Spiniculosa albida sp. nov.

(Figs 1G–I, 2, 3C–D, 4D–F, 5B, 6D–F, 7B, 8C, 9B, D)

Type material. Holotype ♂ from KENYA. Kwale: Tiwi Beach, Twiga Lodge (c. 20 kms south of Mombasa), 4.24°S 39.60°E, 4 Jan. 1972, T. Kronestedt (NHRS).

Other material examined (paratypes). KENYA. Kwale: data as holotype, 10 ♂ 9♀ (NHRS incl. allotype, RMCA) .

Etymology. The specific epithet albida (Latin for whitish) refers to the body coloration of the species.

Diagnosis. In living specimens, the entire body appear whitish except for the blackish cephalic part of the carapace and palps in the male (Fig. 2A). Both sexes have a whitish opisthosoma with or without some blackish spots. In the male, the yellowish carapace (in ethanol) is more or less patterned in blackish in the cephalic part (Fig. 1G–H). Apart from the coloration of the body, the male is distinguished from that in S. crassipalpis by the tegular apophysis being rounded anteriorly (Figs 3C, 5B) and extrapaleal sclerite being more extensive, partly fused with the palea anteriorly (Fig. 6F). The female is characterized by the epigyne having the rims of the wide part of the septum more or less parallel (Figs 3D, 8C) and the course of the copulatory ducts in the receptacular complex (Fig. 9D).

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 4.15. Carapace 2.20 long, 1.75 wide.

Prosoma (Fig. 1G–H). Carapace light yellowish, without median or lateral bands. Cephalic portion blackish between eyes; lateral slopes in front and cephalic area behind PLEs, more or less sooty. Margin of thoracic portion with narrow blackish streaks, usually present above each coxa, sometimes absent above coxae I and II. Blackish and sooty areas of cephalic part with dark recumbent setae (apart from scattered erect ones). Thoracic part with pubescence of whitish recumbent setae, dark setae in posterior sooty spots. Clypeus dark, yellowish below ALEs only. Chelicerae sooty yellowish, with darker longitudinal streaks, furnished with dark setae of varying length. Sternum yellowish-white with numerous light and scattered dark setae.

Eyes. Width of row I 34, row II 54, row III 68, row II–III 53. Diameter of AME 9, ALE 6, PME 18, PLE 15. Distance between AMEs 6, between AME and ALE 2.

Legs (Table 1). Light yellowish, traces of yellowish annulation may be present in femora. Pilosity of leg I as in the rest of legs. Leg I with rows of about four spine-like setae distally and proventrally on coxa and trochanter respectively (Fig. 7B).

Opisthosoma (Fig. 1G–H). Whitish (guanocytes), dorsally with yellowish lanceolate stripe which anteriorly is flanked by two dark spots and at beginning of rear half flanked by two more or less dark spots or dots. Posterior half of dorsum laterally with two darker dots on each side. Whitish pubescence, dorsally in addition with scattered dark setae. Venter whitish (guanocytes). Sooty spot medially in front of epigastric fold. Small sooty dot at anus.

Palp (Figs 3C, 4D–F, 5B, 6D–F). Pt 0.45, Ti 0.50, cymbium 0.95. Fe, Pt and Ti yellowish, more or less sooty; cymbium sooty brownish, tip yellowish. All segments furnished with dark setae; Ti and cymbium with notably longer dark setae prolaterally. Tegular apophysis somewhat oval in shape, ending in a sclerotized hook (Fig. 3C). Terminal part with palea having a transverse furrow (Fig. 6D: pf) and retrolaterally with a characteristically shaped extrapaleal sclerite (Fig. 6F: eps). Embolus thread-like (Fig. 6D).

Female (allotype): Total length 5.0. Carapace length 2.30, width 1.85.

In general similar to male in colour and setation. Carapace black around eyes only (area between PLEs light yellowish).

Eyes. Width of row I 38, row II 57, row III 72, row II–III. Diameter of AME 10, ALE 6, PME 20, PLE 18. Distance between AMEs 6, between AME and ALE 2.

Legs (Table 1). Light yellowish, more or less darkly annulated, usually with a distinct dark ring distally on MtIV.

Epigyne (Figs 3D, 8C, 9B, D) with single transversal anterior pocket (‘hood’). Posterior part of epigyne covered by a septum with more or less parallel rims. Copulatory ducts thick, part of them visible through the septum (Fig. 8C). For copulatory ducts and receptacula, see Fig. 9D.

Size variatio n. Carapace lengths of material measured: males 2.00–2.25 (N=8), females 2.20–2.30 (N=5).

Habitat. All specimens were found on a seashore with white sand. Specimens of Spiniculosa crassipalpis were found on the ground immediately adjacent to the same shore.

Distribution. Kenya.