In addition to the genus diagnosis, the following features characterize the species:FEMALEColour pattern, particularly of abdomen, fits both Neon and Euophrys. However, epigynum, legs proportions (with legs IV 35% longer than legs I) and eye field slightly narrowing posteriorly are typical for Euophrys. Cephalothorax smaller than in Euophrys pseudogambosa, eyes III strikingly protruding beyond lateral margin; thoracic slope begins immediately behind eye field, flat area not developed. Eye field: dark grey with black lateral edges; thorax greyish yellow with lighter median thoracic line and thin, slightly wavy, darker lines radiating ventrally. Abdomen: median line of dark spots on white background, of which the three central are large, regular, triangles, three posterior much smaller, anterior spots fused into single narrow dark median line, accompanied laterally by parallel line of less regular dark spots; marginal dark spots extended on sides into dark diagonal stripes. Frontal aspect: clypeus reduced to about 0.3 of diameter of ALE, greyish brown and bald, single whitish hair on ventral edge, overhanging chelicerae, possibly a remnant of a row of setae, lost in this specimen; eyes I surrounded by flattened and longer white setae, more conspicuous than in Eu. pseudogambosa; yellow spot under ALE connected with similarly coloured sides. Ventral aspect: sternum and coxae yellow, abdomen uniformly whitish. Legs I-II yellow, III-IV whitish yellow; tibia I with 3 pairs of long ventral spines (1/6th to 1/8th of segment length), metatarsus I with two pairs of long ventral spines, almost as long as segment itself. Epigynum: copulatory channels appear much thinner in proportion to spermathecae diameter than in other species studied, external grooves leading to copulatory opening make two tight coils, visible on preparation stained with "Chlorazol Black E". Measurements (mm). Female. Length of cephalothorax 1.55; length of abdomen 1.96; length of 5 segments of leg I 3.06. © PRÓSZYŃSKI 2003Distribution: Geographical Distribution: Afrika. COMMENTSDiagnosis. Recognizable by thorax sloping just behind eye field, light coloured abdomen with median row of small dark chevron-like spots; epigynum typical for Euophrys.Etymology. Named for my wife, an arachnologist, Ekaterina M. Andreeva (Katarzyna Andrejewa-Prószyńska). © PRÓSZYŃSKI 2003 |