Genus Eleleis Simon, 1893

Eleleis Simon, 1893: 22 (Type species by monotypy, Eleleis crinita Simon, 1893); Dalmas, 1919: 337.

Diagnosis. Species of Eleleis are distinguished from those of other Prodidominae genera by the presence of different sized clavate setae over the entire body, except the chelicerae and spinnerets (Figs 11D, E, 12A, F); carapace bearing a few long and oblique clavate setae (Figs 11A, D, F), legs with clavate setae resembling spines (Fig. 15C), and posterior region of abdomen with large and robust clavate setae (Figs 11E, G).

Description. Total length males 1.72–3.90 and females 1.98–3.72. Carapace longer than wide, slightly narrow at cephalic region, almost oval (Figs 11D, F). Fovea absent. Very long and oblique clavate setae on thoracic area (Figs 11A, D, F, 14A). Eight eyes; posterior eye row strongly procurved, anterior eye row approximately straight (Figs 13B, 14A); PME and PLE irregular; AME dark; AME–ALE, PME–PLE, ALE–PLE contiguous. Chilum absent. Chelicerae relatively small (0.19–0.51), without boss; one reduced retromarginal tooth and one normal promarginal tooth (Fig. 14E), except in E. haddadi sp. nov. and E. solitaria sp. nov. that apparently lack teeth; fang with shaft serrula. Endites slightly convergent anteriorly (Figs 13C, 14B), with few setae on internal margin; serrula absent (Fig. 14D); labium approximately as long as wide. Sternum longer than wide, anterior margin straight, rebordered anteriorly and laterally (Figs 13C, 14B); posterior region strongly protruding between coxae IV, with numerous long and erect setae (Figs 13C, 14C); intercoxal setae absent and precoxal triangles present. Pedicel with anterior region truncate. Leg formula 4123. All species with legs covered in clavate setae resembling spines, except E. etosha, which has clavate setae and spines on all legs (Fig. 12C). Trichobothria present on dorsal tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi, arranged in two rows (Fig. 15C); bothrium with five ridges on proximal plate (Fig. 15E). Tarsal organ capsulate, with oval opening, located dorso-distally on tarsi. Two smooth claws (Figs 15A, B); claw tufts composed of slightly widened tenent setae inserted in a well delimited plate; tarsus with modified apical ventral setae (Fig. 15D); solid claw tuft clasper present. Abdomen oval, longer than wide (Figs 12 A–H), scales absent, clavate setae present (Figs 12A, 16A); large and robust clavate setae on posterior region of abdomen (Figs 11B, C, E, G); dorsum of abdomen without posteriorly curved setae (Figs 12G, H). Six spinnerets; ALS longer than wide, separated from each other by less than their diameter (Figs 13D); piriform gland spigots elongated with associated setae (Figs 16B, D); major ampulate gland spigot field on well-defined conical structure (Fig. 16D), male and female with two major ampulate gland spigots (Fig. 16D); PLS and PMS conical and short, PLS larger than PMS (Fig. 16B); PLS in male with one minor ampulate gland spigot and apparently seven aciniform gland spigots, females with seven aciniform gland spigots, one cylindrical gland spigots and apparently one minor ampulate gland spigot (Fig. 16E); PMS in male with one minor ampulate gland spigot and three aciniform gland spigots, females apparently with one minor ampulate gland spigot, four aciniform gland spigots and one cylindrical gland spigot (Fig. 16F). Female palp: tarsus truncated, with apical chemosensory patch, without claw (Fig. 15F). Male palp: femur unmodified, without spines; tibia short, less than 1/3 cymbium length, RTA single, with curved tip (Fig. 17B); cymbium slightly extended apically with apical scopula; presence of thick setae in ventro-apical region of cymbium (Fig. 17A); bulb ovoid; tegulum with median excavation to accommodate embolus (Fig. 17A), except in E. leleupi sp. nov., with prolateral excavation; reservoir visible ventrally; embolus filiform, arising retrolaterally at 1 o’clock position (Fig. 21B), except in E. leleupi sp. nov., where it arises at 5 o’clock position (Fig. 21E); conductor slightly sclerotized (Fig. 17C). Epigyne: epigynal plate with median atrium bearing the copulatory openings and posterior-median excavation with well-defined and sclerotized margins, close to epigastric furrow (Figs 17D, 18D). Vulva: copulatory and connecting ducts strongly convoluted (Fig. 22E), except E. haddadi sp. nov. and E. solitaria sp. nov., with few folds (Figs 22B, H); median part of duct enlarged, forming bulb from which secondary spermathecae arises (Figs 17E, F, 18E, 19E), except E. haddadi sp. nov., with bulb of duct close to copulatory opening and apparently without secondary spermathecae (Fig. 22B); secondary spermathecae small (Figs 17E, F); primary spermathecae rounded and separated from each other by more than their diameter (Figs 23A, G), except E. luderitz sp. nov., in which they are separated by less than their diameter (Fig. 23E); fertilization ducts laterad (Figs 17E, 19E).

Distribution. Botswana, Cape Verde, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia (Figs 24, 25).

Composition. Nine species: Eleleis crinita Simon, 1893, E. etosha sp. nov., E. haddadi sp. nov., E. himba sp. nov., E. leleupi sp. nov., E. limpopo sp. nov., E. luderitz sp. nov., E. okavango sp. nov. and E. solitaria sp. nov.