Austrachelas sexoculata, 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 : 26-27

Austrachelas sexoculata n. sp.

( Figs 13 , 76, 77 )

Diagnosis. This species is unique in the genus by the reduction and absence of the anterior median eyes.

Etymology. This species is named for the Latin “ sex ” (six) and “ ocularis ” (eyes), and reflects the presence of only six eyes and the absence of the anterior median eyes.

Male. Measurements: CL 4.43, CW 3.05, FL 0.45, AL 4.35, AW 2.50, SL 2.40, SW 1.60, TL 9.15, ALE–ALE 0.32, PME–PME 0.07, PME–PLE 0.12, PLE–PLE 0.58.

Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 3.20 + 1.75 + 2.30 + 1.80 + 1.05 = 10.10; II 3.00 + 1.70 + 2.18 + 1.70 + 0.95 = 9.53; III 2.55 + 1.28 + 1.48 + 1.82 + 0.92 = 8.05; IV 3.43 + 1.70 + 2.43 + 3.00 + 1.12 = 11.68.

Carapace deep red, paler along midline ( Fig. 13 ); AME absent, ALE large, separated by distance equal to 1½ times their diameter; clypeus height equal to 1¼ times ALE diameter; PER straight, laterals larger than medians; PME separated by distance equal to ¾ their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1½ times PME diameter. Chelicerae deep red-brown, anterior margin with coarse ridges; promargin with three teeth, proximal and median teeth larger, subequal in size, closer to each other than to distal tooth; retromargin with single small denticle close to fang base. Legs all orange-brown, 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 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, strongly scopulate, III & IV scopulate in distal half, III pl 6 rl 4 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 5 rl 5 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 1. Abdomen dark grey dorsally ( Fig. 13 ), cream laterally and ventrally; dorsum and venter lacking scutum or other sclerites. Palpal tibia with spoon-shaped prolateral ventral apophysis and simple triangular retrolateral apophysis; median tegular apophysis broad, hook-like; embolus arc-shaped, with small tooth-like projections prolaterally and retrolaterally on distal margin of embolus ( Figs 76, 77 ); palpal spination: femora do 2.

Female: unknown.

Type material: Holotype 3: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province, East London [33°02'S, 27°55'E], V.1916, Dr Rattray ( AMG).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( 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 76 – 81. Genitalic morphology of Austrachelas species. (76 – 77) A. sexoculata n. sp.: male palp, ventral view (76), retrolateral view (77); (78 – 81) A. wassenaari n. sp.: female epigyne, ventral view (78), dorsal view (79), male palp, ventral view (80), retrolateral view (81). Scale bars = 0.1 mm.