Apochinomma formicaeforme Pavesi 1881
Creators: name: Haddad, Charles Richard
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2013
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Corinnidae
Apochinomma
Apochinomma formicaeforme

description: Apochinomma formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881   
(Figures 1A, B, 2A, B, 3A, B, 4A–I, 5A–F, 6A–F, 7A–F, 8A–F, 9A, 10A–D)  
 Apochinomma formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881: 546; Simon, 1909: 371; Lessert, 1946: 215, fig. 14 [♀ Holotype: MOZAMBIQUE: Inhambane (23 ◦ 51’ S, 35 ◦ 23’ E), leg. Fornasini, 1848, not traced].    Remarks   
 The female holotype could not be traced in the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale “Giacomo Doria” in Genova, Italy. It seems likely that the bottle containing the collection from Inhambane was destroyed or lost during floods in 1970 and 1992 that damaged spider specimens that were stored in the basement of the museum (Maria Tavano, personal communication). The illustration by Lessert (1946) of the dorsal habitus of A. formicaeforme is consistent with the specimens here considered to be this species. No adult specimens of A. formicaeforme have been collected in Mozambique since its description, although I have collected immatures at several localities in southern Mozambique (Xai-Xai, Marrucuene, Chidenguele and Vilankulos).   
 In the original description, Pavesi (1881) alludes to the fact that the abdomen of the holotype is somewhat damaged. Although not too detailed regarding abdominal structure, the description indicates two characteristics consistent with the specimens treated here as A. formicaeforme that separate it from A. decepta sp. nov., which is also recorded from Mozambique: (1) abdomen with long stalk (petiolate pedicel), which is quite short in A. decepta sp. nov.; (2) abdomen 2.5 mm long and wide; in the female redescribed here the abdomen is one and a quarter times longer than wide, while in A. decepta sp. nov. it is nearly twice as long as wide. I have refrained from designating a neotype until adult Apochinomma can be collected from Inhambane or nearby localities to confirm the species’ identification.   
 Male (Ophathe, NCA 2008 / 2874). Measurements: CL 3.45, CW 1.70, AL 3.53, AW 1.88, TL 6.68 (5.60–10.30), FL 0.16, SL 1.40, SW 0.85, AME–AME 0.10, AME– ALE 0.06, ALE–ALE 0.52, PME–PME 0.29, PME–PLE 0.34, PLE–PLE 1.08, PERW 1.22, MOQAW 0.40, MOQPW 0.48, MOQL 0.38.   
Length of leg segments: I 1.83 + 0.53 + 1.86 + 1.59 + 1.13 = 6.94; II 1.78 + 0.55 + 1.63 + 1.45 + 1.00 = 6.41; III 1.63 + 0.61 + 1.38 + 1.50 + 0.80 = 5.92; IV 2.25 + 0.63 + 1.87 + 2.30 + 0.97 = 8.02.  
General appearance in Figures 1A and 2A, lateral view in Figure 3A. Carapace elongate oval, eye region broad, tapering posteriorly to pedicel, broadest at coxa II; raised gently from eye region, with median depression, highest at two-thirds of carapace length (Figure 3A); surface finely granulate, covered in white feathery setae, with scattered short straight setae; several long erect setae in eye region and on clypeus; fovea short, narrow, at two-thirds carapace length; three shallow depressions radiating from fovea, first to coxa I, second to between coxae II and III, third between coxae III and IV, resulting in slight concavities in lateral carapace margins; carapace very dark brown, nearly black, with distinct black striae and black mottling. All eyes with black rings; AER slightly procurved, medians larger than laterals; AME separated by distance equal to two-thirds their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance equal to two-fifths AME diameter; clypeus height equal to distance fourthirds times