Ranops robinae, Jocqué & Henrard, 2020

Jocqué, Rudy & Henrard, Arnaud, 2020, Three new species of the genus Ranops (Araneae: Zodariidae) from southern Africa, Zootaxa 4899 (1), pp. 186-200 : 187-190

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4899.1.10
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BF6A6AC2-57F8-4D77-9A92-4BE08295DF80
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4450127
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/9C774D45-B119-717A-DFB1-E016FCCA0F82
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Ranops robinae
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Ranops robinae View in CoL sp. nov.

Figures 1 View FIGURE 1 A–D, 2A–E, 3A–C

Etymology. The species name is a matronym for Robin Lyle (Pretoria, South Africa) in recognition of her work on Afrotropical Corinnidae and Trachelidae .

Diagnosis. Males of R. robinae sp. nov. are recognized by the bifid RTA ( Figs 2B View FIGURE 2 , 3B View FIGURE 3 ), which it has in common with R. caprivi , but it lacks the dentate tegular ridge. Females are recognized by the epigyne provided with a faintly delimited triangular central plate ( Figs 2 View FIGURE 2 C-D, 3C).

Description. Male (Holotype, NCA 88/534). Total length: 3.20. Carapace: length 1.73, width 1.34, height 0.74.

Colour ( Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 A–B). Carapace medium brown with darker radiating striae; darker in eye region; chelicerae and labium medium brown, endites yellow; sternum medium brown with darker margin and faint radiating stripes; legs: cx and tr yellow, Fe dark brown, remainder of leg segments yellowish brown; palps yellow; abdomen dorsum dark with pale pattern of two pairs of rounded spots followed by six chevrons, narrowing towards the back; sides grey; venter pale brown, darker around pale spinnerets.

Carapace ( Fig. 1A View FIGURE 1 ). With dense cover of silvery setae.

Eyes. ALE 0.10; AME 0.15; PLE 0.10; PME 0.10; ALE-AME 0.03; AME-AME 0.08; PME-PME 0.20; PME-PLE: 0.05; MOQ 0.38 wide in front, 0.39 wide at posterior end, 0.33 long. Clypeus 0.20 high.

Sternum ( Fig. 1B View FIGURE 1 ). 0.74 long and 0.86 wide, with anterior margin slightly sinuous, lateral margins with intracoxal triangular sclerites.

Legs. Densely covered with flattened incised setae. All Fe with one dorsal spine near base.

Leg measurements

Abdomen ( Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 A–B). Dorsum and sides with dense cover of silvery, flattened incised setae.

Palp ( Figs 2 View FIGURE 2 A–B, 3A–B). Tibia with sclerotized posterior retrolateral margin; RTA bifid, with short dorsal prong and longer, slightly down-curved ventral extension; cymbium with dorsal profile slightly convex, without chemosensitive setae, with one distal spine and 6–7 prolateral modified setae; subtegulum large, exposed as far as anterior part of bulb; MA massive, strongly recurved, distal part tapered with sharp tip; E short, tapered and curved outward; tegular apophysis absent.

Female (Paratype, NCA 2007/1610). Total length 3.41. Carapace: length 1.43, width 1.21, height 0.78.

Colour ( Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 C–D). Carapace medium brown with darker radiating striae, margin and eye region; chelicerae medium brown; sternum medium brown with dark margin; legs: palp medium brown with darker Fe; cx and tr yellow, Fe dark brown, remainder yellowish brown; palp femora medium brown, remaining segments medium brown; abdomen dorsum dark grey, with pair of roundish brown spots followed by pair of adjacent spots, 6 transverse bars; venter brownish, gradually darkened towards dark grey sides; spinnerets pale yellow.

Carapace ( Fig. 1C View FIGURE 1 ). Pear shaped, with sparse cover of dark setae.

Eyes. ALE 0.08; AME 0.13; PLE 0.10; PME 0.08; ALE-AME 0.02; AME-AME 0.05; PME-PME 0.20; MOQ 0.31 wide in front, 0.35 wide at posterior end, 0.30 long. Clypeus 0.20 high.

Sternum ( Fig. 1D View FIGURE 1 ). 0.64 long and 0.78 wide, roughly shield-shaped, straight at anterior margin, with black setae at margins but without setae centrally.

Legs. Densely covered with flattened incised setae. Fe with one dorsal spine near base.

Leg measurements

Abdomen ( Figs 1 View FIGURE 1 C–D). Ovoid, with short uniform black setae throughout, only marginally longer at posterior end.

Epigyne ( Figs 2 View FIGURE 2 C–E, 3C). A poorly sclerotized area with faintly delimited triangular central plate, almost twice as wide near posterior margin. Vulva: spermathecae with two chambers: dorsal one kidney-shaped, ventral one situated laterally, globular; copulatory ducts strongly arched, passing through large atrium before entering spermatheca.

