Smeringopus moxico, 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 : 113-114

Smeringopus moxico new species

Figs. 569 , 588–591 , 693–698

Type. Male holotype from Angola, Moxico Province, Sandando [11°39.9’S, 20°41.1’E], 80 km E Luso (=Luena), forêt claire, 17.i.1955 (A. de Barros Machado, D. Machado, E.L. de Carvalho), in SMF ( Ang 4716–10 , part) .

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

Diagnosis. Easily distinguished from congeners by tip of procursus (distinctive sclerotized and membranous elements, large prolateral flap; Figs. 693, 694 ) and shape of embolus ( Figs. 695–697 ); from S. peregrinoides also by longer and more downward directed cheliceral apophyses (similar S. peregrinus ; cf. Figs. 614, 615 ) and absence of v-shaped or u-shaped structure frontally in female internal genitalia ( Fig. 590 ).

Male (holotype). Total body length 4.9, carapace width 1.6. Leg 1: 36.7 (10.0 + 0.7 + 9.2 + 14.8 + 2.0), tibia 2: 6.1, tibia 3: 4.7, tibia 4: 6.7; tibia 1 L/d: 50. Habitus as in Fig. 569 . Carapace ochre-yellow with brown median and lateral marks, clypeus with pair of dark stripes, sternum brown with light marks near bases of coxae 2–4 and medially, legs light brown, femora with many light brown spots, femora and tibiae with lighter tips and subdistal dark rings, abdomen ochre-gray with distinct dorsal and ventral pattern. Distance PME-PME 150 µm, diameter PME 135 µm, distance PME-ALE 80 µm, distance AME-AME 45 µm, diameter AME 115 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in S. peregrinus (cf. Figs. 614, 615 ), with one pair of distal apophyses. Palps as in Figs. 588 and 589 , coxa with distinct retrolateral apophysis and shallow wide furrow, trochanter barely modified, femur with deep retrolateral furrow with distinct rim proximally, procursus with distinctive distal elements (large prolateral membranous flap; Figs. 693, 694 ), bulb with distinctively shaped prolateral process on embolus ( Figs. 695–697 ). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs on tibiae (few) and metatarsi 1 and 2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 3%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1.

Variation. Tibia 1 in 2 other males: 8.1, 8.8.

Female. In general similar to male but darker sternum (with fewer light spots); tibia 1 in 4 females: 8.3, 8.5, 8.7, 9.1. Epigynum a simple plate with pockets close together (distance ~1 pocket diameter) ( Fig. 590 ); internal genitalia as in Figs. 591 and 698 .

Distribution. Only known from type locality in Angola ( Fig. 608 ).

Material examined. ANGOLA: Moxico Prov.: Sandando: 1♂ type above; same data, 2♂ 4♀ (2 vials) in SMF .

Figures

FIGURE 608. Known distribution of the peregrinus group. S. butare and S. peregrinus are represented by triangles in order to facilitate distinction from S. peregrinoides. Squares: further undescribed species.

FIGURES 558–571. Smeringopus peregrinus group, habitus and male prosomata, oblique frontal views. 558–559. S. peregrinus, male, dorsal and ventral views. 560–561. S. peregrinoides, female, dorsal view and male, ventral view. 562. S. butare, male dorsal view. 563. S. similis, male, dorsal view. 564–565. S. kalomo, male and female, dorsal views. 566–567. S. chibububo, male, dorsal view and female, ventral view. 568. S. katanga, male, dorsal view. 569. S. moxico, male, dorsal view. 570. S. chibububo. 571. S. kalomo.

FIGURES 584–591. Smeringopus peregrinus group, left male palps, prolateral and retrolateral views, epigynum, and cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. 584–585. S. dundo. 586–587. S. similis. 588–591. S. moxico.

FIGURES 693–698. Smeringopus moxico. 693. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 694. Left procursus, dorsal view. 695–697. Left embolus, prolateral, dorsal, and ventral views. 698. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.

FIGURES 609–616. Smeringopus peregrinus. 609. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 610. Left procursus, prolateral view. 611–613. Left embolus, prolateral, dorsal, and ventral (slightly prolateral) views (arrow points to variable structure; see text). 614–615. Male chelicerae, frontal and lateral views. 616. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.