Lepthercus engelbrechti, Ríos-Tamayo & Lyle, 2020

Ríos-Tamayo, Duniesky & Lyle, Robin, 2020, The South African genus Lepthercus Purcell, 1902 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) phylogeny and taxonomy, Zootaxa 4766 (2), pp. 261-305 : 288-291

Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov.

( Figs. 2H, I , 16A, B , 17 A–K, 18A–C, 24) http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:5CC73DE1-28E2-4FA2-9784-BA1C58B0F910

Material examined. Type material: Holotype ♂. SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape Province, Swellendam District ; ca. 3km W of Bonnievale; S slope of hill on S side of tar road (33°55’19.70”S 20°4’3.90”E), 19.v.2013, Engelbrecht, I., Correia, M. leg., ( NCA 2018 /384) . – Paratype. SOUTH AFRICA: same data as holotype, 1 ♀ ( NCA 2018/385).

Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape Province: Swellendam, Bontebok N.P (34°04′S 20°27′E), 27.x.1987, Entomology Staff leg., 1 ♂ ♀ ( NMBA 17794 ); Swellendam District ; ca. 3km W of Bonnievale; S slope of hill on S side of tar road (33°55’19.70”S 20°4’3.90”E), 19.v.2013, Engelbrecht, I. leg., 3 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀ ( NCA 2018 /383).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronymic in honor of Dr Ian Engelbrecht who collected the type specimens and for his contribution to arachnology in South Africa.

Diagnosis. Males of L. engelbrechti sp. nov., can be recognized from all other species in “Group haddadi), by the presence of a curved megaspine with the apex flattened laterally ( Fig. 17I, J ); the presence of one prolateral strong and curved spine, near the spur ( Fig. 17I, J ) and by the presence of a shorter copulatory bulb ( Fig. 17 F–H). Females can be distinguished from L. haddadi sp. nov., by the shape of their spermathecae with a short stalk ( Fig. 18D ).

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Description. Male holotype (NCA 2018/384, Figs. 17 A–J). Total length 12.38. Carapace ( Fig. 17A ): length 5.52, width 4.05, with lateral dark marginal bristles, with a little pubescence. Cephalic region: length 3.29; clypeus almost absent, without bristles on the edge, 4 bristles in front of the OQ and 5 between the PME. Fovea: width 0.39, short, slightly recurved. Ocular measurements: AME 0.14, ALE 0.24, PME 0.18, PLE 0.22, OQ length 0.45, 0.75 width; AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PLE 0.00, AME–PME 0.05, ALE–PLE 0.03, AME–AME 0.09, OMP–OMP 0.29. Chelicerae: length 2.35, width 1.36, with dark dorsal–anterior bristles, intercheliceral tumescence small, wellmarked with setae ( Fig. 17C ). Fang groove with 8 promarginal teeth and 18 mesobasal denticles. Labium: length 0.41, width 0.72. Maxillae: length 1.64, width 0.71, with about 71 short cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face slightly curved, soft area small, with long uniformly distributed hairs, serrula present ( Fig. 2I ). Sternum ( Fig. 17B ): length 2.66, maximum width 2.05. Abdomen: length 5.28, covered with small dark hair and bristles. PMS: length 0.54; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 1.02:0.63:1.23; total length 2.88. Lengths of legs and palp: I: 3.47, 2.18, 2.66 (width/length: 0.53), 2.42, 1.60, 12.33. II: 3.40, 2.06, 2.25, 2.17, 1.48, 11.36. III: 3.08, 1.79, 1.88, 2.66, 1.47, 10.88. IV: 3.88, 2.19, 2.71, 3.51, 1.68, 13.97. Palp: 1.76, 1.01, 1.41, —, 0.80, 4.98.

Chaetotaxy: Leg I: femur, 1-1-1-1 d (centrals), 1 PA; patella, 1 PA; tibia, 1-1 P, 2-3-1 V, a small spur, with an apical megaspine with the apex flattened laterally. Presence of a strong curved spine near of the base of the megaspine and with another prolateral strong curved spine, near the spur ( Fig. 17I, J ); metatarsus, 1-1-2 V, presence of numerous black blunt spinules (1:3A, Fig. 17I ); tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1-1 PA; patella, 1 PA; tibia, 1-1 P, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 2-3-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1-1 PA; patella, 1-1 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1 D, 1-1 R, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1-1 D-R, 2-3-1-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1-1 RA; patella, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 R, 2-2-2 V; metatarsus, 2-1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-0-1 D-R, 1-1 R, 2-3-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp ( Fig. 17D, E ): femur, 1-1-1 d (1:2A), 1 PA; patella, 1 pa; tibia, 1 P, (width/length: 0.80); tarsus, 0.

Scopulae: Metatarsi: I, sparse, around the black blunt spinules; II, sparse (3–4 A), more abundant in the anterior part, with some long and fine setae; III, sparse (A); IV, absent. Tarsi: I–II, dense, uniformly distributed throughout the segment; III, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by a narrow band of setae; IV, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by a wide band of setae. Trichobothria: Tibiae: I 11-11; II 10-10; III 9-9; IV 11-11. Metatarsi: I (3)1(2)1(4)1; II (5)1(2)1(3)1; III (4)1(2)1(5)1; IV (6)1(2)1(3)1(6)1. Tarsi: I 13; II 12; III-IV 13. Preening combs: metatarsus: II, 3 PV; III, 3 PV–2 RV; IV, 2 PV–3 RV. Copulatory bulb: with a curved embolus tapering gradually ( Fig. 17 F–H), spermatic duct slightly curved. Color: Overall brown-reddish (Mt-T I darker). Abdomen mottled with light spots forming wide bands; spinnerets light yellow with ventral dark longitudinal bands.

