Smeringopina bamenda, 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 : 28-29

Smeringopina bamenda new species

Figs. 20 , 396–400 , 411–414 , 432–438

Type. ♂ holotype from Cameroon, Northwest Region, near Bamenda , under log at roadside (6°00.5’N, 10°18.1’E), 1750 m a.s.l., 16.iv.2009 (B.A. Huber), in ZFMK (Ar 10251).

Other material examined. CAMEROON: Northwest Region: near Bamenda , type above, together with 1♀; same data, 2♀ 2 juvs. in pure ethanol, in ZFMK (Cam 78). “Bali, Bafuchu Mbu, Shum Laka” [Mbu-Baforchu, ~ 5°50.4’N, 10°04.8’E], 1600 m a.s.l., pitfall, xii.1991 – ii.1992 (H. Doutrelepont), 2♂ 2♀ (4 vials) in MRAC (174768, 783, 860, 891).

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

Diagnosis. Easily distinguished from similar congeners (small species with male horns in ocular area) by unique modification of male clypeus ( Figs. 413 , 432 ), male chelicerae ( Fig. 436 ; without modified hairs, with pair of strong frontal ridges), and by shapes of procursus and embolus ( Figs. 433–435 ). Female difficult to distinguish from close relatives but internal anterior structure ( Figs. 414 , 438 ) narrower than in S. cornigera , S. nyasoso , and S. kala .

Male (holotype). Total body length 3.8, carapace width 1.3. Leg 1: 35.2 (8.2 + 0.5 + 8.4 + 16.6 + 1.5), tibia 2: 5.0, tibia 3: 3.5, tibia 4: 5.2; tibia 1 L/d: 79. Distance PME-PME 240 µm, diameter PME 135 µm, distance PME- ALE 115 µm, distance AME-AME 25 µm, diameter AME 95 µm. Carapace ochre-yellow with brown mark posteriorly, brown lateral margins and 2–3 submarginal spots on each side; ocular area not darkened, clypeus laterally with red-brown margins, sternum brown; legs ochre-yellow, with darker rings subdistally on femora and tibiae and proximally on tibiae; abdomen ochre-gray with dark pattern dorsally, laterally, and ventrally. Habitus as in Figs. 396–397 , ocular area slightly elevated, each triad on additional hump, with one pair of long pointed horns above ALE ( Figs. 413 , 432 ), ‘pseudo-lenses’ not visible; clypeus with large complex process overhanging chelicerae ( Figs. 413 , 432 ); deep thoracic pit and pair of shallow furrows diverging behind pit. Chelicerae as in Fig. 436 , with lateral proximal apophyses and pair of strong frontal ridges ending in short apophysis, without modified hairs. Palps as in Figs. 398–400 ; coxa with retrolateral apophysis; trochanter with short rounded retrolatero-ventral apophysis; femur with weakly sclerotized retrolateral flap and large whitish area ventrally, without prolateral modification; prolateral femur-patella joint strongly shifted toward ventrally; tarsus with some barely longer and stronger hairs dorsally; procursus without hinge, with several brushes of feathered hairs retrolaterally, ventrally, and on prolateral side near basis; bulb with weakly sclerotized embolus ( Fig. 435 ). 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.

Variation. Tibia 1 in 2 other males: 8.6, 9.0.

Female. In general similar to male; clypeus unmodified, with two dark bands from eye triads to rim; ocular area with one pair of low humps above ALE. Tibia 1 in 2 females: 7.1, 7.7. Epigynum anterior plate deeply indented posteriorly, with strongly protruding rim, anteriorly rugose ( Figs. 411–412 , 437 ); large flat posterior plate; internal genitalia as in Figs. 414 and 438 .

Distribution. Known from two localities in the Northwest Region of Cameroon ( Fig. 390 ).

Figures

FIGURE 390. Known distribution of the cornigera species group. Question marks denote unidentified females deposited in CAS (Bioko, probably new species) and ZFMK (southern Cameroon, possibly S. kala).

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 391 – 400. Smeringopina armata (Thorell) (391 – 395) and S. bamenda n. sp. (396 – 400). 391 – 392, 396 – 397. Males, dorsal, lateral, and ventral views. 393 – 395, 398 – 400. Left male palps, prolateral, dorsal, and retrolateral views.

FIGURES 411 – 415. Smeringopina bamenda n. sp. (411 – 414) and S. nyasoso n. sp. (415). 411 – 412. Female abdomen, ventral and lateral views. 413, 415. Male prosomata (and palp), oblique and frontal views. 414. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view.

FIGURES 432 – 438. Smeringopina bamenda n. sp. 432. Male clypeus and ocular area, oblique frontal view. 433 – 434. Left procursus, prolateral and retrolateral views. 435. Left embolus, prolateral view. 436. Male chelicerae, frontal view. 437. Epigynum, ventral view. 438. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 (435), 0.5 (432 – 434, 436 – 438).