Smeringopus luki, Huber, 2012

HUBER, BERNHARD A., 2012, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Afrotropical endemic genus Smeringopus Simon, 1890 (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 3461 (1), pp. 1-138 : 89

Smeringopus luki new species

Figs. 530–533, 538–541 , 546–551

Type. Male holotype from Congo D.R., Congo Central Province, Mayombe, Luki Forest Reserve (5°37.3’S, 13°05.9’E), beating in old secondary rainforest, near fogging site 7, 20.ix.2007 (D. de Bakker, J.P. Michiels), in MRAC ( 222993 ).

Etymology. The name is a noun in apposition, derived from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Easily distinguished from closest relatives by details of male and female genitalia: from S. cylindrogaster by absence of proximal apophyses on male chelicerae ( Fig. 550 ), shapes of bulbal processes ( Figs. 548, 549 ) and epigynum ( Fig. 540 : shallow pockets; less distinct and differently shaped dark internal structure); from S. isangi by shapes of procursus and bulbal processes, relatively larger bulb, larger cheliceral apophyses, and absence of lateral projections on epigynum (compare Figs. 540 and 542 ).

Male (holotype). Total body length 4.7, carapace width 1.3. Leg 1: 44.5 (11.3 + 0.5 + 10.7 + 20.8 + 1.2), tibia 2: 7.1, tibia 3: 4.8, tibia 4: 6.9, tibia 1 L/d: 83. Habitus as in Figs. 530 and 531 ; carapace pale ochre-yellow with some black lateral marks, clypeus with small black spots, sternum with black marks at bases of coxae 2–4 and posteriorly, legs with many small black marks on femora and tibiae, patellae and tibia-metatarsus joints brown, abdomen pale ochre-grey, dorsally with some indistinct white spots, ventrally with distinctive pattern of black marks. Distance PME-PME 160 µm, diameter PME 160 µm, distance PME-ALE 90 µm, distance AME-AME 45 µm, diameter AME 115 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with distinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; thoracic pit small but distinct. Chelicerae as in Fig. 550 , with single pair of apophyses, each provided with one modified hair at tip; without stridulatory ridges. Palps as in Figs. 532 and 533 , coxa with retrolateral apophysis, trochanter unmodified, femur with retrolateral furrow with distinct proximal rim, tibia almost globular, cymbium with rounded projection ventrally, dorsal elongation with several macrosetae, procursus rather simple, only distally with some distinctive membranous and sclerotized elements ( Figs. 546 and 547 ), bulb with short membranous embolus and distinctive dorsal apophysis ( Figs. 548, 549 ). Legs without spines and curved hairs, few vertical hairs; retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 2.5%; prolateral trichobothrium present on all tibiae.

Variation. Tibia 1 in 10 other males: 9.5–10.7 (mean 9.9). The extent of black pigment varies, especially in chelicerae and clypeus, but never present dorsally on abdomen.

Female. In general similar to male, same color pattern; tibia 1 in 22 females: 7.2–9.6 (mean 8.2). Epigynum weakly sclerotized narrow plate with pair of slit-like pockets ( Fig. 540 ); internal genitalia as in Figs. 541 and 551, with large inflated uterus externus (possibly an artifact).

Distribution. Only known from type locality in Congo D.R. ( Fig. 545 ).

Material examined. CONGO D.R.: Congo Central Prov.: Mayombe, Luki Forest Reserve : 1♂ holotype above ; same locality, collectors, and depository unless otherwise noted: primary rainforest, fogging (1, 2, 5, 13–17, 20), 4., 7. & 13.xi.2006, 26.–30.ix.2007, 4.x.2007, 3♂ 14♀ + juvs (9 vials) (parts of 219850, 219852, 219855, 224312–316, 224319) ; primary rainforest, beating, 2.x.2007, 1♂ (223629 part) ; primary rainforest, beating along trail, 11.xi.2006, 1♀ (221535) ; central zone, by hand, 26.–27.ix.2007 (W. Hubau), 1♀ (222155 part) ; along trail near guest house, beating, 8.xi.2006, 1♂ 1♀ (219959 part) ; old secondary rainforest, fogging (10–12), 23.–25.ix.2007, 3♂ 2♀ (3 vials) (parts of 224309–311) ; old secondary rainforest near fogging sites 4 & 11, beating, 17. & 24.ix.2007, 2♂ 1♀ (222113, 223120 part) ; secondary forest, beating, 16.xi.2006, 1♂ 1♀ (219817) ; secondary rainforest near fogging site 1, beating, 14.ix.2007, 1♂ 2♀ (223422) ; near fogging sites 2 & 3, beating, 15. & 16.ix.2007, 1♂ 2♀ 1 juv. (2 vials) (223085, part of 223113) ; young secondary rainforest, fogging 1, 14.ix.2007, 1♂ 11 juvs (224301 part) ; planted and regenerated forest near guest house, beating along trail, 9.xi.2006, 1♀ (221618 part) .

Figures

FIGURE 545. Known distribution of the cylindrogaster group.

FIGURES 530–544. Smeringopus cylindrogaster group. S. luki (530–533, 538–541) and S. isangi (534–537, 542–544). 530–531, 534–535. Males, dorsal and ventral views. 532–533, 536–537. Left male palps, prolateral and retrolateral views. 538. Male prosoma, frontal oblique view. 539. Male ocular area. 540–544. Female epigyna and cleared female genitalia, dorsal (541, 544) and ventral (543) views (arrows point to median and lateral pockets).

FIGURES 546–551. Smeringopus luki. 546. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 547. Left procursus, dorsal view. 548–549. Left embolus, prolateral and dorsal views. 550. Male chelicerae, frontal view. 551. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.