the AME diameter; PER strongly recurved, laterals slightly larger than medians; PME separated by distance equal to two and five-sixths times their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance three and one-third times the PME diameter; CW: PERW = 1.42: 1. Chelicerae dark red-brown with black mottling, yellow distally prolaterally, covered in short straight setae, with scattered erect straight setae on anterior surface; three teeth on promargin, distal tooth smallest, tiny, median tooth largest; median and distal teeth adjacent, proximal tooth clearly separate from median tooth; retromargin with two slightly separated teeth close to fang base, distal tooth slightly smaller than proximal tooth; endites dark brown, paler prolaterally, cream at maxillar hair tuft; labium brown, cream distally; sternum shield-shaped, elongate, dark brown with black mottling; surface finely granulate, densely covered in short straight and feathery white setae, with scattered long erect straight setae. Legs with surface of all segments except tarsi finely granulate, tarsi finely wrinkled; legs covered in short straight setae, feathery setae dense on dorsal surface of femora, patellae and tibiae, sparse on metatarsi, absent on tarsi; femora I and II yellow, black proximally, with prolateral and retrolateral black stripes; femora III and IV black, dark orange-brown dorsally distally; patellae I and II yellow with prolateral and retrolateral black stripes, fused distally; patellae III black; patellae IV yellow, with broad proximal and distal black markings, fused dorsally; tibiae I and II yellow, with black prolateral and retrolateral stripes; tibiae III and IV black, dark orange-brown dorsally at distal end; metatarsi and tarsi I and II yellow-brown with black mottling; metatarsi III and IV black, dark orange distally; tarsi III and IV yellow-brown with black mottling. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1 do 3, II pl 2 do 3 rl 1–2, III pl 2 do 3 rl 1, IV pl 2 do 3 rl 1; patellae: all with distal do seta; tibiae: I plv 2 rlv 2, II plv 2 rlv 1, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 1, IV pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I plv 2 rlv 2, II plv 2 rlv 2, III pl 3 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3, IV pl 3 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3. Palpal spination: femora: do 1; patellae: pl 1 do 1; tibiae: pl 1 do 1 plv 1; tarsi: pl 1 plv 2. Abdomen pear-shaped, broad and round posteriorly, with long pedicel; dorsal scutum black, covering entire dorsum, fused to pedicel anteriorly and epigastric plate and post-epigastric sclerites ventrally; two pairs of sigilla present near midpoint of dorsum; dorsum covered in white feathery setae, with two broad dense transverse bands of white feathery setae at one-third and two-thirds abdomen length; venter mottled grey, covered in short straight and feathery black setae, with white feathery setae covering ventral sclerite; venter with deep red-brown rectangular ventral sclerite; inframamillary sclerite red-brown, subtriangular. Male palpal segments yellow-brown with black mottling; tegulum pear-shaped, yellow-brown, with black insemination ducts; embolus short, with narrow, slightly curved base, directed retrolaterally distally; embolus tip slightly broadened and weakly curved, directed prolaterally distally (Figures 9A, 10A, B).  
 Female (Tembe, NCA 2006 / 1374). Measurements: CL 4.75, CW 2.46, AL 3.95, AW 3.15, TL 8.95 (6.65–10.50), FL 0.23, SL 1.83, SW 1.20, AME–AME 0.13, AME– ALE 0.08, ALE–ALE 0.59, PME–PME 0.32, PME–PLE 0.42, PLE–PLE 1.37, PERW 1.51, MOQAW 0.46, MOQPW 0.54, MOQL 0.49.   
