Austrachelas pondoensis, Haddad, Charles R., Lyle, Robin, Bosselaers, Jan & Ramirez, Martin J., 2009

Haddad, Charles R., Lyle, Robin, Bosselaers, Jan & Ramirez, Martin J., 2009, A revision of the endemic South African spider genus Austrachelas, with its transfer to the Gallieniellidae (Arachnida: Araneae), Zootaxa 2296, pp. 1-38 : 23-24

Austrachelas pondoensis n. sp.

( Figs 9, 10 , 16–35 , 42–49 , 68–71 )

Diagnosis. This is the largest species in the genus, and females can be easily distinguished by the shape of the anterior epigynal hood and the widely separated spermathecae ( Figs 31 , 68, 69 ); males can be recognised by the large partially hidden triangular lobe distally on the embolus and the denticulate retrolateral tibial apophysis ( Figs 29 , 70, 71 ).

Etymology. This species is named after the Pondoland region in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Female. Measurements: CL 5.18–6.05, CW 3.70–4.28, FL 0.40–0.48, AL 6.50–9.20, AW 3.10–5.13, SL 2.88–3.05, SW 2.00–2.27, TL 11.80–15.30, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.04, ALE–ALE 0.60, PME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.22, PLE–PLE 0.89.

Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 3.95 + 2.38 + 2.95 + 2.12 + 1.38 = 12.78; II 3.50 + 2.10 + 2.58 + 2.05 + 1.28 = 11.51; III 2.78 + 1.65 + 1.70 + 2.32 + 1.05 = 9.50; IV 4.07 + 2.10 + 3.08 + 3.72 + 1.20 = 14.17.

Carapace deep red-brown, slightly paler medially ( Fig. 9 ); AER strongly procurved, laterals larger than medians; AME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to ¼ AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 1½ AME diameter at AME, equal to 1¼ ALE diameter at ALE; PER straight, laterals larger than medians; PME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1¼ PME diameter. Chelicerae deep orange; promargin with three teeth, proximal tooth smallest, median tooth largest; proximal and median teeth closer to each other than to distal tooth; retromargin with two small denticles, situated either side of distal promarginal tooth. Legs all deep orange in colour, slightly paler distally. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1 do 1, II pl 1 do 1, III pl 1 do 2 rl 1, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 2 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, strongly scopulate, III & IV scopulate in distal half, III pl 6 rl 5 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 6 rl 6 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2; palp: femora do 2, patellae spineless, with prominent pl 1 seta, tibiae pl 3 do 2, tarsus pl 3 do 2 rl 3 plv 1 rlv 1. Abdomen dark grey dorsally, with mottled pale grey chevron ( Fig. 9 ), paler grey laterally and ventrally; dorsum and venter lacking scutum or other sclerites. Female epigyne with short narrow anterior hood and small lateral hoods ( Figs 31 , 68 ); copulatory openings laterally situated, entering ST 2 via narrow entrance ducts; ST 2 small, globose, connected broadly to widely separated elongate oval posterior ST 1 ( Fig. 69 ).

Male. Measurements: CL 4.78, CW 3.58, FL 0.32, AL 5.30, AW 2.55, SL 2.60, SW 1.92, TL 10.32, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.43, PME–PME 0.07, PME–PLE 0.14, PLE–PLE 0.63.

Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 3.30 + 1.88 + 2.65 + 2.15 + 1.25 = 11.23; II 2.95 + 1.88 + 2.28 + 1.90 + 1.28 = 10.29; III 2.48 + 1.38 + 1.50 + 2.05 + 1.08 = 8.49; IV 3.40 + 1.70 + 2.55 + 3.30 + 1.25 = 12.20.

Carapace deep wine-red ( Fig. 10 ); AER strongly procurved, laterals slightly larger than medians; AME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter, separated from ALE by distance slightly smaller than ¼ AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 1½ AME diameter at AME, equal to ALE diameter at ALE; PER straight, laterals larger than medians; PME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to PME diameter. Chelicerae deep red-brown, anterior margin with coarse ridges; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest and proximal tooth smallest; median and proximal teeth closest together; retromargin with two small teeth, situated either side of distal promarginal tooth. Legs all deep red, slightly paler orange-red distally. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1 do 1, II pl 1 do 1, III pl 1 do 2 rl 1, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, strongly scopulate, III & IV scopulate in distal half, III pl 6 rl 6 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 6 rl 6 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2. Abdomen dark grey with pale grey chevron dorsally ( Fig. 10 ), cream laterally and ventrally; dorsum with small anterior scutum, venter without sclerites. Male palpal tibia with curved retrolateral apophysis with three distinctive tooth-like apophyses along inner margin; median tegular apophysis broad, hook-like with blunt tip; embolus arc-shaped, with large triangular lobe partially hidden behind distal margin of embolus ( Figs 70, 71 ); palpal spination: femora do 2.

