Smeringopina kinguele, Huber, Bernhard A., 2013

Huber, Bernhard A., 2013, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Guineo-Congolian spider genus Smeringopina Kraus (Araneae, Pholcidae, Zootaxa 3713 (1), pp. 1-160 : 15

Smeringopina kinguele new species

Figs. 25 , 115–119 , 163, 173 , 184–189 , 240–245

Type. ♂ holotype from Gabon, Estuaire, Monts de Cristal, between Tchimbélé and Kinguélé (0°33.8’N, 10°18.8’E), 520 m a.s.l., forest near river, 10.viii.2011 (B.A. & S.R. Huber), in ZFMK (Ar 10190).

Other material examined. GABON: Estuaire: Monts de Cristal, between Tchimbélé and Kinguélé , same data as holotype, 2♂ 8♀ 3 juvs. in ZFMK (Ar 10191); same data, 1♀ 1 juv. in pure ethanol, in ZFMK (Gab 193).

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

Diagnosis. Smallest known Smeringopina species (body length about 2.4 mm), easily distinguished from congeners by S-shaped procursus with fringed membranous processes ventrally ( Figs. 184–185 ), distinctive modification of clypeus (pair of slender, weakly sclerotized processes at rim), and by shape of epigynum (wide and short anterior plate, very large posterior plate; Figs. 163 , 188 ).

Male (holotype). Total body length 2.4, carapace width 0.85. Leg 1: 17.1 (4.1 + 0.3 + 4.2 + 7.2 + 1.3), tibia 2: 2.5, tibia 3: 1.8, tibia 4: 3.0; tibia 1 L/d: 68. Distance PME-PME 95 µm, diameter PME 80 µm, distance PME-ALE 35 µm, distance AME-AME 35 µm, diameter AME 45 µm. Carapace ochre-yellow with brown posterior mark connected with brown mark posteriorly on ocular area, brown lateral margins; clypeus with light brown pattern, sternum dark brown; legs light brown, with small black marks (especially proximally on femora), tips of femora and tibiae whitish, no darker rings; abdomen ochre-gray with dark pattern dorsally, laterally, and ventrally, ventral dark bands without lateral constriction. Habitus as in Figs. 115–116 , ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with very indistinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; clypeus with pair of slender, weakly sclerotized processes at rim; shallow thoracic pit and pair of shallow furrows diverging behind pit. Chelicerae as in Fig. 186 , with lateral apophyses in very distal position, with small frontal apophyses near tips of clypeus projections, without modified hairs. Palps as in Figs. 117–119 ; coxa unmodified; trochanter with strong ventral apophysis with sclerotized cones distally ( Fig. 242 ); femur with large retrolateral apophysis directed toward ventrally, without prolateral modification, with low weakly sclerotized ventral hump distally; prolateral femur-patella joint only slightly shifted toward ventrally; tarsus with some longer and slightly stronger hairs dorsally; procursus as in Figs. 184–185 , S-shaped with fringed membranous processes ventrally, without hinge; bulb with slender sclerotized process arising from weakly sclerotized protrusion (sperm duct opens at basis of slender process; Figs. 187 , 243 ). Legs without spines and curved hairs, with few vertical hairs; retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 2%; prolateral trichobothrium present on all tibiae; pseudosegments barely visible. ALS with seven spigots each; gonopore with two epiandrous spigots ( Fig. 240 ).

Variation. Tibia 1 in 2 other males: 4.7, 4.9.

Female. In general similar to male; clypeus unmodified. Tibia 1 in 8 females: 3.2–3.7 (mean 3.5). Epigynum anterior plate wide and short, with pair of indistinct small pockets about 300 µm apart ( Figs. 163 , 188 , 245 ); posterior plate relatively large, weakly curved; internal genitalia as in Figs. 173 , 189 , and 241. ALS with seven spigots each ( Fig. 244 ).

Natural history. Collected under dead leaves on the ground in a well preserved very humid forest near a river.

Distribution. Known from type locality only ( Fig. 114 ).

Figures

FIGURE 114. Known distribution of the lekoni species group. Question marks denote females of undescribed species (in MRAC and MCZ) that may belong to this species group.

FIGURES 17 – 31. Smeringopina, webs and alive specimens in their natural habitats. 17. S. guineensis, web (Diéké, Guinea). 18. S. kribi, web with nematocerous flies (S Kribi, Cameroon). 19. S. kala, male (Mt. Kala, Cameroon). 20. S. bamenda, pair (Bamenda, Cameroon). 21 – 22. S. nyasoso, male and female with eggsac (Mt. Koupé, Cameroon). 23. S. mbouda, male (near Lake Oku, Cameroon). 24. S. attuleh, female with eggsac (Essotah, Cameroon). 25. S. kinguele, female with juveniles (Monts de Cristal, Gabon). 26. S. tebe, male (N Tébé, Gabon). 27. S. lekoni, female with eggsac (at Lekoni River, Gabon). 28. S. moudouma, mating pair (Moudouma, Gabon). 29 – 30. S. fang, male (Djidji, Gabon) and female with eggsac (Mayebout, Gabon). 31. S. ankasa, female with eggsac (Ankasa N. P., Ghana).

FIGURES 115 – 124. Smeringopina kinguele n. sp. (115 – 119) and S. mohoba n. sp. (120 – 124). 115 – 116, 120 – 121. Males, dorsal and ventral views. 117 – 119, 122 – 124. Left male palps, prolateral, dorsal, and retrolateral views.

FIGURES 163 – 183. Female abdomens, ventral views, and cleared female genitalia, dorsal views, lekoni species group. 163, 173. Smeringopina kinguele n. sp. 164, 174. S. mohoba n. sp. 165 – 166, 175 – 176. S. fang n. sp. from Djidji (165, 175) and Ndjolé (166, 176). 167, 177. S. tebe n. sp. 168, 178. S. lekoni n. sp. 169, 179. S. iboga n. sp. 170, 180 – 181. S. moudouma n. sp. from Moudouma (170, 180) and Iboundji (181). 171, 182. S. ndjole n. sp. 172, 183. S. kikongo n. sp. Arrows point at lateral constriction of dark band (165) and at laterally overhanging fold (180).

FIGURES 184 – 189. Smeringopina kinguele n. sp. 184 – 185. Left procursus, prolateral and retrolateral views. 186. Male chelicerae, frontal view. 187. Left bulbal process, prolateral view. 188. Epigynum, ventral view. 189. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.2 (184 – 185, 187), 0.3 (186), 0.5 (188 – 189).

FIGURES 232 – 245. Smeringopina tebe n. sp. (232 – 239) and S. kinguele n. sp. (240 – 245). 232. Male chelicerae, oblique view. 233. Sculpture on male cheliceral apophysis. 234. Left procursus, retrolateral view. 235. Male palpal tarsal organ. 236. Membranous processes on left procursus. 237. Male ALS. 238. Male gonopore. 239. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. 240. Male gonopore. 241. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. 242. Left procursus (and trochanter apophysis), prolateral view. 243. Left bulb, distal view; arrow points at sperm duct opening. 244. Female ALS and PMS. 245. Epigynum, ventral view. Abbreviations: pr: procursus; tr: trochanter. Scale lines: 10 µm (233), 20 µm (235 – 237, 244), 30 µm (240), 50 µm (238), 60 µm (242 – 243), 100 µm (232, 234, 241), 200 µm (239, 245).