Length of leg segments: I 2.60 + 0.80 + 2.64 + 2.28 + 1.53 = 9.85; II 2.40 + 0.80 + 2.30 + 2.03 + 1.30 = 8.83; III 2.13 + 0.85 + 1.89 + 1.90 + 1.03 = 7.80; IV 3.00 + 0.98 + 2.55 + 2.95 + 1.17 = 10.65.  
General appearance in Figure 2B, lateral view in Figure 3B. Morphology similar to male except for the following: AER straight, medians larger than laterals; AME separated by distance slightly larger thanthree-quarters their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance slightly less than one-half AME diameter; clypeus height equal to distance one and three-quarters times AME diameter; PER strongly recurved, medians very slightly larger than laterals; PME separated by distance slightly larger than two and a half times their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to three and two-fifths times PME diameter; CW: PERW = 1.63: 1. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1 do 2, II pl 1 do 2, III pl 2 do 3 rl 2, IV pl 2 do 3 rl 1; patellae: all with single distal do seta; tibiae: I plv 2 rlv 2, II plv 2 rlv 2, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, IV pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2; metatarsi: I plv 2 rlv 2, II plv 2 rlv 2, III pl 3 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3, IV pl 3 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 3. Palpal spination: femora: do 1; patellae: pl 1 do 1; tibiae: pl 1 do 1 plv 1; tarsi: pl 1 rl 1 plv 2 rlv 2. Abdomen teardrop-shaped with long pedicel, with dark red-brown dorsal scutum extending to seven-eighths abdomen length; posterior tip of dorsum mottled dark grey; two pairs of sigilla present near midpoint of dorsum; dorsum covered in white feathery setae, with broad black bands at one-quarter and two-thirds abdomen length, dense band of white feathery setae behind midpoint; venter mottled grey, with dense broad transverse band of white feathery setae behind epigastric furrow, followed by band of black feathery setae, posterior covered in short straight and feathery black setae; two paired rows of tiny sclerites from epigastric furrow to spinnerets; epigastric region strongly sclerotized, post-epigastric sclerites weakly sclerotized; ventral sclerite absent; inframamillary sclerite distinct, orangebrown, subtriangular. Epigyne with oblique lateral copulatory openings at midpoint of epigyne (Figure 10C); copulatory ducts short, initially directed dorsally before bending transversely towards midline, entering oval anterior ST II posterolaterally; ST II broadly connected to diverging posterior ST I (Figure 10D).   Material examined   
 BOTSWANA: Maun, Maphaneng Pan / Lagoon (19 ◦ 55’ S, 23 ◦ 26’ E), leg. A. Russell- Smith, 30 January 1977 (riverine woodland, spun up in shrubs), 1♀ (BMNH); Same locality, leg. F. Wanless and A. Russell-Smith, 1 April 1976 (riverine woodland, ground layer), 1sa ♀ (BMNH). CAMEROON: Ebolowa, Nkoumvom (02 ◦ 55’ N, 11 ◦ 09’ E), leg. M.C. Day, December 1980 (pitfall traps), 1♂ (BMNH); Mabete (Mabeta, 04 ◦ 00’ N, 09 ◦ 17’ E), leg. B. Malkin, 24 May to 7 June 1949, 1♀ (CAS, CASENT 9033086); Same data, 1♀ (CAS, CASENT 9033108). CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Prefacture Sangha-Mbaéré, Réserve Spéciale de Forêt Dense de Dzanga-Sangha, 12.7 km 326 ◦ NW Bayanga, 03 ◦ 00’18” N, 16 ◦ 11’36” E, 420 m above sea level (a.s.l.), leg. B.L. Fisher, 10–17 May 2001 (beating low vegetation, rainforest), 2♂ (CAS, CASENT 9033204, BLF 4087). D.R. CONGO: Bas Congo: Bas-Fleuve, Boma, 05 ◦ 51’ S, 13 ◦ 03’ E, leg. H. Schouteden, 8 September 1920, 1♀ (MRAC 12440); Kisantu, 05 ◦ 08’ S, 15 ◦ 06’ E, leg. R.P. Vanderyst, no date, 1♀ (MRAC 15542); Luki (05 ◦ 39’ S, 13 ◦ 04’ E), leg. Pieters, 1924, 1♀ (MRAC 12429); Bas-Congo, Mayombe, Luki