Stasimopus maraisi Hewitt, 1927: 424 (Dm)

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 : 41-44

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.8323780
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D88786-FF8E-8B47-FF12-F964FE9DF242
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Stasimopus maraisi Hewitt, 1927: 424 (Dm)
status

Treatment

Stasimopus maraisi Hewitt, 1927: 424 (Dm) View in CoL View at ENA

( Figures 6D View FIGURE 6 , 12A View FIGURE 12 , 13C View FIGURE 13 , 29 View FIGURE 29 , 30 View FIGURE 30 )

Type material: Holotype Ô SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape Province, Victoria West, no collection date, H. James, (AMGS-5367).

Etymology: The specific epithet is a Latin adjective ‘malè sociatus’ taken in apposition meaning mismatched. This is in reference to this specimen being incorrectly assigned as the allotype to the previously described species Stasimopus maraisi .

Diagnosis: The males of S. malesociatus 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. astutus , S. erythrognathus , S. schrieneri , S. finni sp. nov. and S. maraisi by the AME being the largest eye. It is distinguished from S. ignis as PLE is the smallest eye. The species is distinguished from S. patersonae , S. karooensis sp. nov., S. dylani sp. nov. and S. palpiger as S. malesociatus sp. nov. only has 3 cheliceral teeth in the inner row, whereas the others have 4. The metatarsus of legs I and II are less spinous than S. steynsbergensis .

Description: Ô: Originally described in Hewitt 1927 pg. 425–426. Additional description is given below.

Remarks: The specimen is in poor condition with various limbs severed or damaged. The spination patterns may be inaccurate due to the removal of a hard clay-like substance.

General: Ô: ( Fig 6D View FIGURE 6 ) Medium bodied spider, 9.09 total length.

Carapace: Ô: Carapace length 4.93; width 4.61. Reddish orange colouration, thoracic region with rugose texture. Fovea procurved, 0.77 in length.

Ocelli: Ô: ( Fig 12A View FIGURE 12 ) AME diameter 0.23, PME diameter 0.13, MOQ anterior width 1.21, MOQ posterior width 1.68; AME-AME 0.20, AME-ALE 0.12, ALE-ALE 0.87, PME-PME 0.77, PME-PLE 0.16, PLE-PLE 1.29; AER slightly recurved, PER recurved.

Chelicerae: Ô: ( Fig 13C View FIGURE 13 ) Two teeth rows present, 3 teeth in proventral row, 4 in retroventral row; 4–5 cuspules in between.

Sternum, labium and maxillae: Ô: ( Fig 29D View FIGURE 29 ) Sternum length 2.77; sternum width 2.65. Sternum shape has distinct impressions of where the coxa are situated. Sigilla in the shape of a fused arrow, distal end fused, proximal ends 1.0 apart; cuspules on labium absent; maxilla absent.

Abdomen: Ô: Abdomen length 4.16; width 3.48. Mottled brownish red colouration.

Pedipalps: Ô: ( Figs 29A–C View FIGURE 29 ) Total length 13.48; Segment lengths 1.39, 4.37, 3.18, -, 4.54. Spination: spines absent. Bulb elliptical, embolus with broad base, tapering into sharp point, curving distally.

Legs: Ô: Length order: undetermined. I Total length undetermined; Segment lengths -, -, -, 4.78, 1.98; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Metatarsus v ( Fig 29E View FIGURE 29 )- 13 large spines. Tarsus v - scopulate. II Total length 18.31; Segment lengths 5.63, 2.55, 3.96, 4.15, 2.02; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella v - 1 large spine. Tibia v - 12–14 large spines. Metatarsus v - 8 spines. Tarsus v - scopulate. III Total length undetermined; Segment lengths 3.81, 2.00, 1.78, -, -; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella do - damaged, 8 red spines, extend pl, v - 1 spine. Tibia pl & rl - dense patches of short red spines distally (7–9 in each patch), v - 3 thin spines. IV Total length 20.68; Segment lengths 5.06, 2.69, 4.26, 5.81, 2.87; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella do - short dense red spines proximally (approx. 50–60), less dense distally, interspersed with fine black setae. Tibia pl / v ( Fig 29F View FIGURE 29 )- 5 spines. Metatarsus v ( Fig 29F View FIGURE 29 )- 9 spines. Tarsus pl ( Fig 29F View FIGURE 29 )- 11 spines along surface.

Distribution and environment notes:

The species is found in the locality indicated in Figure 30 View FIGURE 30 . The species is only known from the type locality near Victoria West in the Northern Cape province. The original description does not describe the area where the specimen was collected .