Female paratype (NCA 2018/385, Figs. 18 A–D). Total length 12.85. Carapace ( Fig. 18A ): length 4.88, width 3.62. Cephalic region: length 3.20, clypeus small (almost absent) with 5 marginal bristles; 7 bristles in front of the OQ and numerous small ones between the PME. Fovea: width 0.34, almost straight (slightly procurved). Ocular measurements: AME 0.13, ALE 0.28, PME 0.19, PLE 0.25, OQ length 0.45, width 0.80; AME–ALE 0.06, PME– PLE 0.00, AME–PME 0.06, ALE–PLE 0.03, AME–AME 0.12, PME–PME 0.30. Chelicerae ( Fig. 18C ): length 2.64, width 1.71; with dorsal-retrolateral dark bristles. Fang groove with 8 promarginal teeth (one small between 7th and 8th) and 15 mesobasal denticles. Labium: length 0.40, width 0.81. Maxillae: length 1.71, width 0.75, with 75 cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face curved, soft area long, with long uniformly distributed hairs, serrula present on anterior inner corner ( Fig. 2H ). Sternum ( Fig. 18B ): length 2.36, maximum width 1.99. Abdomen: length 5.60, with small bristles in the dorsum. PMS: length 0.64; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 1.00:0.58:1.00; total length 2.58. Lengths of legs and palp: I: 3.24, 2.06, 2.06, 1.48, 1.03, 9.87. II: 2.82, 1.79, 1.68, 1,43, 1.06, 8.78. III: 2.05, 1.44, 1.36, 1.92, 1.15, 7.92. IV: 3.31, 1.98, 2.19, 2.76, 1.31, 11.55. Palp: 2.21, 1.36, 1.29, —, 1.31, 6.17.

Chaetotaxy: Leg I: femur, 0; patella, 0; tibia, 1-2 vant; metatarsus, 2-1-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1 pa; patella, 1 pa; tibia, 1 P, 1-2 vant; metatarsus, 2-2-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1-1-1 d, 1-1 ra; patella, 1-1 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1 D, 1 R, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 2-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1-1 D-R, 2-3-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1 ra; patella, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 R, 2-2-2 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1-0-1 D-R, 1 R (1:3A), 2-3-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp: femur, 1-1-1-1 d (1:2A), 1 pa; patella, 0; tibia, 1-3 V; tarsus, 0.

Scopulae: Metatarsi: I, dense, uniformly distributed, divided by setae; II–IV, without scopula. Tarsi: I, dense, uniformly distributed, divided by setae; II dense, uniformly distributed, divided by a narrow band of setae; III–IV, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by a wide band of setae. Trichobothria: Tibiae: palp 8-7; I 9-9; II 9-10; III 9-8; IV 10-10. Metatarsi: I (3)1(2)1(4)1; II (4)1(2)1(4)1; III (4)1(2)1(5)1; IV (4)1(1)1(2)1(6)1. Tarsi: palp 11; I 12; II 11; III 12; IV 11. Preening combs: metatarsus: II 3 PV; III 3 PV–3 RV; IV 2 PV–3 RV. Spermathecae: small, tubulars and curved ( Fig. 18D ). Color: Overall orange-yellowish (chelicerae darker). Abdomen mottled with light spots forming wide bands, spinnerets light yellow with dark, longitudinal bands ventrally.

Distribution. Eastern and Western Cape Provinces, South Africa ( Fig. 24 ).

Figures

FIGURE. 2. Preening comb. A Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov. (female paratype, NCA 2007/3847). Maxillary cuspules (males). B L. dippenaarae. C L. kwazuluensis. Serrula. D L. mandelai sp. nov. (female, NCA 2014/415A); E L. filmeri sp. nov. (female, NCA 91/1437); F L. haddadi sp. nov. (male, NCA 2007/1486); G L. haddadi sp. nov. (female, NCA 2007/3847); H L. engelbrechti sp. nov. (female, NCA 2018/385); I L. engelbrechti sp. nov. (male, NCA 2018/384); J L. dregei Purcell, 1902 (female, NCA 2012/2333); K L. sofiae sp. nov. (male, NCA 97/395).

FIGURE. 16. Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov., in vivo. A male; B female. (photos courtesy Ian Engelbrecht)

FIGURE. 17. Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov. (male holotype, NCA 2018/384). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view, arrow indicates the intercheliceral tumesence; D right pedipalp, arrows indicates the palpal tibia base dorsally very convex and a development of the anterior part of the retrolateral side of ventral excavation; E right pedipalp, arrow indicates the development of the anterior part of the retrolateral side of ventral excavation, prolateral view; F–H copulatory bulb, F retrolateral view, G ventral view, H prolateral view; I tibia-metatarsus I, arrow indicates the curved metatarsus and the apical patch of numerous black blunt spinules, prolateral view; J tibia I, arrow indicates the strong curved spine near of the base of the megaspine and the prolateral strong spine, ventral view.

FIGURE. 18. Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov. (female paratype, NCA 2018/385). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view; D spermathecae

FIGURE. 24. Distribution map of Lepthercus spp: ● Lepthercus confusus sp. nov., ○ Lepthercus dippenaarae sp. nov., Ɨ Lepthercus dregei Purcell, 1902, O Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov., A Lepthercus filmeri sp. nov., * Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov., D Lepthercus kwazuluensis sp. nov., ■ Lepthercus lawrencei sp. nov., v Lepthercus mandelai sp. nov., ▼ Lepthercus rattrayi Hewitt, 1917, ▲ Lepthercus sofiae sp. nov. Solid black line indicates the two species overlapped.