Drassodella guttata, Mbo & Haddad, 2019

Mbo, Zingisile & Haddad, Charles R., 2019, A revision of the endemic South African long-jawed ground spider genus Drassodella Hewitt, 1916 (Araneae: Gallieniellidae), Zootaxa 4582 (1), pp. 1-62 : 20-22

Drassodella guttata sp. nov.

Figs 6 , 18–21, 23–31, 34–39, 41, 43, 44, 46, 48–52, 55–59 , 61 , 79 , 95, 96 , 116–120

Etymology. The name is derived from the Latin guttatus, meaning spotted, referring to the white dorsolateral spots on the abdomen.

Diagnosis. Females of D. guttata sp. nov. are most similar to those of D. transversa sp. nov., but can be distinguished by the almost parallel-sided anterior hood with a slightly concave posterior margin, rather than almost semicircular anterior hood with a straight posterior margin, and by the larger separation of the posterior margin of the anterior hood and the anterior margin of ST II (compare Figs 61 and 68 ). Males of D. guttata sp. nov. are most similar to those of D. melana , but can be distinguished by the presence of white spots on the abdomen (absent in D. melana ), the subtriangular rather than spatulate shape of the ventral prong in prolateral view (compare Figs 118 and 128 ), and the RTA broad basally and tapering to a point distally in retrolateral view, as opposed to being more slender with a slightly curved tip in D. melana (compare Figs 120 and 130 ).

Description. Female (Holotype, Platberg Nature Reserve, NCA 2015/2298). Measurements: CL 2.56, CW 1.84, AL 2.96, AW 1.76, TL 6.32 (5.94–6.36), FL 0.44, SL 1.44, SW 1.16, CH 0.08, AME-AME 0.07, AME-ALE 0.02, ALE-ALE 0.24, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.14, PLE-PLE 0.49, PERW 0.62, MOQAW 0.17, MOQPW 0.24, MOQL 0.27.

Length of leg segments: I 1.72 + 0.80 + 1.26 + 1.10 + 0.90 = 5.78, II 1.52 + 0.78 + 1.12 + 1.06 + 0.82 = 5.30, III 1.34 + 0.68 + 0.96 + 1.26 + 0.80 = 5.04, IV 1.88 + 0.88 + 1.60 + 2.12 + 0.96 = 7.44.

General appearance as in Fig. 95 . Carapace black, with radiating black mottling; line of white feathery setae from cephalic region, more concentrated medially to fovea, diverging behind fovea forming upsilon marking, merging with lateral white line; lateral white line of feathery setae extends from leg I to bend of posterior margin. Clypeus height equal to AME diameter; AME smaller than ALE; AME separated by distance equal to 0.88 their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.25 AME diameter; PME smaller than PLE; PME separated by distance equal to 1.25 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1.75 PME diameter. Chelicerae dark brown anteriorly, brown posteriorly; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest, more closely spaced to distal tooth than to proximal tooth, distal tooth smallest; retromargin with two teeth, proximal tooth larger than distal tooth. Endites orange medially, pale at promarginal maxillar hair tuft, dark brown at margins. Labium orange, pale at anterior margin, brown medially and posteriorly, anterior margin straight. Sternum orange, with evenly scattered setae. Legs with dense black mottling, proximal segments orange, distal segments light orange. Leg spination: femora I do 2, II do 2, III do 2, IV pl 1 do 2 rl 1; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I spineless, II vt 1, III pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 2 vt 1, IV pl 1 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 1; metatarsi: I & II spineless, III pl 4 do 1 rl 4 plv 3 rlv 2 vt 1, IV pl 3 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; palpal spination: femora do 4; patellae rl 1; tibiae do 1 rl 3; tarsi pl 1 do 1 rl 3. Abdomen black, dorsum with four white spots with dense white feathery setae ( Fig. 95 ); venter light brown; two lateral sclerites close to booklungs. Spinnerets light brown. Epigyne with deep anterior hood, anterior margin slightly convex, posterior margin slightly undulating and slightly concave, lateral ends tapering abruptly; lateral hoods cup-shaped, near copulatory openings; ST II dark yellow-brown, connecting ducts and ST I dark brown; ST I and II similar in size, ST II with oval head ( Figs 61 , 116, 117 ).

