Genital morphology of the haplogyne spider Harpactea lepida (Arachnida, Araneae, Dysderidae)

Abstract

Female Harpactea lepida possess a single genital opening leading into a diverticulum. This diverticulum shows no secretory layer. It continues posteriorly into a receptaculum which is associated with gland cells. In the two already described dysderids, Dysdera crocata and D. erythrina, the bilobed spermatheca lies anteriorly to the diverticulum. Gland cells are associated with the spermatheca and the diverticulum. In H. lepida, the sclerotized genital structures lie dorsally to the diverticulum and consist of a posterior and an anterior part. The posterior part shows a lamella extending laterally to sclerites functioning as muscle attachments. The anterior part has two roundish structures. A hollow stalk-like sclerite functioning as muscle attachment extends towards anterior. The posterior and the anterior part of the sclerotized genital structures fit together. A narrow uterine valve connecting the uterus externus with the diverticulum forms between them. It may be opened by muscles as also suggested for D. erythrina. In H. lepida, spermatozoa embedded in secretion are found in the diverticulum and the receptaculum. There is no evidence that they are stored under different conditions like in D. erythrina. Additional spermatozoa are found in the uterus externus of H. lepida which could be an indication for internal fertilization. Spermatogenesis occurs in cysts in the testes of male H. lepida. In the vasa deferentia, the ductus ejaculatorius and the palpal bulb, the spermatozoa are embedded in homogenous secretion. The palpal bulb has a distal extension bearing a crown-like structure. The embolus is situated at the base of the extension.