Forest Reserve, 05 ◦ 37’ S, 13 ◦ 05’ E, leg. D. de Bakker and J.P. Michiels, 8 November 2006 (beating along trail near guest house), 1♂ 1♀ (MRAC 219949); Same locality, leg. D. de Bakker and J.P. Michiels, 13 November 2006 (primary rainforest, fogging 5), 1♀ (MRAC 220932); Same locality, leg. D. de Bakker and J.P. Michiels, 16 November 2006 (beating, secondary forest), 1♀ (MRAC 219815); Same locality, leg. D. de Bakker and J.P. Michiels, 16 September 2007 (young secondary rainforest), 1♂ 1♀ (MRAC 222950); Haut Uélé, Moto, 03 ◦ 15’ N, 29 ◦ 20’ E, leg. L. Burgeon, no date, 1♀ (MRAC 15532). GABON: Ivindo (Ivoundou, 02 ◦ 54’ S, 11 ◦ 30’ E), leg. A. Pauly, 2 May 1986, 1♀ (MRAC 173071); Woleu-N’Tem, entre Médoneu et Foulebeng (Medouneu, 00 ◦ 57’ N, 10 ◦ 47’ E), leg. A. Pauly, 19 March 1987, 1♀ (MRAC 208490). GHANA: Kakum forest, 05 ◦ 20’ N, 01 ◦ 23’ W, leg. R. Jocqué, D. de Bakker and L. Baert, 18 November 2005 (primary forest, fogging), 1♂ (MRAC 218264); Same data, 25 November 2005, 1♀ (MRAC 218292); Same locality, leg. R. Jocqué, D. de Bakker and L. Baert, 17 November 2005 (secondary forest, fogging), 1♂ (MRAC 218257); Same data, 22 November 2005, 1♂ 1♀ (MRAC 218279); Same data, 24 November 2005, 1♂ (MRAC 218290). IVORY COAST: Appouesso, Bossematié, 06 ◦ 35’ N, 03 ◦ 28’ W, leg. R. Jocqué, 15 November 1995 (rain forest, station 3), 1♂ (MRAC 202690); Bouaké, F.-Foro, 07 ◦ 41’ N, 05 ◦ 02’ W, leg. G. Couturier, 2–4 December 1974 (piège coloré), 1♂ (MRAC 216416); Dingouine (07 ◦ 39’ N, 07 ◦ 37’ W), leg. A. Russell-Smith, 25 July 1995 (lowland rice), 2♀ (BMNH). KENYA: Western region, Kakamega Forest, 00 ◦ 13’ N, 34 ◦ 54’ E, leg. D. Shilabira Smith, 31 August 2002 (pitfall trap), 1♂ (MRAC 220529); Same locality, 00 ◦ 22’ N, 34 ◦ 50’ E, 1600 m a.s.l., leg. W. Freund, January–February 2002 (canopy fogging, Teclea nobilis, old secondary forest), 1♂ (ZFMK). NAMIBIA: Caprivi Strip, Kwando River (18 ◦ S, 23 ◦ E), leg. F. Wanless and A. Russell-Smith, 24 March 1976 (Phragmites and Papyrus), 1♀ (BMNH). NIGERIA: Ibadan, IITA, 07 ◦ 14’ N, 03 ◦ 30’ E, leg. A. Russell- Smith, 23 August 1980 (beating fallow bush), 1♂ (MRAC 177332); Same locality, leg. A. Russell-Smith, 28 August 1974 (fallow bush), 1imm. 1♂ 1♀ (BMNH). SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal Province: Durban, Happy Valley Nature Reserve (29 ◦ 56’ S, 30 ◦ 59’ E), near Bluff, leg. P. Reavell, 7 January 1984 (open grassland, with Camponotus and Polyrhachis gagates ants), 1imm. 1♂ (NMSA 22000); Empangeni (28 ◦ 45’ S, 31 ◦ 54’ E), leg. P. Reavell, December 1986 (in garden, with P. gagates ants), 1♀ (NMSA 22005); Empangeni, Addison Park, 28 ◦ 45’ S, 31 ◦ 54’ E, leg. P. Reavell, 31 March 1984 (dense grass, with P. gagates ants), 1♀ (NMSA 18270); iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Hell’s Gate block A, 28.00 ◦ S, 32.48 ◦ E, leg. J. Esterhuizen, 15 November 2004 (tsetse fly traps), 1♂ (NCA 2010 / 284); Kosi Bay, Manguzi Forest, 26 ◦ 58’ S, 32 ◦ 44’ E, 80 m a.s.l., leg. P. Reavell, 10 January 1985 (grass and shrubs, with P. gagates ants), 1♂ (NMSA 22003); Same locality, leg. P. Reavell, 9 January 1985 (in crevice of Ficus vogeli, near P. gagates ants), 1♂ 1♀ (NMSA 22004); La Mercy (29 ◦ 37’ S, 31 ◦ 08’ E), leg. C.J. Cilliers, 10 February 1981 (sweeps, grass), 1♀ (NCA 81 / 251); Mac’s Pass, near Ingwavuma, Ingwavuma River (27 ◦ 04’ S, 32 ◦ 00’ E), leg. P. Reavell, 13 January 1980 (herb layer, riverine bush, with P. gagates ants), 1♀ (NMSA 13173); Natal, G.F. Leigh, 1♀ (BMNH); Ndumo Game Reserve, subtropical bush, 26 ◦ 53’ S, 32 ◦ 15’ E, leg. C. Haddad, 12 July 2000 (beats, foliage, with P. gagates ants), 3imm. 1♂ 1♀ (NCA 2002 / 368); Ophathe Game Reserve, Overgrazed savanna, 