Mecaphesa inclusa Banks 1902
Creators: name: Baert, L.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2013
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Thomisidae
Mecaphesa
Mecaphesa inclusa

description: Mecaphesa inclusa (Banks, 1902)
Figs 1A-C, 3A, 9A-D
Misumenops inclusus Banks, 1902: 62, pl. 1, fig. 12 (description ♂ / ♀).
Misumenops inclusus – Roth & Craig 1970: 119. — Baert & Maelfait 1986: 119, map 25. — Baert, Maelfait & Desender 1988: 50, 53. — Baert, Maelfait & Desender 1989: 21.
Mecaphesa inclusa – Lehtinen 1993: 587. — Baert & Maelfait 2000: 244. — Baert, Maelfait, Hendrickx & Desender 2008: 67, map 149.
Material examined
All the material ever sampled has been screened (see other material examined). The localities given in this section are those of the voucher specimens used for the description of the colour variety.
Locality of male voucher specimen A: Meteorological Station of CDRS, 2 m alt., 15 Feb. 1982 (leg. L. Baert & J.-P. Maelfait); female voucher specimen A: Isla Isabela, Volcán Alcedo, 600 m alt., 2 Apr. 1986 (leg. L. Baert, J.-P. Maelfait & K. Desender).
Locality of male voucher specimen B: Isla Isabela, Volcán Alcedo, Zanthoxylum-Scalesia savanna, 790 m alt., 14 May 1980 (leg. W.G. Reeder).
Locality of male and female voucher specimens C: Isla Isabela, Volcán Alcedo, Pega Pega Camp, 600 m alt., Scalesia, 24-25 May 1980 (leg. D. Green).
The voucher specimens described here are deposited at the RBINS at Brussels.
Other material examined
ISLA FERNANDINA: ♂, between Cabo Hammond and Bursera Hills, 70 m alt., 26 Apr. 1975; ♂, ♀, 4 juv., west vegetation strip, 30 m alt., 10 Aug. 1977; 2 ♂♂, ♀, numerous juv., west vegetation strip, flush crater, 320 m alt., 13 Aug. 1977; 2 ♂♂, trail to Grass crater, 380 m alt., 17 Aug. 1977; ♀, W-slope, 500 m alt., 17 Aug. 1977, leg. W.G. Reeder.
ISLA FLOREANA: ♂, SE-slope of Cerro Pajas, 80 m alt., 20 Feb. 1977; ♀, (♂), south Pampa Grande, 270 m alt., 22 Feb. 1977, leg. W.G. Reeder.
ISLA GENOVESA: ♂, Barranco at Bahía Darwin, 20 m alt., 10-27 Mar. 1992.
ISLA ISABELA: VOLCÁN SIERRA NEGRA: ♀, east of crater floor, 925 m alt., 19 Feb. 1986, leg. L. Baert, J.-P. Maelfait & K. Desender; ♂, NE-rim of caldera, 980 m alt., 17 Jan. 1978; ♂ (♂), trail to El Papal above Sto Tómas, 480 m alt., 19 Jan. 1978; ♂, (♂), 4 (♀♀), Zona Velasco Ibarra (near Scalesia quadrat), 760 m alt., 2 Jan. 1978, leg. W.G. Reeder. VOLCÁN ALCEDO: ♂, along old trail, 600 m alt., 2 Apr. 1986, leg. L. Baert, J.-P. Maelfait & K. Desender; 4 ♂, E-slope, Bursera camp, 340 m alt., 18-19 May 1980; 6 ♂, ♂, ♀, (♀), 2 juv., west of lava flow, 380 m alt., 23-25 May 1980; ♂, 4 ♀♀ (♂), E-slope, Pega Pega camp, 600 m alt., 24-25 May 1980; ♂, E-slope, 700 m alt., 14 May 1980; 2 ♀♀, (♀), E-slope, 790 m alt., 14-15 May 1980; 6 juv., E-slope, Tributary Barranco, 735 m alt., 15 May 1980; 3 ♂♂, 3 ♀♀, east of lava flow, 600 m alt., 24 May 1980; 3 ♂, 3 ♀, 1000 m alt., 24-25 May 1980; ♂, rim, 1130-1160 m, 24 May 1980, leg. W.G. Reeder. VOLCÁN DARWIN: juv., along transect to the top, 800 m alt., shrub (Croton + Scalesia), 26 Mar. 1988, leg. L. Baert, J.-P. Maelfait & K. Desender; 2 ♂ ♂, ♀, 4 ♂♂, numerous juv., Beagle crater, 40-50 m alt., 2 May 1980, leg. W.G. Reeder. VOLCÁN ECUADOR: ♂, 2 ♀, Cabo Berkeley, 20-90 m alt., 8 Aug. 1977, leg. W.G. Reeder.
