Leptodrassex murphyi, Haddad & Booysen, 2022

Haddad, Charles R. & Booysen, Ruan, 2022, The ground spider genera Leptodrassex Murphy, 2007 and Leptopilos Levy, 2009 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in southern Africa, including the description of a new genus and seven new species, Zootaxa 5194 (1), pp. 1-32 : 17-19

Leptodrassex murphyi sp. nov.

Figures 46–79 , 82–86

Leptodrassex sp. Rodrigues & Rheims, 2020: figs 8H, 19A, 22C, 24B, 28B, 29B.

Type material. Holotype ♀: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Ndumo Game Reserve, Main Camp , 26°54.516’S, 32°18.861’E, 13.VI.2005, leg. C. Haddad (grass litter) (NCA 2005/969).

Paratypes: Together with holotype, 1♂ (NCA 2005/969); MOZAMBIQUE: Gaza: Bilene, Praia do Bilene , 25°16’S, 33°18’E, 27 m a.s.l., 20.XII.2007, leg. C. Haddad, R. Lyle & R. Fourie (leaf litter, coastal forest), 1♀ (NMBA 11318) . Inhambane: Bartholomew Dias Point, 21°16’S, 35°07’E, 5 m a.s.l., 10.XII.2007, leg. C. Haddad, R. Lyle & R. Fourie (leaf litter, mangroves), 3♂ 5♀ (NMBA 11244); Vilankulos, Casa Chibububo , 22°01’S, 35°19’E, 3 m a.s.l., 12.XII.2007, leg. C. Haddad, R. Lyle & R. Fourie (leaf litter, coastal bush), 1♂ (NMBA 11358) . Maputo: Near Marracuene, Blue Anchor Inn , 25°35’S, 32°40’E, 50 m a.s.l., 28.XI.2007, leg. C. Haddad & R. Lyle (leaf litter, savanna), 1♂ 2♀ (NMBA 11414) . SOUTH AFRICA: Free State: Bloemfontein, Shelleyvale-Rayton road, 29°04’S, 26°12’E, 21.V.2015, leg. C. Haddad & N. Jolintini ( Sorghum bicolor tussocks), 2♂ (NCA 2015/2512); Luckhoff district , Farm Bankfontein , 30°04.980’S, 24°54.170’E, 22.I.2015, leg. C. Haddad (base of grass tussocks, wetland), 1♂ (NCA 2015/1651) .

Etymology. This species is named for the late John Murphy, who described the genus and included in his book an undescribed species from Kenya that closely resembles this species ( Murphy 2007).

Diagnosis. The female of this species most closely resembles that of L. capensis sp. nov., but can be recognised by the more strongly bent copulatory ducts and the larger copulatory openings (compare Figs 80 and 82 ). Males most closely resemble those of the undescribed Leptodrassex sp. 1 of Murphy (2007), but have a much shorter retrolateral tegular process and shorter dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis (compare Figs 84–86 with Murphy 2007: fig. 515).

Description. Female (holotype, Ndumo, NCA 2005/969). Colouration ( Fig. 46 ): carapace, endites and chelicerae creamy-yellow, sternum creamy-white, margins yellow-brown at coxae; femora creamy-white, remaining segments creamy-yellow. Abdomen creamy-white dorsally and ventrally.

Measurements: CL 0.99, CW 0.83, AL 1.57, AW 0.67, TL 2.70. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.09, PME 0.07, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.01, PME–PME 0.06, PME–PLE 0.04, ALE–PLE 0.01. Leg measurements: I 0.71, 0.35, 0.57, 0.48, 0.37 = 2.48; II 0.76, 0.37, 0.63, 0.53, 0.40 = 2.69; III 0.62, 0.33, 0.44, 0.41, 0.24 = 2.04; IV 1.01, 0.40, 0.79, 0.84, 0.25 = 3.29.

Leg spination: femora: I and II spineless, III do 1 rl 1, IV do 1 rl 1; tibiae: I plv 2 rlv 2, II rlv 2, III pl 3 rl 2 plv 2, IV pl 2 rl 2 plv 1 vt 2; metatarsi: I plv 1 rlv 1, II plv 1 rlv 1, III pl 2 rl 1 plv 1 vt 3, IV pl 2 rl 2 plv 1 vt 3; palp: femur do 2, patella spineless, tibia pl 2 plv 1, tarsus pl 1 rl 1 plv 2 rlv 4 vt 2.

Epigyne with recurved hemispherical ridges anteriorly, continuing along midline into posterior half, forming bean-shaped atria ( Figs 71–73 ), narrowly separated by median septum; copulatory openings oblique, procurved, situated in anterior part of atria; copulatory ducts S-shaped, broad initially but narrowing quickly, initially directed posteriorly, curving laterally at midpoint, with sharp lateral bend before entering ovoid lateral spermathecae; fertilization ducts on posteromesal margin of spermathecae, directed mesally ( Figs 82, 83 ).

