-1-1-2ap. Coloration (in alcohol) as in the male, except for the following: eye field without a manelike bunch of hairs; carapace sides without lateral bunches of brown hairs; clypeus yellow, with sparse white hairs. Epigyne and spermathecae as in Figs 411–412: the epigynal plate flat, its rear edge visibly concave; epigynal pocket present, narrow and deep; the copulatory openings resemble transverse slits and are widely separated; the insemination ducts very short, inconspicuous in dorsal view; the primary spermathecae large and round.

Distribution

The type locality only (Fig. 514).