ISLA MARCHENA: ♂, ♀, Kipouka, 150 m alt., 29 Jan. 1977; ♂, SW-slope, Barranco, trail to fumaroles, 60 m alt., 30 Jan. 1977; ♂, S-slope, near fumaroles ridge, 190 m alt., 26 Jan. 1977, leg. W.G. Reeder.
ISLA PINTA: ♀, May 1964 (TMM); ♀, S-slope, 400 m alt., 19 Jul. 1977, leg. W.G. Reeder; 2 ♂♂, transition zone, 200 m alt., 14 Mar. 1992, leg. S. & J. Peck.
ISLA PINZON: 2 ♀♀, crater camp ridge summit, 320 m alt., 6 Feb. 1979, leg. W.G. Reeder.
ISLA RABIDA: ♂, ♀, N-slope, 180 m alt., 29 Sep. 1975; ♀, N-slope, 270 m alt., 29 Sep. 1975, leg. W.G. Reeder.
ISLA SANTIAGO: ♂, Aguacate camp, 550 m alt., 13 Apr. 1992, leg. S. & J. Peck.
ISLA SANTA CRUZ: ♀, Playa Tortuga, 2 m alt., 8 Jun. 1975, leg. H. Franz; ♀, 3 juv., trail from Caseta Tortuga towards the coast, 130 m alt., 18 Aug. 1970, leg. S Riechert; 4 juv., along old trail to Bellavista, 5-15 m alt., 2 Oct. 1975; ♂, along old trail to Bellavista, 25-30 m alt., 7 Oct. 1975; ♂, surroundings of the CDRS, 10 m alt., 18 Feb. 1979; ♀, Puerto Ayora, 20 m alt., 26 Apr. 1980: ♂, 500 m NE of Cerro Puntudo pass, 700-720 m alt.; ♂, along old trail to Bellavista, 80-100 m alt., 4 May 1980; ♂, 7 May 1980, leg. W.G. Reeder; juv., surroundings of CDRS, 5 m alt., 23 Mar. 1985, leg. H. & I. Schatz; (♂), surroundings of CDRS, 5 m alt., 19 Jan. 1989; 3 juv., 7 km N of Santa Rosa, 550 m alt., 1 Jun. 1991, leg. S. & J. Peck; ♀, Cerro Messa summit, 22 Jan. 2010, leg. F. Hendrickx; ♀, surroundings of the CDRS, 21 Apr. 1981; juv., Puerto Ayora, in building, 5 Nov. 1991 (CDRS collections).
Material is deposited either at the RBINS (collections made by L. Baert et al., F. Hendrickx, S. & J. Peck and H. Franz) or the TMM (collections made by W.G. Reeder, S. Riechert).
Cited in the literature
ISLA ISABELA, VOLCÁN DARWIN: Tagus Cove, ♂, ♀ (Banks 1902).
Short general description of the species
PROSOMA. With few dispersed long and short setae; lateral prosoma borders provided with very short setae, anterior clypeal border with long setae; clypeus with a proximal central long seta; ocular area with a long seta just above AE; chelicerae with one proximal median long seta; coxae with dorsal setae.
