Stasimopus karooensis, Brandt & Sole & Lyle, 2023

Brandt, Shannon, Sole, Catherine & Lyle, Robin, 2023, An integrative taxonomy of the genus Stasimopus Simon 1892 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) of the Karoo with the description of nine new species and a Stasimopus maraisi Hewitt 1914 male, Zootaxa 5341 (1), pp. 1-60 : 36-41

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.5341.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8EFAFE67-8C74-46D4-A4F7-966822C8DEBC
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8323774
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D88786-FF85-8B44-FF12-F934FDE3F2AA
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Stasimopus karooensis
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Stasimopus karooensis sp. nov.

( Figs 3E View FIGURE 3 , 6C View FIGURE 6 , 11D View FIGURE 11 , 13B View FIGURE 13 , 27 View FIGURE 27 , 28 View FIGURE 28 )

Type material: Holotype Ô SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province, Pearston, Camdeboo Game Reserve (- 32.5339, 25.2378), 09.iv.2010 – 26.vi.2010, S. van Noort, (SAM-ENW-C007293) GoogleMaps . Paratypes. Same data, 1Ô (SAM-ENW-C007746). Jansenville (-32.8772, 24.4952), 17.vii.2015, I. Engelbrecht and D. Kambas, 1Ô (NCA 2019/616).

FIGURE 26. Map of the localities where Stasimopus ignis sp. nov. specimens were collected. Numbers match the site numbers in Figure 1 View FIGURE 1 . Map created in QGIS version 3.4.8-Madeira (2019), available at: http://qgis.osgeo.org.

Etymology: The specific species name refers to the large distribution of the species within the Karoo. It is an acknowledgement to the Karoo BioGaps project, which provided some funding and the sampling organisation for this project.

Diagnosis: The males of S. karooensis sp. nov. are distinguishable from other members of the genus occurring in the Karoo based on the following combination of characters. It is differentiated from S. schrieneri , S. dylani sp. nov., S. ignis sp. nov., S. finni sp. nov., S. maraisi and S. palpiger by the pedipalp being shorter in relation to leg I (only reaching metatarsus I). It is distinguished from S. astutus , S. erythrognathus , S. malesociatus sp. nov. and S. patersonae as the pedipalp is longer in relation to leg I (extending past the tibia). Lastly, it is differentiated from S. mandelai and S. steynsbergensis by being more spinose on tarsus IV.

Description: Based on the holotype Ô (SAM-ENW-C007293) and paratypes 2Ô (SAM-ENW-C007746, NCA 2019/616).

Remarks: ♀: Known only from males.

General: Ô: ( Fig 6C View FIGURE 6 ) Medium bodied spiders, ranging between 8.34–9.29 (8.34) total length.

Carapace: Ô: Carapace length 3.99–4.98 (3.99); width 3.62–4.35 (3.62). Dark red colouration, thoracic region with rugose texture. Fovea procurved, between 0.78–0.94 (0.78) in length.

Ocelli: Ô: ( Fig 3E View FIGURE 3 , 11D View FIGURE 11 ) AME diameter 0.20–0.22 (0.20), PME diameter 0.12–0.15 (0.15), MOQ anterior width 1.08–1.23 (1.08), MOQ posterior width 1.29–1.69 (1.29); AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.10, ALE-ALE 0.84, PME-PME 0.15, PME-PLE 0.78, PLE-PLE 1.20; AER almost straight, PER slightly recurved.

Chelicerae: Ô: ( Fig 13B View FIGURE 13 ) Two teeth rows present, 4 teeth in proventral row, 4 in retroventral row. Number of cuspules could not be determined as the fangs could not be opened without damaging an old specimen.

Sternum, labium and maxillae: Ô: ( Fig 27C View FIGURE 27 ) Sternum length 2.56–2.76 (2.73); sternum width 2.12–2.54 (2.12). Sternum shape has distinct impressions of where the coxa are situated. Sigilla in the shape of a fused arrow, distal end fused, proximal ends 0.68–1.14 (0.68) apart; cuspules on labium absent; maxilla absent.

Abdomen: Ô: Abdomen length 4.31–4.36 (4.36); width 2.78–3.07 (2.78). Mottled grey colouration.

Pedipalps: Ô: ( Fig 27A, B View FIGURE 27 ) Total length 16.60; Segment lengths 4.64, 4.68, 3.14, -, 4.14. Spination: spines absent. Bulb compact and flattened. Embolus elongated tapering to sharp point, extending perpendicular from tibia.

Legs: Ô: Length order: I, IV, II, III. I Total length 19.32; Segment lengths 5.83, 2.66, 4.21, 4.61, 2.02; Spination: spines absent on femur and patella, with sparse setae. Tibia v - 13 large spines extending pl & rl. Metatarsus v ( Fig 27D View FIGURE 27 )- 10–12 large spines. Tarsus v - scopulate. II Total length 16.82; Segment lengths 5.16, 2.30, 3.70, 3.87, 1.81; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella pl - 1 large spine. Tibia v - 13–14 large spines extend pl & rl. Metatarsus v - 14–15 large spines. Tarsus v - scopulate. III Total length 12.12; Segment lengths 3.25, 1.75, 1.45, 3.52, 2.16; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella do - 4 red spines. Tibia pl & rl - dense patches of short spines distally (9–10 in each patch). Metatarsus ( Fig 27E View FIGURE 27 ) pl & rl - dense spines along each surface (15–17 in each patch), extend do & v. Tarsus pl & rl - small spines along each surface (10–11 in each patch), denser distally, v - scopulate. IV Total length 18.85; Segment lengths 4.50, 2.39, 3.67, 5.34, 2.96; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella do - short dense red spines proximally, less dense distally, interspersed with fine black setae. Tibia pl - 5 spines. Metatarsus pl - 10 spines, v ( Fig 27F View FIGURE 27 )- 1 spine. Tarsus pl & rl - 15–16 spines along each surface, denser distally, v ( Fig 27F View FIGURE 27 )- scopulate.

Distribution and environment notes:

The species is found in the localities indicated in Figure 28 View FIGURE 28 . The species is only known from two localities in the Eastern Cape province. These two localities are a great distance apart. The SAMC specimens were collected in Camdeboo Escarpment Thicket vegetation in yellow pan traps. The ELK specimens were all collected while crossing a quite road after heavy rains.