Male (Paratype, Platberg Nature Reserve, NCA 2015/2298). Measurements: CL 2.02, CW 1.58, AL 2.08, AW 1.20, TL 4.32 (4.28–4.48), FL 0.33, SL 1.12, SW 0.94, CH 0.08, AME-AME 0.06, AME-ALE 0.02, ALE- ALE 0.19, PME-PME 0.07, PME-PLE 0.11, PLE-PLE 0.40, PERW 0.48, MOQAW 0.36, MOQPW 0.19, MOQL 0.24.

Length of leg segments: I 1.44 + 0.64 + 1.12 + 0.98 + 0.84 = 5.02, II 1.34 + 0.62 + 0.96 + 1.00 + 0.80 = 4.72, III 1.52 + 0.76 + 1.10 + 1.48 + 0.92 = 5.78, IV 1.84 + 0.76 + 1.40 + 1.96 + 0.90 = 6.86.

General appearance as in Fig. 96 . Carapace black, with radiating mottling; surface with long slender and feathery setae, upsilon-shaped broad faint median white line from PME to posterior margin above leg IV; thinner on slope, with erect setae. Clypeus height slightly larger than AME diameter; AME smaller than ALE; AME separated by distance equal to their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.33 AME diameter; PME and PLE equal in size; PME separated by distance slightly larger than their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1.83 PME diameter. Chelicerae dark-brown; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest; retromargin with two teeth. Endites pale yellow anteriorly, pale at maxillar hair tuft, brown medially, with black line along margin; few setae across surface. Labium brown, longer than wide. Sternum reddish brown; setae concentrated along edges, smooth medially. Legs dark-brown proximally, orange ventrally and distally. Leg spination: femora: I do 1, II do 2, III do 5, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 3, IV pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 1 rlv 2 vt 1; metatarsi: I & II spineless, III pl 4 rl 4 plv 3 rlv 3, IV pl 3 do 2 rl 3 plv 3 rlv 4; palpal spination: femur: do 3; patella, tibia and tarsus spineless. Abdomen black; dorsum with six white spots composed of feathery setae, three on each side, two lateral white spots composed of feathery setae ( Fig. 96 ); single white spot of feathery setae above spinnerets; venter lighter; ante- and post-epigastric sclerites small. Spinnerets pale. Palp orange; tibia and RTA short, largely obscured in ventral view by retrolateral heel of cymbium; in retrolateral view triangular, with broad base and sharp tip; cymbium broad, 1.73 times longer than wide, distal end broadly rounded; ventral embolic prong much larger than dorsal prong in prolateral view, dorsal prong aligned with palpal axis in ventral view; median apophysis narrow, hook-shaped ( Figs 79 , 118–120 ).

Type material. Holotype ♀: SOUTH AFRICA: Free State Province: Harrismith, Platberg Nature Reserve, Bottom of Donkey Pass , 28°16.842'S, 29°12.024'E, 2040 m a.s.l., 13.XI.2015 – 24.I.2016, leg. C. Haddad, D. Fourie & Z. Mbo (pitfall traps, alpine grassland) ( NCA 2015 /2298).

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Together with holotype, 2♂ 4♀ ( NCA 2015 /2298); Same locality, 28°16.839'S, 29°12.062'E, 26. XII .2005, leg. C. Haddad (under rocks, mountainside), 1♂ ( NCA 2016 /2818) .

Distribution. Only known from the type locality ( Fig. 125 ).

Figures

FIGURE 125. Distribution of Drassodella flava sp. nov. (circles), D. guttata sp. nov. (star), D. lotzi sp. nov. (square) and D. maculata sp. nov. (triangle) in southern Africa.