Type material: Holotype Ƥ, deposited together with 13 and 7Ƥ paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province, Lusikisiki district, Mzimhlava River mouth, 31°20'S, 29°40'E, II.1980, M.E. Baddeley (coastal evergreen forest) ( MRAC 163974).

Additional material examined: Same data as types, I.1980, 12 Ƥ 13 ( MRAC 159047, SEM preparations MJR- 1031-1038, 1063-1065, temporary mount CJG-00154); I.1980, 13 ( MRAC 166821, SEM preparations MJR-01039, MJR-01040, temporary mounts CJG-00155, CJG-00156).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Pondoland, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa ( Fig. 82 ).

Figures

FIGURE 82. Distribution of the genus Austrachelas, endemic to South Africa.

FIGURES 1 – 15. Digital microscope photographs of the habitus of Austrachelas species: (1) A. bergi n. sp., female; (2) A. incertus Lawrence, 1938, female; (3) same, male; (4) A. kalaharinus n. sp., male; (5) A. merwei n. sp., female; (6) same, male; (7) A. natalensis Lawrence, 1942, female; (8) same, male; (9) A. pondoensis n. sp., female; (10) same, male; (11) A. reavelli n. sp., female; (12) same, male; (13) A. sexoculata n. sp., male; (14) A. wassenaari n. sp., female; (15) same, male. Scale bars = 2.0 mm.

FIGURES 16 – 26. Digital microscope photographs of the somatic morphology of female Austrachelas pondoensis n. sp.. (16) cephalothorax, dorsal view; (17) same, ventral view; (18) same, lateral view; (19) abdomen, dorsal view; (20) abdominal venter, epigastric area; (21) trochanter I, ventral view; (22) trochanter IV, ventral view; (23) patella I, retrolateral view; (24) leg I, prolateral view, arrow indicating metatarsal and tarsal scopulae; (25 – 26) distal end of leg IV, indicating paired retrolateral dorsal spines and metatarsal and tarsal scopulae. Abbreviations: AH – anterior epigynal hood; EG – endite groove; IS – intercoxal sclerite; LH – lateral epigynal hood; MHT – maxillar hair tuft; PB – pleural bars; PDS – paired dorsal metatarsal spines; PES – post-epigastric sclerite; PI – patellar indentation; PT – precoxal triangle; SC – scopulae; SI – sigillum; TR – trichobothria.

FIGURES 27 – 35. Scanning electron micrographs of Austrachelas pondoensis n. sp. somatic and genitalic morphology. (27) female chelicera, posterior view; (28) same, anterior view (29) male palp, ventral view; (30) same, dorsal view; (31) female epigyne, ventral view; (32) female left palp, retrolateral view, arrows indicating erect ventral setae; (33) female left leg 1, arrows indicating metatarsal and tarsal scopulae; (34) female left metatarsus 4, arrows indicating paired dorsal prolateral spines; (35) female, tarsal claw of left leg 4. Abbreviations: AH – anterior epigynal hood; CO – copulatory openings; EM – embolus; EP – embolar protuberance; LH – lateral epigynal hood; MA – median apophysis; PDS – paired dorsal metatarsal spines; PMT – promarginal teeth; RMT – retromarginal teeth; SC – scopulae; SS – scrappy seta; ST – subtegulum. Scale bars: 27, 29, 30 = 0.5 mm; 28, 31 = 0.2 mm; 32 – 34 = 1.0 mm; 35 = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 42 – 49. Scanning electron micrographs of spinnerets of Austrachelas pondoensis n. sp. male (42, 44 – 46) and female (43, 47 – 49). (42, 43) spinneret arrangement; (44, 47) anterior lateral spinneret; (45, 48) posterior median spinneret; (46, 49) posterior lateral spinneret. Abbreviations: Ac – aciniform gland spigot (s); ALS – anterior lateral spinneret; Cy – cylindrical gland spigot (s); maAmp – major ampullate gland spigot (s); miAmp – minor ampullate gland spigot (s); MS – PLS modified spigot (s); nu – nubbin (s); Pi – piriform gland spigot; PLS – posterior lateral spinneret; PMS – posterior median spinneret; ta – tartipore (s). Scale bars: 42 = 0.2 mm; 43 = 0.5 mm; 44 – 47 = 0.05 mm; 48, 49 = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 68 – 75. Genitalic morphology of Austrachelas species. (68 – 71) A. pondoensis n. sp.: female epigyne, ventral view (68), dorsal view (69), male palp, ventral view (70), retrolateral view (71); (72 – 75) A. reavelli n. sp.: female epigyne, ventral view (72), dorsal view (73), male palp, ventral view (74), retrolateral view (75). Scale bars = 0.1 mm.