Rhene hexagon Wiśniewski & Wesołowska, 2024, sp. nov.

Rhene hexagon sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 3F9388DC-9275-4126-B3B8-10C84C486721 Figs 77–78 Diagnosis The species is most similar to Rhene pinguis Wesołowska & Haddad, 2009. The male may be recognized by the form of the embolus, which ends in a bent ‘tongue’, while it has a small flag-like structure in the former species (compare Fig. 78C–D with Wesołowska & Haddad 2009: fig. 169). The female has shorter copulatory ducts and large accessory glands connected with initial part of copulatory ducts, not observed in Rh. pinguis (compare Fig. 78F with Wesołowska & Haddad 2018: fig. 1931). Etymology The name is a noun in apposition, refers to the carapace shape of this species. Material examined Holotype UGANDA • ♂; Masindi distr., Budongo Forest; 1°45′ N, 31°25′ E; dry season; 11–20 Jun. 1995; T. Wagner leg.; ZFMK 2979. Paratypes UGANDA • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 5–18 Jan. 1997; ZFMK 2885 • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 15–25 Jan. 1997; ZFMK 2980 • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 5–15 Jan. 1997; ZFMK 3029 • 1 ♀; same locality as for preceding; 5–12 Feb. 1997; ZFMK 3831 • 1 ♀; Entebbe; Jun. 2001; FSCA. Description Male General appearance as in Fig. 77A MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.0, width 1.8, height 0.8. Eye field length 1.2, anterior width 1.3, posterior width 1.8. Abdomen length 2.5, width 1.9. CARAPACE. Hexagonal, widest at posterior row of eyes, dark brown, eye field almost black, pitted. White patch formed by hairs between anterior median eyes, second similar patch behind eye field. Long brown bristles near anterior eyes, dense brown hairs on lateral margins of carapace. Mouthparts brown. ABDOMEN. Ovoid, dark brown, clothed in shiny hairs, venter brown. Spinnerets brownish grey. LEGS. First leg thick, its segments swollen, dark brown, patella and tibia with dense long hairs on ventral surface (Fig. 77A). Other legs yellow with brown streaks along lateral sides. PALPS. Brownish, palpal tibia with pointed apophysis (Figs 77C, 78B). Tegulum large, spermophore meandering, anterior haematodocha delicately ribbed (Fig. 78A), embolus with rounded bent tip (Fig. 78A, C–D). Female Similar to male, general appearance as in Fig. 77D. MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 1.8, width 1.7, height 0.8. Eye field length 1.0, anterior width 1.2, posterior width 1.7. Abdomen length 2.2, width 1.8. ABDOMEN. Dark brown with lighter anterior edge. Wide, transverse strip on posterior half, interrupted in the middle, formed by white hairs. LEGS. First pair brown with white hairs on femur. Legs II–IV brown. EPIGYNE. With two strongly sclerotized ‘cups’ hiding copulatory openings (Figs 77E, 78E). Internal structure as in Fig. 78F, copulatory ducts long and thin, accessory glands close to their inlet part, spermathecae long, semicircular, curved.