FIGURES 5–17. Digital microscope photographs of Drassodella somatic morphology: 5–8 dorsal view of carapace and chelicerae of D. flava sp. nov. female (5), D. guttata sp. nov. male (6), D. transversa sp. nov. male (7) and D. purcelli Tucker, 1923 female (8); 9 D. tenebrosa Lawrence, 1938 female, carapace, lateral view; 10 D. purcelli female, posterodorsal view of carapace, showing pedicel and sclerites; 11 same, ventral pedicel sclerite, ventral view; 12–14 dorsal view of abdomens of D. septemmaculata (Strand, 1909) male (12), D. aurostriata sp. nov. male (13) and D. amatola sp. nov. female (14); 15 D. tenebrosa female, abdomen, anterodorsal view; 16 D. septemmaculata male, abdomen, showing sclerites on venter; 17 D. tenebrosa female, spinnerets, posteroventral view. Abbreviations: AAS—anterior abdominal sclerite; CGS—cylindrical gland spigots; CON—condyle; DPS—dorsal pedicel sclerite; IS—inframamillary sclerite; PB—pleural bars; PES—post-epigastric sclerite; PPS—posterior pleural sclerite; PT—petiole; SC—dorsal scutum; SI—sigillum; VPS—ventral pedicel sclerite.

FIGURES 18–26. Scanning electron microscope photographs of Drassodella guttata sp. nov. female (18–21, 24–26) and male (23), and D. tolkieni sp. nov. female (22): 18 posterior half of carapace, dorsal view, indicating fovea, erect and feathery setae, and rebordered concave posterior margin; 19 eye region, dorsal view; 20 feathery setae on posterior carapace margin and coxa IV; 21 same, feathery setae enlarged; 22 chelicerae, ventral view; 23 chelicerae teeth; 24 endites and labium, ventral view; 25 serrula on endites, ventral view; 26 sternum. Abbreviations: CES—promarginal escort seta; ES—erect setae; FS—feathery setae; MHT—maxillar hair tuft.

FIGURES 27–38. Scanning electron microscope photographs of male (27, 28, 35–38) and female (29–31, 34) Drassodella guttata sp. nov. and female D. tolkieni sp. nov. (32, 33). 27 femur I, curved long ventral setae, lateral view; 28 femur IV, curved long ventral setae, lateral view; 29 leg II, patellar indentation, retrolateral view; 30 same, detail of lyriform organ; 31 lyriform organ at distal end of tibia II, retrolateral view; 32 metatarsus III with spine, feathery and chemosensory setae, and trichobothria, dorsal view; 33 distal end of metatarsus III, dorsal view; 34 metatarsus III, scopula, prolateral view; 35 distal end of tarsus I, dorsal view; 36 tarsus III, trichobothrium; 37 tarsus I, chemosensory seta; 38 same, tarsal organ. Abbreviations: CS—chemosensory setae; FS—feathery setae; MS—metatarsal stopper; SP—spine; SS—slit sensilla; TC—tarsal claws; TOtarsal organ; TR—trichobothria.

FIGURES 39–50. Scanning electron microscope photographs of female (39, 41, 44, 46, 48–50) and male (43) Drassodella guttata sp. nov., and female D. tolkieni sp. nov. (40, 42, 45, 47): 39 tarsus III, scopula, ventrolateral view; 40 tarsus II, claws and scopulate setae, lateral view; 41 detail of scopulate setae, ventral view; 42 same, lateral view; 43 tarsus III, detail of tarsal claws and associated setae, arrow indicating tenant setae forming claw tuft; 44 dorsal abdominal feathery setae, arrow indicating white patch composed of dense modified feathery setae; 45 ventral abdominal feathery setae; 46, 47 spinnerets, general view; 48 left ALS, ventral view; 49 left PMS, ventral view; 50 left PLS, ventral view. Abbreviations as follows: Acaciniform gland spigot(s); Cy—cylindrical gland spigot(s); maAmp—major ampullate gland spigot(s); miAmp—minor ampullate gland spigot(s); nu—nubbin(s); Pi—piriform gland spigot(s).