Male (paratype, Ndumo, NCA 2005/969). Colouration ( Fig. 47 ): similar to female, slightly paler.

Measurements: CL 0.86, CW 0.71, AL 1.08, AW 0.67, TL 1.98. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.09, ALE 0.05, PME 0.08, PLE 0.05, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.01, PME–PME 0.03, PME–PLE 0.03, ALE–PLE 0.01. Leg measurements: I 0.68, 0.30, 0.56, 0.46, 0.34 = 2.34; II 0.71, 0.32, 0.58, 0.48, 0.36 = 2.45; III 0.59, 0.30, 0.40, 0.38, 0.24 = 1.91; IV 0.95, 0.35, 0.72, 0.76, 0.25 = 3.03.

Leg spination: femora: I and II spineless, III do 1, IV do 1 rl 1; tibiae: I plv 2 rlv 2, II rlv 2, III pl 2 rl 1 plv 1, IV pl 2 rl 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I plv 1 rlv 1, II plv 1 rlv 1, III pl 2 rl 1 plv 1 vt 3, IV pl 2 rl 2 plv 1 vt 3; palp: femur do 2 plv 1-2, patella spineless, tibia plv 1, tarsus plv 2 rlv 2.

Palp: tibia longer than broad, with small lobate prolateral apophysis, small dorsal apophysis, slightly larger ventral retrolateral apophysis, and slender ventrally curved dorsal tibial apophysis ( Figs 76–78 , 84–86 ); tegulum ovoid, with large curved apical tegular process, smaller spike-like retrolateral tegular process, and slender straight median apophysis ( Figs 77 , 85 ); fine laminate conductor hidden behind apical tegular process ( Fig. 77 ); embolus very slender, originating proximally and entering groove in subtegulum, continuing along prolateral margin distally, before entering groove in apical tegular process ( Figs 77–79 ).

Additional material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Free State: Amanzi Private Game Reserve, 28°35.785’S, 26°26.335’E, 1–30.IX.2012, leg. V. Butler (pitfall traps, Vachellia karroo woodland), 1♀ (NCA 2013/3379); Same locality, Obstacle course, 28°35.994’S, 26°25.650’E, 30.XII.2020, leg. C. Haddad (base of grass tussocks), 2♂ 1♀ (S.E.M. preparations); Bloemfontein, Free State National Botanical Gardens, 29°02’S, 26°12’E, 8.VI.2015, leg. C. Haddad & N. Jolintini ( Hyparrhenia hirta tussocks), 1♀ (NCA 2015/2521); Same locality, 21.V.2015, leg. C. Haddad & N. Jolintini ( H. hirta tussocks), 2♂ (NCA 2015/2503); Brandfort , Florisbad Research Station , 28°46’S, 26°05’E, 21.XII.1987 – 5.I.1988, leg. L. Lotz (pitfalls), 1♀ (NMBA 8435); Gariep Dam Nature Reserve , 30°35’S, 25°32’E, 1340 m a.s.l., 10.IV.2017, leg. M. Morake & N. Tshabalala (sifting leaf litter, Nama Karoo veld), 1♀ (NCA 2019/896); Harrismith, Platberg Nature Reserve , 28°16.842’S, 29°12.024’E, 2040 m a.s.l., 13.XI.2015 – 26.I.2016, leg. C. Haddad, D. Fourie & Z. Mbo (pitfall traps, alpine grassland), 1♂ 3♀ (NCA 2015/2300); Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve , 28°24.925’S, 29°02.529’E, 1700 m a.s.l., 11.XI.2015, leg. C. Haddad (under rocks, shore of dam), 1♀ (NCA 2015/2125) . Gauteng: Pretoria, Pretoria National Botanical Gardens , 25°44’S, 28°16’E, 6.X–24.XI.2007, leg. E. Kassimatis (pitfalls), 1♀ (NCA 2010/2262) . KwaZulu-Natal: Enseleni Nature Reserve, 28°41.350’S, 31°59.900’E, 12.X.2020, leg. R. Booysen & R. Steenkamp (hand collecting, grass tussocks), 2♂ (NCA 2020/727); iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Mission Rocks picnic site, 28°15.879’S, 32°28.922’E, 90 m a.s.l., 29.XI.2015, leg. C. Haddad (base of grass tussocks, coastal forest), 1♀ (NCA 2015/2257) . Limpopo: Soutpansberg Mountains, Lajuma Mountain Retreat, 23°02.306’S, 29°26.633’E, 6.II.2008, leg. R. Lyle & R. Fourie (beats, Afromontane forest ), 1♀ (NCA 2008/494) . Northern Cape: Benfontein Nature Reserve, 28°49’S, 24°49’E, 4.I.2006, leg. R. Lyle (pitfalls, dry savanna), 1♀ (NCA 2006/1128); Kathu, Farm Pniel , 28°35.420’S, 24°31.967’E, 31.X.2005, leg. R. Lyle (pitfalls, dry savanna), 1♀ (NCA (2006/1093).

