Anyphops natalensis ( Lawrence, 1940 )

Corronca, J. A., 2005, Re-description of the lycosiformis species group of Anyphops Benoit and description of two new species (Araneae, Selenopidae), Journal of Natural History 39 (17), pp. 1381-1393 : 1389

Anyphops natalensis ( Lawrence, 1940)

( Figure 2g –k ; Map 1 )

Selenops natalensis Lawrence 1940, p 565 . Female holotype and male and female paratypes from South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Estcourt (29 ° S, 29 ° 539E), NM 1717, examined.

Anyphops natalensis: Benoit 1968, p 116 .

Anyphops natalensis: Corronca 1998b, p 179 . Erroneous identification.

Diagnosis. The shape of the median apophysis of the palp of male A. natalensis ( Figure 2k ) resembles A. lawrencei , but the shape of the RTA is different with the ventral branch short and wide ( Figure 2j ), as in A. mumai . The epigynum of the females of A. natalensis are characterized by the presence of genital openings very widely spaced and near the anterior margin of the epigynum ( Figure 2h ), and by the shape of the copulatory ducts and spermathecae ( Figure 2i ).

Female holotype. Total body length 6.10. Prosoma 2.90 length, 3.10 width. Eye sizes: AME 0.18, ALE 0.13, PME 0.25, PLE 0.33. Opisthosoma 3.20 length, 1.90 width. Leg formula 4321. Leg spination: Fe I – III p1.1.1, d1.1.1. r1.1.1, IV p1.0.1, d1.1.1, r1.1.1; Tib I –II v2.2.2.2; III p1.0.0, v2.2.0, IV p1.0.1, d1.1.1, v2.2.0, r1.0.1; Mt I-II v2.2.2, III v2.2.0, IV v2.2.2, r1.1.0. Prosoma orange-brown with lateral dark grey markings. Chelicerae orangebrown with a dark longitudinal inner line. Legs brown without markings except for a prolateral, longitudinal black band on Fe I, and Fe IV with two incomplete black bands. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark brown, anterior portion with two oval, lateral and large yellowish spots, and two smaller on the posterior area. Venter yellowish with darker lateral margins. Epigynum and internal structures as in Figure 2h, i .

Male paratype. Total body length 4.50. Prosoma 2.50 length, 2.60 width. Eye sizes: AME 0.10, ALE 0.08, PME 0.20, PLE 0.28. Opisthosoma 1.90 length, 1.20 width. Leg formula 4321. Leg spination: similar to female except for the following spines: Fe IV p1.0.1, Tib I –II p1.1.0, d1.1.0, r1.1.0; III –IV p1.1.0, d1.1.0, r1.1.0; Mt I –II p0.1.0, r1.1.0, III –IV p1.1.0, v2.2.2, r1.1.1. Colour of body, legs and chelicerae similar to female. Palp of male as in Figures 2j, k .

Note. Corronca (1998b, p 179) identified a male from Kenya ( NCA 81 /620) as A. natalensis . After the revision of the type specimens, recently available, the conclusion is that it was an erroneous identification. In fact, that male is a new, undescribed species and belongs to B-B2 species group .

Distribution. Only type locality.

Figures

Map 1. Distribution of Anyphops species in South Africa.

Figure 2. (a–c) Anyphops lycosiformis (Lawrence), female holotype. (a) Dorsal prosoma colour pattern, (b) epigynum, ventral view, (c) epigynum, dorsal view. (d–f) Anyphops mumai (Corronca), male holotype. (d) Male palp, lateral view, (e) male palp, ventral view, (f) dorsal body colour pattern. (g–k) Anyphops natalensis (Lawrence). (g–i) Female holotype: (g) dorsal body colour pattern, (h) epigynum, ventral view, (i) epigynum, dorsal view; (j, k) male paratype: (j) male palp, lateral view, (k) male palp, ventral view. go, genital opening; ll, lateral lobes. Scale bars: genitalia50.25 mm; other drawings51 mm.