In addition to the genus diagnosis, the following features characterize the species:MALEDistribution: Geographical Distribution: Afrika. Eastern Europe & Asia. Middle East.FEMALEDistinctly smaller than two remaining species of Plexippus. Cephalothorax: Coloration changed now, was originally “yellow with a paler patch on the occiput, ... ocular area strongly suffused with black, ... several slightly converging black streaks on the hind slope, sides tinged with brown-black” (O. Pickard-Cambridge 1872: 335–336). Abdomen: median part white, marginal traces of thin greyish yellow folds; according to the original description it was “dull yellow, finely and thickly yellow brown striated longitudinally. A central longitudinal paler band (being free from these striations) is indistinctly visible, divided anteriorly by a short red brown longitudinal line, trifid at its hinder extremity, followed by several yellow brown chevrons”. Frontal aspect: eye field light brown now, that coloration ending at mid length of eyes AME, externally to ALE blackish grey area with a few remaining whitish setae; diameter of ALE half of that of AME, ALE set at 1/12 of that diameter below dorsal tip of AME rim. Clypeus now white, no setae or bristles preserved. External outline of chelicerae slightly rounded, their antero-median surfaces flattened and set slightly diagonally. Legs once yellow, now entirely white: tibia I with 3 pairs of ventral spines and one additional prolateral pair slightly above and anterior to the median ventral, forming a diagonal pair; two pairs of long ventral spines on metatarsus I; single prolateral spine on patella I, 3 upright spines along dorsal crest of femur I, the apical one at about 1/8 of segment length, followed transversely by two others of the same length, thus forming a transverse dorsal row of 3 short spines from dorsal mid-line of the segment to its prolateral edge; similar arrangement of spines on leg II; number of spines on legs III–IV is larger than in Plexippus devorans.Ventral aspect “labium, maxillae and sternum yellow.” Epigynum: anterior median circular depression, followed by median furrow, openings in diagonal slits laterally to furrow with short channel running diagonally, which is rather unusual in the genus, and passing under sharp angle into spherical oval spermatheca – the general plan corresponding with Plexippus. © PRÓSZYŃSKI 2003 Distribution: Geographical Distribution: Afrika. Eastern Europe & Asia. Middle East. COMMENTSDiagnosis. Remarks of O. Pickard-Cambridge (1872: 335–336) on this species being allied to three species of Euophrys (frontalis, reticulatus and gambosus), which apparently inspired its subsequent transfer to that genus by Roewer, was presumably prompted by small dimensions and coloration of specimen. However, internal structure of epigynum proves its relationship with Plexippus. The species is different from female of Plexippus devorans, and there are no premises to comment on eventual relationships with Plexippus tectonicus sp. nov.Seasonal appearance of adult specimens. Female – II/III. © PRÓSZYŃSKI 2003 |