Variation. Total length: females 1.80–3.10 (average 2.44, n = 22); males 1.65–2.28 (average 1.96, n = 11).

Habitat and biology. Approximately 80% of the examined females had plugged epigynes. This species occupied a broad range of biomes (Nama Karoo, grassland, savanna, forest, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt), where it was predominantly sampled from the ground by pitfalls, litter sifting, beneath rocks or from grass tussocks, and only rarely from woody vegetation by beating.

Distribution. Widely distributed in southern Mozambique and the eastern half of South Africa ( Fig. 44 ).

Figures

FIGURE 44. Distribution of Afrodrassex balrog sp. nov. (black stars), A. catharinae sp. nov. (inverted triangle), Leptodrassex capensis sp. nov. (black triangles) and L. murphyi sp. nov. (open circles) in southern and central Africa.

FIGURES 45–47. Dorsal habitus of Leptodrassex species: 45. L. capensis sp. nov. female; 46, 47. L. murphyi sp. nov. female (46) and male (47). Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 48–59. Scanning electron micrographs of Leptodrassex murphyi sp. nov. female (54–56) and male (57–59): 48. Cheliceral paturon, anterodistal view; 49. Chelicerae, posterior view; 50. Endite and serrula, ventral view; 51. Same, detail of serrula teeth; 52. Dorsal abdominal setae; 53. Ventral abdominal setae; 54, 57. Anterior lateral spinnerets, insets showing enlargement of modified piriform gland spigot(s) in the stippled frame; 55, 58. Posterior median spinnerets; 56, 59. Posterior lateral spinnerets. Abbreviations: Ac—aciniform gland spigot(s); Cy—cylindrical gland spigot(s); MAmp—major ampullate gland spigot(s); mAmp—minor ampullate gland spigot(s); mPi—modified piriform gland spigot(s); n—nubbin; PES— promarginal escort setae; RES—retromarginal escort setae; RS—rake setae; Pi—piriform gland spigot(s); Ta—tartipore.

FIGURES 60–70. Scanning electron micrographs of Leptodrassex murphyi sp. nov. female (60–62, 70) and male (63–69): 60. Distal femur and patella IV, most setae removed, retrolateral view, indicating patellar indentation (PI) and lyriform organs (LO); 61. Detail of LO on femur; 62, 64. Detail of LO on patella; 63. Patella IV, setae intact, retrolateral view, indicating PI and LO; 65. Patella I, ventral view, detail of feathery setae; 66. Metatarsus and tarsus IV, indicting metatarsal stopper (MS); 67. Tarsus III, dorsal view, indicating chemosensory setae (CS), feathery setae (FS), scopulate setae (SS), tarsal organ (TO) and trichobothria (TR); 68. Tarsus III, detail of trichobothrium base; 69. Tarsus II, tarsal organ; 70. Tarsus IV, tarsal claws and claw tufts, arrowheads indicating claw teeth.

FIGURES 71–79. Scanning electron micrographs of Leptodrassex murphyi sp. nov. females (71–73) and male (74–79): 71– 73. Epigynes, ventral view, showing contrasting extent of plugs (P) and copulatory opening (CO); 74. Palpal patella, arrow indicating retrolateral lyriform organ; 75. Same, detail of lyriform organ; 76. Palp, prolateral view; 77. Palp, ventral view; 78. Palp, retrolateral view; 79. Detail of groove at distal end of anterior tegular process. Abbreviations: ATP—anterior tegular process; C—conductor; dRTA—dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis; DTA—dorsal tibial apophysis; E—embolus; G—groove in ATP; LO—lyriform organ; MA—median apophysis; PTA—prolateral tibial apophysis; RTP—retrolateral tegular process; vRTA—ventral retrolateral tibial apophysis.

FIGURES 82–86. Leptodrassex murphyi sp. nov., female epigyne in ventral (82) and dorsal (83) views, and male palp in prolateral (84), ventral (85) and retrolateral (86) views.Abbreviations:ATP—anterior tegular process; dRTA—dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis; E—embolus; MA—median apophysis; PTA—prolateral tibial apophysis; RTP—retrolateral tegular process; vRTA—ventral retrolateral tibial apophysis. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 80–81. Leptodrassex capensis sp. nov., female epigyne in ventral (80) and dorsal (81) views. Scale bar: 0.25 mm.