Falcaranea gladius, Haddad & Lyle, 2024

Haddad, Charles R. & Lyle, Robin, 2024, Three new genera of arboreal dark sac spiders from southern Africa (Araneae: Trachelidae), Zootaxa 5399 (5), pp. 451-504 : 481-483

Falcaranea gladius sp. nov.

Figs 95–116 , 129–146 , 152, 153 , 160–164

Etymology. This species name is the Latin gladius , meaning sword, referring to the shape of the male embolus; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. The male palp has a tapering, slightly curved sword-like embolus, a short, broad RTA, and a blunt rounded retrobasal cymbial process ( Figs 160, 161 ), while in F. maputensis sp. nov. the embolus has a sharp bend near the middle, an RTA comprising a rounded lobe and tooth-like dorsal apophysis, and a long digitiform retrocymbial process ( Figs 165, 166 ). The female can be recognised by the sharply curved, small copulatory openings directed laterally, with obliquely orientated ST I ( Figs 162–164 ), while in F. maputensis sp. nov. the copulatory openings are directed anteriorly and the ST I are transversely orientated ( Figs 167, 168 ).

Male (holotype, Ndumo Game Reserve, NCA 2006/1517). Measurements: CL 1.70, CW 1.35, AL 1.90, AW 1.23, TL 3.65, FL 0.20, SL 0.98, SW 0.80, AME-AME 0.05, AME-ALE 0.03, ALE-ALE 0.28, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.13, PLE-PLE 0.50. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 1.38 + 0.68 + 1.00 + 1.00 + 0.48 = 4.54; II 1.15 + 0.63 + 0.90 + 0.83 + 0.45 = 3.96; III 0.90 + 0.43 + 0.61 + 0.78 + 0.33 = 3.05; IV 1.28 + 0.53 + 1.03 + 1.08 + 0.38 = 4.30.

Carapace brown to reddish brown ( Fig. 152 ); first three quarters of carapace rounded, with steep decline in last quarter; surface texture moderately granular, covered with short, fine setae; fovea long, distinct, at two thirds CL. Eye region brown with black rings around eyes; AER slightly recurved, almost straight; clypeus height equal to approximately ½ AME diameter; AME and ALE equal in size; AME separated by distance equal to approximately ½ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance equal to ¼ AME diameter; PER recurved, PME and PLE equal in size; PME separated by distance equal to their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to PME diameter. Chelicerae brown; labium and endites yellow-brown. Sternum pale brown to brown, darker towards border; slightly elongated shield-shaped; surface with slightly grainy texture; short, fine setae scattered throughout sternum.Abdomen subpentagonal; pale grey dorsally with grey median stripe, expanding to cover abdomen posterior to midpoint ( Fig. 152 ); two pairs of sigilla, first pair very pale brown, at ¼ AL, second pair darker, just posterior to midpoint. Legs I to IV pale yellow to pale brown; anterior legs darker than posteriors. Palp with cymbium tapering distally, with rounded retrobasal process; embolus originating medially on tegulum, basal section straight, slightly curved, sword-like, tapering to sharp point distally; RTA short, broad ( Figs 141–143 , 160, 161 ).

Female (paratype, Ndumo Game Reserve, NCA 2006/1517). Measurements: CL 1.40, CW 1.18, AL 2.30, AW 1.43, TL 3.80, FL 0.18, SL 0.88, SW 0.70, AME-AME 0.03, AME-ALE 0.01, ALE-ALE 0.20, PME-PME 0.08, PME-PLE 0.08, PLE-PLE 0.40. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 0.95 + 0.53 + 0.73 + 0.40 + 0.40 = 3.01; II 0.88 + 0.50 + 0.70 + 0.53 + 0.40 = 3.01; III 0.78 + 0.35 + 0.53 + 0.58 + 0.30 = 2.53; IV 1.05 + 0.48 + 0.85 + 0.90 + 0.28 = 3.56.

Carapace orange-brown ( Fig. 153 ); surface texture moderately granular, covered with short, fine setae; fovea short, relatively distinct, at ⅔ CL. AER slightly procurved; clypeus height approximately equal to ¾ AME diameter; AME larger than ALE; AME separated by distance equal to ¾ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance equal to approximately ⅖ AME diameter; PER recurved, PLE slightly larger than PME; PME separated by distance equal to slightly more their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to ⅖ PME diameter. Chelicerae orange-brown; endites and labium yellow-brown. Sternum yellow-brown, darker towards border. Abdomen oval, dorsum mottled grey; grey median line extending to midpoint of abdomen, covering abdomen posteriorly ( Fig. 153 ); sigilla not always distinct; two pairs of sigilla, first pair pale brown, near ¼ AL, second pair darker, posterior to midpoint. Legs I to IV pale yellow to pale brown; anterior legs slightly darker than posteriors. Epigyne with hook-like copulatory openings posterior to ST II; ST II long, elongated, almost ⅔ epigyne length; thin fertilization ducts, at 45º angle to epigastric fold, leading to small, kidney-shaped ST I; epigynal scape usually tongue-like, often smaller or broken off ( Figs 144, 145 , 162–164 ).

