Abba Castanheira & Framenau, 2023
- Dataset
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy
- Rank
- GENUS
- Published in
- Castanheira, P. D. S.; Framenau, V. W. (2023). Abba, a new monotypic genus of orb-weaving spiders (Araneae, Araneidae) from Australia. <em>Evolutionary Systematics.</em> 7(1): 73-81.
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Arthropoda
- class
- Arachnida
- order
- Araneae
- family
- Araneidae
- genus
- Abba
description
Description. Small orb-weaving spiders, males (total length ca. 3.0 - 3.5) smaller than females (total length ca. 4.0 - 4.5). Carapace longer than wide, pear-shaped and with cephalic region comparatively narrower in males than in females; colouration yellowish-brown (green in live specimens), generally without setae (Figs 1 A, 4 A). Fovea transverse in males and females. Anterior median eyes largest, row of posterior eyes slightly recurved, lateral eyes almost touching; lateral eyes on joint tubercles but the row of the posterior lateral eyes slightly wider than that of the anterior lateral eyes; anterior median eyes slightly protruding from the carapace (Figs 1 A, 4 A). Maxillae subquadrate, yellow with anterior dark border (Figs 1 B, 4 B). Sternum longer than wide, yellow, with a sparse cover of setae (Figs 1 B, 4 B). Labium wider than long, with anterior glabrous light edge (Figs 1 B, 4 B). Chelicerae fangs with three promarginal teeth of similar size, and three retromarginal teeth of similar size. Legs: Leg formula I> IV> II> III; males with set of ca. five strong prolateral macrosetae on the first tibia (Figs 1 A, 3). Abdomen slightly longer than wide, somewhat dorso-ventrally compressed, oval, without humeral humps, specialized setae, sigilla, condyles or other specific structures; colour dorsally varying from beige to grey, bearing two centrally located dark spots (Figs 1 A, 4 A). Venter grey, sparse layer of guanine crystals (Figs 1 B, 4 B). Male pedipalp patella with two macrosetae (Fig. 1 C, D); paracymbium elongated and hook-like (Figs 1 D, 2 B); median apophysis subquadrate spatulate, with strong sclerotized finger-like tip and sclerotized base (Figs 1 C, 2 A, B); radix poorly developed (Figs 1 C, 2 A); terminal apophysis wider than long, rounded with sclerotized tip (Figs 1 C, D, 2 A, B); conductor elongate, membranous, apically slightly curved (Figs 1 C, D, 2 A, B); embolus heavily sclerotized and thick, curved basally, uncapped (Figs 1 C, D, 2 A, B). Epigyne base rounded, lateral portion rounded and heavily sclerotized; atrium wide and heavily sclerotized with copulatory openings located posteriorly (Fig. 4 C, D); scape approximately as long as atrium length, not exceeding posterior epigyne base, with terminal pocket (Fig. 4 C); spermathecae ovoid to spherical, larger than atrium (Fig. 4 C-E).
diagnosis
Diagnosis. Abba gen. nov. can be diagnosed by the set of strong prolateral macrosetae on the first tibia of the males and by the distinct colouration of the abdomen in both the males and females, consisting of a pair of dark spots centrally on a uniformly creamy-white to grey dorsal surface (Figs 1 A, 3, 4 A).
etymology
Etymology. The genus-group name honours the Swedish pop group ABBA whose songs and subsequent musicals Mamma Mia! (2008) and Mamma Mia - Here We Go again! (2018), provided hours of entertainment for the authors. The gender of the genus-group name is feminine.
Name
- Homonyms
- Abba Castanheira & Framenau, 2023
Bibliographic References
- Castanheira, P. D. S.; Framenau, V. W. (2023). Abba, a new monotypic genus of orb-weaving spiders (Araneae, Araneidae) from Australia. <em>Evolutionary Systematics.</em> 7(1): 73-81.