FIGURES 51–59. Scanning electron microscope photographs of female (51, 52) and male (55–59) Drassodella guttata sp. nov., and female D. tolkieni sp. nov. (53, 54): 51 epigyne, slightly ventrolateral view; 52 detail of epigynal muscle sigilla; 53 epigyne, dorsal view; 54 detail of glandular pores on spermathecal head; 55 right palp, prolateral view; 56 same, distal end of palp and cymbial scopula; 57 left palp, ventral view; 58 detail of distal end of tegulum, right palp, prolateral view; 59 same, left palp, ventral view. Abbreviations: AH—anterior hood; CD—copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; CS—cymbial scopula; DP—dorsal embolic prong; EM—embolus; EMS—epigynal muscle sigilla; LH—lateral hood; MA—median apophysis; MSmedian septum; ST—spermathecae; VP—ventral embolic prong.

FIGURES 60–77. Female epigynes of Drassodella species in the D. melana species group (60–68) and D. salisburyi species group (69–77) in dorsal view: 60 D. flava sp. nov.; 61 D. guttata sp. nov.; 62 D. lotzi sp. nov.; 63 D. maculata sp. nov.; 64 D. melana Tucker, 1923; 65 D. montana sp. nov.; 66 D. tenebrosa Lawrence, 1938; 67 D. tolkieni sp. nov.; 68 D. transversa sp. nov.; 69 D. venda sp. nov.; 70 D. amatola sp. nov.; 71 D. aurostriata sp. nov.; 72 D. purcelli Tucker, 1923; 73 D. quinquelabecula Tucker, 1923; 74 D. salisburyi Hewitt, 1916; 75 D. septemmaculata (Strand, 1909); 76 D. trilineata sp. nov.; 77 D. vasivulva Tucker, 1923. Abbreviations: AH—anterior hood; FD—fertilisation duct; MS—median septum; STspermatheca(e). Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 78–92. Male palps of Drassodella species of the D. melana species group (78–85) and D. salisburyi species group (86–92) in ventral view: 78 D. flava sp. nov.; 79 D. guttata sp. nov.; 80 D. melana Tucker, 1923; 81 D. montana sp. nov.; 82 D. tenebrosa Lawrence, 1923; 83 D. tolkieni sp. nov.; 84 D. transversa sp. nov.; 85 D. venda sp. nov.; 86 D. amatola sp. nov.; 87 D. aurostriata sp. nov.; 88 D. baviaans sp. nov.; 89 D. quinquelabecula Tucker, 1923; 90 D. salisburyi Hewitt, 1916; 91 D. septemmaculata (Strand, 1909); 92 D. vasivulva Tucker, 1923. Abbreviations as follows: DP—dorsal embolic prong; EMembolus; MA—median apophysis; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; VP—ventral embolic prong. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 93–110. Dorsal habitus photographs of Drassodella species in the melana species group: 93, 94 female and male of D. flava sp. nov.; 95, 96 female and male of D. guttata sp. nov.; 97 female of D. lotzi sp. nov.; 98 female of D. maculata sp. nov.; 99, 100 female and male of D. melana Tucker, 1923; 101, 102 female and male of D. montana sp. nov.; 103, 104 female and male of D. tenebrosa Lawrence, 1938; 105, 106 female and male of D. tolkieni sp. nov.; 107, 108 female and male of D. transversa sp. nov.; 109, 110 female and male of D. venda sp. nov. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 116–120. Genitalic morphology of Drassodella guttata sp. nov.: 116 female epigyne, dorsal view; 117 same, ventral view; 118 male palp, prolateral view; 119 same, ventral view; 120 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 126–130. Genitalic morphology of Drassodella melana Tucker, 1923: 126 female epigyne, ventral view; 127 same, dorsal view; 128 male palp, prolateral view; 129 same, ventral view; 130 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.