OPISTHOSOMA. Few dispersed long and short setae (only short setae in female).
LEGS. Pa III & IV without dorsal spines.
PALP. Tibia of male palp with 1 dorsal and 3 prolateral spines; RTA with hooked tip; VTA inconspicuous. Embolus with retrolateral origin, slowly curled at tip. Cymbium without tutaculum or tutacular groove.
EPIGYNE. Atrium with sclerified anterior and lateral borders and raised hood, small spermathecal organs conspicuous, close to epigynal fold (Fig. 2C); vulva with irregularly shaped spermathecae with mesal spermathecal organs, thick curled copulatory tubes (Fig. 3A).
This species shows variation in colour among males and between males and females. There is, however, no specific distribution pattern of the three kinds of colour patterns. A description of a male and female voucher specimen of each encountered common colour variety is given here.
Description of voucher specimens
Male A (Fig. 9A)
TOTAL LENGTH. 2.27; prosoma length: 1.09, width: 1.17, height: 0.49.
COLOUR. Prosoma: chestnut brown speckled with irregular yellowish spots; clypeus, ocular area and dorsal thoracic area paler brown; chelicerae brown suffused with black; labium, endites and sternum blackish brown with small irregular light patches. Legs I & II: Fe, Pa and Ti brown; Mt brown with lighter proximal half; Ta yellowish with light brown distal half. Leg III: Fe yellow with brown distal tip; Pa dark; Ti, Mt and Ta yellowish with dark proximal part. Leg IV: Fe yellow with brown distal tip; Pa and Ti dark; Mt and Ta yellowish with dark proximal part. Opisthosoma: with shiny sclerotized dorsum with a pattern of black, brown and light chevron-like patches; sides black; venter greyish; spinnerets light.
EYES. MOQ: AW = 0.74 PW, AW = 0.92 LAP, Cl = 3 DAME.
LEGS. Measurements: I (5.10): Fe 1.55, Pa 0.60, Ti 1.26, Mt 1.07, Ta 0.62; II (4.89): Fe 1.51, Pa 0.60, Ti 1.15, Mt 1.05, Ta 0.58; III (2.12): Fe 0.66, Pa 0.33, Ti 0.43, Mt 0.37, Ta 0.33; IV (2.14): Fe 0.68, Pa 0.31, Ti 0.43, Mt 0.39, Ta 0.33. Length of cymbium: 0.21.
Female A
TOTAL LENGTH. 3.33; prosoma length: 1.46, width: 1.44, height: 0.59.
COLOUR. Prosoma: orange speckled with brown irregular stains; labium yellow brown; endites and sternum yellowish strongly suffused with black. Legs I & II: orange brown dorsally, ventrally strongly suffused with (almost) black; Legs III & IV: Fe, Mt & Ta whitish with orange brown distal tip, Pa & Ti orange brown ventrally suffused with black. Opisthosoma: dorsum yellowish strongly suffused with black, venter whitish with central part greyish; spinnerets orange.
EYES. MOQ: AW = 0.84 PW, AW = 1.00 LAP, Cl = 0.1 DAME.
LEGS. Measurements: I (5.42): Fe 1.71, Pa 0.78, Ti 1.24, Mt 1.03, Ta 0.66; II (5.19): Fe 1.63, Pa 0.76, Ti 1.17, Mt 1.01, Ta 0.62; III (2.82): Fe 0.87, Pa 0.49, Ti 0.64, Mt 0.45, Ta 0.37; IV (2.98): Fe 0.87, Pa 0.47, Ti 0.60, Mt 0.56, Ta 0.39. Spination: ventral rows of strong spines: Ti I: 5, Mt I: 4, Ti II: 3, Mt II: 4.
Male B (Fig. 9B)
TOTAL LENGTH. 2.55; prosoma length: 1.13, width: 1.24, height: 0.49.