28 ◦ 22.135’ S, 31 ◦ 23.363’ E, 560 m a.s.l., leg. C. Haddad, 3 October 2008 (beats, shrubs), 1♂ (NCA 2008 / 2874); Same locality, Ophathe River bed, 28 ◦ 23.727’ S, 31 ◦ 23.643’ E, 455 m a.s.l., leg. C. Haddad, 2 October 2008 (beats, short shrubs), 2imm. 1♂ (NCA 2008 / 2880); Richards Bay, 28 ◦ 46’ S, 32 ◦ 06’ E, leg. P. Reavell, 4 February 1983, 1♂ (NCA 95 / 118); Richards Bay nursery, 28 ◦ 46’ S, 32 ◦ 06’ E, leg. P. Reavell, 28 December 1979 (subcoastal bush, dense herbs and climbers, with P. gagates ants), 1♂ (NMSA 13133); Sodwana Bay, Camp site (27 ◦ 33’ S, 32 ◦ 39’ E), leg. C. Car, 4 May 1981, 1♀ (SAM C560); St Lucia, 28 ◦ 05’ S, 32 ◦ 25’ E, leg. J.T. Doyen, 23 November 1985, 1♂ (NMSA 22002); St Lucia, Dukuduku Forest (28 ◦ 22’ S, 32 ◦ 19’ E), leg. M. Filmer, 7 November 1990 (in leaf litter), 1sa ♀ (NCA 91 / 804); St Lucia, Smith’s Farm, 28 ◦ 20’ S, 32 ◦ 25’ E, 40 m a.s.l., leg. P. Reavell, 12 January 1986 (grassveld in sandveld bush, with P. gagates ants), 1♀ (NMSA 22001); Tembe Elephant Park, Open woodland / sand, 27 ◦ 03’ S, 32 ◦ 25’ E, leg. C. Haddad, 10 January 2002 (under log), 1♀ (NCA 2002 / 371); Same locality, Closed woodland / sand, 27 ◦ 04’ S, 32 ◦ 27’ E, leg. C. Haddad, 13 January 2002 (on ground), 1♂ (NCA 2002 / 372); Same locality, Sand forest near viewing tower, 27 ◦ 01.713’ S, 32 ◦ 24.559’ E, leg. C. Haddad, 7 January 2002 (fogging, short shrubs), 1imm. 1♀ (NCA 2006 / 1374). Limpopo Province: Tzaneen, 23 ◦ 50’ S, 30 ◦ 09’ E, leg. D. Swart, 10 July 1993 (on slides in avocado tree), 1imm. 1sa ♂ 3sa ♀ (NCA 94 / 38). North-West Province: Rustenburg, 25 ◦ 39’ S, 27 ◦ 14’ E, leg. M. Stiller, 25 April 1980 (sweeps, grass), 1sa ♀ (NCA 94 / 117). TANZANIA: Amani (05 ◦ 06’ S, 38 ◦ 38’ E), 850 m a.s.l, leg. E.S. Ross and R.E. Leech, 9 November 1957, 1♀ (CAS, CASENT 9033095, together with 1♂ Merenius sp.). UGANDA: Budongo Forest, 01 ◦ 45’ N, 31 ◦ 25’ E, 1200 m a.s.l., leg. T. Wagner, 15–25 January 1997 (canopy fogging, Rinorea beniensis, secondary forest), 1♂ (ZMFK); Same locality, leg. T. Wagner, 11–20 July 1995 (canopy fogging, Teclea nobilis, swamp forest), 1♂ (ZMFK); Rukungiri district, Buhoma Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, 00 ◦ 59’ S, 29 ◦ 36’ E, 1400 m a.s.l., leg. C. Griswold and G. Mayoba, 20–24 September 1996 (sweeping and beating forest understorey), 1♀ (CAS, CASENT 9033283). ZIMBABWE: Batoka Gorge, 1726C3, 29–30 July 1990, F. Nyathi, 2sa ♀ (NMZA 8439); Same locality, 30–31 October 1990, V. and B. Roth, 1sa ♀ (NMZA 9074); Sohwe River, below escarpment, 1631A3, 6 April 1991, F. Nyathi, 1sa ♀ (NMZA 8869).    Distribution   
Widespread throughout the Afrotropical Region (Figure 11).   Biology   
 This species was mainly collected from the foliage of trees and shrubs in forest and savannah habitats. Considering its broad distribution range, it is unlikely to be associated with a particular species of Polyrhachis ants, which are very diverse in the Afrotropical Region, with 47 species that are largely sympatric with the distribution of A. formicaeforme (Bolton 1973). A single case has been observed of an A. formicaeforme female preying on a Polyrhachis ant (Holm and Dippenaar-Schoeman 2010, fig. 12.378) but this is not adequate evidence to suggest that the species (and indeed, others in the genus) is an aggressive mimic or stenophagous myrmecophage.
description: Published as part of Haddad, Charles Richard, 2013, A revision of the ant-like sac spider genus Apochinomma Pavesi 1881 (Araneae: Corinnidae) in the Afrotropical Region, pp. 2493-2529 in Journal of Natural History 47 (39 - 40) on pages 2505-2510, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2013.791933, http://zenodo.org/record/5197805