Type material. Holotype ♁ and paratype ♀: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Ndumo Game Reserve, Pongola River floodplain, 26°53'21.7''S, 32°19'53.5''E, 8.VII.2004, leg. C. Haddad (fever tree bark) ( NCA 2006 /1517).

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: False Bay Park [27°58'S, 32°25'E], 28.I.2004, leg. J. Esterhuizen (tsetse fly survey), 1♀ ( NCA 2004 /778); Mtunzini, Twin Streams Farm (I.F. Garland), 28°57'S, 31°46'E, 19–29.I.1984, leg. T. & C. Griswold, P. Croeser & P. Reavell, 2♀ ( NMSA) ; Ndumo Game Reserve, W shore of Nyamiti Pan , 26°53.722'S, 32°16.745'E, 7.VII.2002, leg. C. Haddad (fever tree bark), 1♁ ( NCA 2002 /413); Same locality, Southern boundary fence, 26°55.664'S, 32°19.038'E, 9.II.2005, leg. C. Haddad (sand forest, Commiphora harveyi bark), 1♁ ( NCA 2005 /1); Same locality, Southern boundary fence, 26°55.6'S, 32°19.0'E, 13.VI.2005, leg. C. Haddad ( C. harveyi bark), 1♁ 2♀ ( NCA 2006 /1340) . Mpumalanga: Badplaas, Embuleni Nature Reserve , 25°57'12''S, 30°33'15''E, 1100 m a.s.l., 28.III.2001, leg. D. & S. Ubick (grassveld savannah, in wooded areas), 1♁ ( CAS) ; Same locality, 28.III.2001, leg. M. Ramirez, 1♀, with 1 non-type imm. (MACN-Ar 30346); Same locality, 28.III.2001, leg. A. Russell-Smith, 1♁ ( BMNH) . Limpopo: Phalaborwa [23°57'S, 31°08'E], 13.VIII.2001, leg. S. Neser (from old pods of Dichrostachys cinerea ), 1♀ ( NCA 2002 /162) .

Other material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, St Lucia, 28°23'03.9''S, 32°24'25.4''E, 24 m a.s.l., 13.V.2012, leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 3, coastal forest, Trichilia dregeana ), 1♁ (MACN-Ar 31225); Same locality, St Lucia , 28°23'04.3''S, 32°24'24.0''E, 22 m a.s.l., 13.V.2012, leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 5, coastal forest, Trichilia emetica ), 1♁ 5♀ ( NCA 2012 /3984); Same locality, Meersig, 28°14'07.5''S, 32°29'21.0''E, 14 m a.s.l., 14.V.2012, leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 6, coastal forest, Syzigium cordatum ), 3♀ ( NCA 2021 /1314); Ithala Game Reserve , Ntshodwe Camp, 27°32.699'S, 31°16.911'E, 27.I.2004, leg. C. Haddad (night collecting), 1♀ ( NCA 2013 /4962); Mkuze, Banghoek Lodge, 27°46'03.3"S, 32°08'22.3"E, 131 m a.s.l., 17.V.2012, leg. J.A. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 9, bushveld, Berchemia zeyheri ), 1♀ ( NCA 2012 /4270); Ndumo Game Reserve , Banzi Pan, 26°53.066'S, 32°17.218'E, 35 m a.s.l., 7.XII.2018, leg. C. Haddad, R. Booysen & J. Neethling (canopy fogging, Spirostachys africana ), 1♁ 1♀ ( NCA 2019 /593), 4♁ 5♀ ( NCA 2019 /256); Same locality, Nyamiti Pan, 26°53.409'S, 32°17.576'E, 35 m a.s.l., 3.XII.2019, leg. C. Haddad & V. Swart (canopy fogging, Pappea capensis ), 11♁ 13♀ ( NCA 2020 /308); Same locality, Pongola River , Pump station , 26°54.309'S, 32°19.444'E, 36 m a.s.l., 2.VII.2009, leg. C. Haddad, R. Lyle & V. Butler (canopy fogging, Breonadia salicina , riverine forest), 1♁ 3♀ ( NCA 2013 /947); Same locality, Road to Shokwe Pan, 26°52.550'S, 32°12.695'E, 30.I.2014, leg. C. Haddad & Z. Mbo (canopy fogging, Albizia versicolor ), 1♁ (MACN-Ar 32945), 1♁ 1♀ (MACN-Ar 32946), 1♀ (MACN-Ar 32947); Same locality, Shokwe Pan, 26°52.502'S, 32°12.637'E, 30.I.2014, leg. C. Haddad ( Vachellia xanthophloea bark), 1♁ (MACN-Ar 32953); Same locality, Southern boundary, 26°53.276'S, 32°11.025'E, 30.I.2014, leg. C. Haddad & Z. Mbo (canopy fogging, Senegalia nigrescens ), 2♁ ( NCA 2013 /5239); Ophathe Game Reserve , Ophathe River bed, 28°23.727'S, 31°23.643'E, 455 m a.s.l., 2.X.2008, leg. C. Haddad (active searching), 1♁ ( NCA 2008 /2884); Same locality, Overgrazed savanna, 28°22.135'S, 31°23.363'E, 560 m a.s.l., 28.IX.2008, leg. C. Haddad (night collecting), 2♀ 1 juv. ( NCA 2008 /2881); Same locality, Overgrazed savanna, 28°22.135'S, 31°23.363'E, 560 m a.s.l., 28.IX.2008, leg. C. Haddad (active searching), 1♀ ( NCA 2008 /4133); Same locality, Rocky mountainside, 28°23.202'S, 31°23.077'E, 505 m a.s.l., 1.X.2008, leg. C. Haddad (active searching), 1♀ ( NCA 2008 /2875); Pongolapoort Nature Reserve , N 2 roadside, 27°27'21.6''S, 31°54'37.7''E, 207 m a.s.l., 20.V.2012, leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging, Vachellia karroo , bushveld), 2♁ 1♀ ( NCA 2012 /3985) .

