In addition to the genus diagnosis, the following features characterize the species:MALECephalothorax: integument blackish brown, including eye field and anterior thorax, covered with long adpressed colourless setae, appearing greyish, except large spot of striking white setae on posterior half of eye field, anterior half of eye field with adpressed colourless setae, less dense than in other species and without any wedge shaped spots; there are slightly lighter spots behind eyes III; a belt of white setae along edge of flat part of thorax runs to below eyes III, sides with tegument dark brown; edge of carapace black, from under eyes II with thin line of intensely white setae turning into white belt on clypeus, lighter diagonal line runs from under ALE. There is a pair of tufts of longer strong bent setae arising below eyes II, resembling that in Thyene.Abdomen: integument uniformly dark grey, covered with adpressed and long whitish setae, more whitish medially, concentrating into a striking white oval spot on posterior half of abdomen, anteriorly setae are divided by bald lines into thin, short streaks; lateral edge appear light due to concentration of whitish setae, sides in dense stripes of dark and light; long, sparse thin upright bristles over dorsal surface, whitish with dark tips over anterior edge of abdomen, further on anterior abdomen darker part of setae extends, only basal parts remaining whitish; along remaining part of abdomen bristles along medial part of dorsal surface whitish, more marginally black and stronger. Spinnerets blackish brown with long lighter setae. Frontal aspect: eye field appears blackish brown with lighter brown line above eyes I, sparse colourless setae; tufts of long bent black bristles appearing like "horns" below eyes II; face below eyes I brown, separated from blackish sides by diagonal lighter line with sparse whitish setae; upper halves of rims of AME covered with long and strong dark greyish brown setae, sparsely intermixed with white, lower halves of rims covered with shorter, slightly lighter setae; rims of ALE covered externally with dark brown, yellow and whitish setae, medial halves only with whitish setae; edge of clypeus laterally (under ALE and sidewards) with two lines of intensely white setae, separated by bald blackish brown line; clypeus under AME sparse "beard" of long, white setae, overhanging chelicerae. Chelicerae short and slender, light brown, with sparse, whitish setae. Pedipalpal femur and patella brown with whitish setae apically, tibia and cymbium blackish brown with whitish setae. Palpal organ: bulbus oval, narrower than in E. praeclara, embolus gradually broadening along its length, encircling anterior edge of bulbus, splitting apically into short triangular needle directed anteriorly and thin, longer process (in antero-lateral view broader, concave and plate shaped) directed posteriorly. Ventral aspect: mouth parts dark brown, coxae I-IV dark brownish grey, posterior gradually lighter; sternum dark brownish grey; abdomen ventrally grey with lighter margins, anterior part (in front of the epigastric furrow) darker, blackish brown with sparse whitish setae; spinnerets black. Legs I strikingly dark, including basal half of metatarsus and femur, with dorsal surfaces of tibia and patella I lighter brown, femora I-IV blackish with small, inconspicuous lighter area basally on femur I, gradually expanding on following femora, extending over half of femur IV and 3/4th of femur III. Legs III the longest. Measurements (mm). Male. Length of cephalothorax 2.37; length of 5 segments of leg I 5.53. © PRÓSZYŃSKI 2003 Body: Markings: dark or bright vertical stripes. Eyes: AER: dorsal edge straight. dorsal edge procurve. Labium: Length: longer than wide. wider than long. Embolus: Shape: wrapped < 1 around bulbus. Distribution: Geographical Distribution: Middle East. FEMALEBody: Markings: dark or bright vertical stripes. Eyes: AER: dorsal edge straight. dorsal edge procurve. Labium: Length: longer than wide. wider than long. Distribution: Geographical Distribution: Middle East.COMMENTSDiagnosis. Body very dark with two striking white oval spots: one on posterior half of eye field and the second on posterior half of dark abdomen. Bulbus oval, narrower than in E. praeclara and E. negevensis, embolus gradually broadening, encircling anterior edge of bulbus, splitting apically into short triangular needle directed anteriorly and a thin, longer process directed posteriorly.Seasonal appearance of adult specimens. Males - V. Etymology. Named in honor of the late Witold Pilecki (1901-1948), who, during the Nazi German occupation of Poland, volunteered for Polish Resistance (Armia Krajowa) in an almost suicidal mission of penetrating Auschwitz Concentration camp and provided the first detailed report . © PRÓSZYŃSKI 2003 |