COLOUR. Prosoma: orange with two parallel longitudinal dark bands flanked by a row of 4 long setae along inner border; eye region white surrounded; clypeus white; chelicerae, endites and sternum orange. Legs I & II: Fe, Pa: orange; Ti, Mt: orange with dark distal part (1/3th); Ta: orange slightly suffused with black. Legs III & IV: light orange. Pedipalp: light orange. Opisthosoma: White dorsum, shiny with 4 dark chevrons; sides blackish, venter whitish.
EYES. MOQ: AW = 0.73 PW, AW = 0.89 LAP, Cl = 2.7 DAME.
LEGS. Measurements: I (6.82): Fe 2.06, Pa 0.70, Ti 1.75, Mt 1.55, Ta 0.76; II (5.65): Fe 1.73, Pa 0.54, Ti 1.42, Mt 1.26, Ta 0.70; III (3.26): Fe 1.04, Pa 0.39, Ti 0.76, Mt 0.64, Ta 0.43; IV (3.25): Fe 1.03, Pa 0.39, Ti 0.72, Mt 0.68, Ta 0.43.
Male C (Fig 9C)
TOTAL LENGTH. 2.39; prosoma length: 1.07, width: 1.17, height: 0.49.
COLOUR. Prosoma: brown with dorsal V-mark consisting of speckled white spots, sides speckled with few small white spots; chelicerae and sternum brown speckled with small white spots; endites brown. Legs I & II: brown with Fe, Pa & Ti speckled with few small white spots. Leg III: Fe yellowish with dark distal end, Pa dark, Ti-Ta yellowish. Leg IV: Fe yellowish with dark distal end, Pa & Ti dark, Mt & Ta yellowish. Pedipalp: brown, Ti with dark proximal and distal end. Opisthosoma: shiny brown speckled with small white spots, venter beige.
EYES. MOQ: AW = 0.79 PW, AW = 0.96 LAP, Cl = 3.5 DAME.
LEGS. Measurements: I (4.96): Fe 1.55, Pa 0.62, Ti 1.22, Mt 1.07, Ta 0.60; II (4.80): Fe 1.51, Pa 0.60, Ti 1.17, Mt 1.02, Ta 0.50; III (2.23): Fe 0.68, Pa 0.36, Ti 0.45, Mt 0.41, Ta 0.33; IV (2.22): Fe 0.70, Pa 0.33, Ti 0.47, Mt 0.41, Ta 0.31.
Female C (Fig. 9D)
TOTAL LENGTH. 4.27; prosoma length: 1.69, width: 1.75, height: 0.70.
COLOUR. As in male.
EYES. MOQ: AW = 0.809 PW, AW = 1.00 LAP, Cl = 2.6 DAME.
LEGS. Measurements: I (6.36): Fe 1.99, Pa 0.97, Ti 1.44, Mt 1.20, Ta 0.76; II (6.08): Fe 1.90, Pa 0.93, Ti 1.38, Mt 1.17, Ta 0.70; III (2.99): Fe 0.93, Pa 0.54, Ti 0.60, Mt 0.54, Ta 0.38; IV (3.32): Fe 1.09, Pa 0.50, Ti 0.70, Mt 0.62, Ta 0.41. Spination: ventral rows of strong spines: Ti I: 5, Mt I: 4, Ti II & Mt II: 4.
Distribution
Occurs throughout the whole archipelago except for the south-easternmost islands of Santa Fé, Española and San Cristóbal. This species has a wide distribution on the islands from the low arid zone up to the summit of the islands with the highest catch on the summit of Volcán Alcedo at an altitude of ca. 1160 m.
description: Published as part of Baert, L., 2013, The Thomisidae and Philodromidae (Arachnida: Araneae) of the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador), pp. 1-23 in European Journal of Taxonomy 43 on pages 3-8, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2013.43, http://zenodo.org/record/376162