Distribution. Recorded from subtropical eastern South Africa ( Fig. 169 ).

Figures

FIGURE 169. Distribution of Falcaranea amatola sp. nov. (red circles), F. gladius sp. nov. (blue triangles) and F. maputensis sp. nov. (green triangles) in southern Africa.

FIGURES 95–104. Digital microscope photographs of somatic morphology of Falcaranea gladius sp. nov. male (95–99) and female (100–104). 95, 100. Habitus, dorsal view; 96, 101. Same, lateral view; 97, 102. Same, ventral view; 98, 103. Leg I, prolateral view; 99, 104. Metatarsus and tarsus IV. Scale bars = 1.0 mm (95–97, 100–102), 0.5 mm (98, 99, 103, 104).

FIGURES 105–116. Scanning electron micrographs of Falcaranea gladius sp. nov. female (105–107, 112, 115, 116) and male (108–111, 113, 114). 105. Carapace, dorsal view; 106. Same, lateral view; 107. Eye region, anterodorsal view; 108. Same, dorsal view. 109. Mouthparts; 110. Chelicerae, ventral view; 111. Fang, posteroventral view, arrow indicating fang serrula. 112. Cheliceral teeth; 113. Serrula. 114. Sternum; 115. Patella IV, ventrolateral view, arrow indicating lyriform organ at distal end of patellar indentation; 116. Detail of previous.

FIGURES 129–140. Scanning electron micrographs of Falcaranea gladius sp. nov. male (129–133, 137–140) and female (134–136). 129–131. Tibia I, prolateral view (129), showing detail of ventral setae (130) and their bases (131); 132. Metatarsus I, prolateral view; 133. Tarsus I, prolateral view; 134–136. Tarsus II, dorsolateral view (134), arrow indicating tarsal organ, showing detail of tarsal organ (135) and tarsal claws (136); 137. Metatarsus IV, ventral preening comb; 138, 139. Tarsus IV, prolateral view (138) and detail of claw tuft (139); 140. Spinnerets.

FIGURES 141–149. Scanning electron micrographs of Falcaranea gladius sp. nov. male (141–143) and female (144–146) and F. maputensis sp. nov. male (147, 148) and female (149). 141, 142. Right palp, dorsal (141) and prolateral (142) views; 143, 147. Left palp, ventral view; 144, 145, 149. Epigyne, ventral view; 146. Detail of copulatory opening. 148. Right palpal patella, white and black arrows indicating pro- and retrolateral lyriform organs, respectively.

FIGURES 150–155. Digital microscope photographs of dorsal habitus of Falcaranea spp. 150, 151. F. amatola sp. nov., male (150) and female (151); 152, 153. F. gladius sp. nov., male (152) and female (153); 154, 155. F. maputensis sp. nov., male (154) and female (155). Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURES 160–164. Falcaranea gladius sp. nov. male (160, 161) and female (162–164). 160. Left palp, ventral view; 161. Same, retrolateral view; 162, 163. Epigyne, ventral view, showing variations in scape lengths, whole (162) and broken off (163); 164. Same, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 165–168. Falcaranea maputensis sp. nov. male (165, 166) and female (167, 168). 165. Left palp, ventral view; 166. Same, retrolateral view; 167. Epigyne, ventral view 168. Same, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.