Type material. Holotype ³: SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng Province: Rietondale , 25°43’47’’S, 28°13’52’’E, leg. L. Oosthuizen, 13.VIII.1989 (pitfall trap) ( NCA 88 /534). GoogleMaps

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng Province: Pretoria, Rietondale Research station, 25°43’S, 28°12’E, leg. A. van den Berg , 2.III.1998 (pitfall trap), 1♀ ( NCA 2007 /1610); GoogleMaps As preceding, 23.II.1998, 2³ ( NCA 2007 /2801); GoogleMaps As preceding, 21.IX.1998, beating trees, 2³ ( NCA 2003 /1099); GoogleMaps As preceding, 16.VII.1998, leg. J. Nikuana, 1³ ( NCA 2007 /4091), 1³ 1♀ ( NCA 2008 /5070), 3³ ( NCA 2007 /4042); GoogleMaps Rietondale, 25°43’47’’S, 28°13’52’’E, leg. A. Biggs & A. van den Berg, 6.IX.1988 (pitfall trap), 1³ ( NCA 89 /19) GoogleMaps .

Other material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng Province: Bassonia, Liefde en Vrede, 26°27’S, 28°07’E, leg. P. Roos, 11.X.2003 (pitfall B1-12), 1³ ( NCA 2011 /600); GoogleMaps Cullinan , Leeufontein Nature Reserve , 25°23’S, 28°07’E, leg. H. Roux, 13.II.2002 (baited pittrap, open woodland, LNRTH) GoogleMaps , 1³ ( NCA 2010 /1296); Heidelberg, Glockner Nature Reserve, Farm Houtpoort , 392IR, 26°56’S, 28°37’E, leg. H. Roux, 11.XI.2003 (baited pitfall, grassland, ANR10 ) GoogleMaps , 1³ ( NCA 2010 /2829); As preceding, ANR16, 1³ ( NCA 2009 /4654); As preceding, ANR14, 1³ ( NCA 2009 /357); As preceding, ANR10, 1♀ ( NCA 2009 /4655) . Limpopo Province: Settlers, Wildskamp , 24°57’S, 28°31’E, leg. M. van Jaarsveld , 31.I.2001 (pittraps, grass, QRU2152 ) GoogleMaps , 1³ ( NCA 2002 /935); As preceding, 17.X.2002, QRU6864, 1♀ ( NCA 2003 /1238) . Mpumulanga Province: Delmas, Farm Welgevonden , 26°17’S, 28°41’E, leg. D.H. Jacobs, 9–16.XI.2007 (pitfall EIA, site 12), 3³ 1♀ ( NCA 2009 /3062); GoogleMaps As preceding, site 1, 1³ ( NCA 2009 /1630), 1³ ( NCA 2009 /3036), 1³ ( NCA 2009 /1629), 1³ ( NCA 2009 /3302), 1³ ( NCA 2009 /3304), 1³ ( NCA 2009 /1631), 1³ ( NCA 2009 /2724), 1³ ( NCA 2009 /2735), 1³ ( NCA 2009 /2736); GoogleMaps Kriel, Farm Diepspruit, Steenkoolspruit, 26°15’S, 29°24’E, leg. D. Jacobs, 1.XII.2006, 1³ ( NCA 2007 /807); GoogleMaps Marble Hall, 26°58’S, 29°14’E, leg. M. Mellett, 15.IV.2003 (pitfall, Bt cotton survey), 2³ ( NCA 2004 /1210) GoogleMaps . Free State Province: Bloemfontein, National Botanical Gardens, 29°02’S, 26°12’E, 12.X.2012, leg. C. Haddad, 1³ ( RMCA _ ARA_245378, DNA Z251); GoogleMaps Bloemfontein, U.F.S. Campus, 29°06’S, 26°10’E, 1425 m a.s.l., leg. C. Haddad & H. Badenhorst, 6–26.III.2019 (pitfalls, Trinervitermis trinervoides termitaria and surrounding grassland), 7³ 3♀ ( NCA 2009 /3062); GoogleMaps Hoopstad, Sandveld Nature Reserve , 27°26’24.0”S, 25°27’36.0”E, leg. R. Fourie & A. Grobler, 2–30.XI.2009 (grassland with shrubs, propylene glycol pitfall trap), 1³ ( NMBA 14608 View Materials , DNA Z207); GoogleMaps Kalkfontein Dam Nature Reserve , 29°31.04’S, 25°16.31’E, leg. N. Josling, 14.I.2014 (in and around houses), 1³ 2♀ ( NCA 2015 /1926); GoogleMaps As preceding, 17.IV.2014, under rocks and stones, 1♀ ( NCA 2015 /1970); GoogleMaps Oranjeville, 26°59’S, 28°12’E, leg. M. Meyer, 11.IX.1976 (on soil surface), 1³ ( NCA 76 /1553) GoogleMaps .

Distribution. Ranops robinae sp. nov. is known from Gauteng Province and the northern region of the Free State Province in South Africa ( Fig. 9 View FIGURE 9 ). Photos of a live specimen from Kalkfontein Dam Nature Reserve ( Fig. 10 View FIGURE 10 ) probably belong to this species, but it was not collected.