Austrachelas bergi Haddad, Lyle, Bosselaers & Ramírez, 2009

Mbo, Zingisile, 2017, A new species of the endemic South African spider genus Austrachelas (Araneae: Gallieniellidae) and first description of the male of A. bergi, Zootaxa 4323 (1), pp. 119-124 : 120-122

Austrachelas bergi Haddad, Lyle, Bosselaers & Ramírez, 2009 ( Figs 4, 5 , 8–10 )

Austrachelas bergi Haddad, Lyle, Bosselaers & Ramírez, 2009: 17 , figs 1, 52, 53.

Diagnosis. Females of A. bergi share with A. entabeni sp. nov. an epigyne with a large tongue-shaped anterior hood, but can be recognized from the latter species by the anterior pentagonal membranous concavity into which the anterior hood is inserted ( Fig. 4 ), which is absent in the latter species ( Fig. 3 ). Males of A. bergi are unique in the genus by the presence of a large proximal apophysis and smaller distal dorsal apophysis on the male palpal tibia, in addition to the distal RTA found in all of the species ( Figs 5 , 8–10 ).

Description. Female. Described by Haddad et al. (2009).

Male. Measurements: CL 3.04, CW 2.20, FL 0.29, SL 1.65, SW 1.30, AL 3.45, AW 2.05, TL 6.50, AME–AME 0.03, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.22, PME–PME 0.04, PME–PLE 0.07, PLE–PLE 0.38.

Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 2.15 + 1.10 + 1.55 + 1.22 + 0.83 = 6.85; II 1.90 + 1.07 + 1.43 + 1.08 + 0.80 = 6.28; III 1.65 + 0.88 + 0.95 + 1.26 + 0.73 = 5.47; IV 2.25 + 1.08 + 1.70 + 2.02 + 0.85 = 7.90.

Carapace orange, slightly paler along midline, with series of 10-12 transverse ridges lateral to eye region, stronger anteriorly, progressively shallower posteriorly; AER strongly procurved, laterals larger than medians; AME separated by distance equal to 1/3 their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 1/8 AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 6/5 AME diameter at AME, equal to 5/6 ALE diameter at ALE; PER straight, laterals larger than medians; PME separated by distance slightly less than 1/2 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 4/5 PME diameter. Chelicerae deep orange-brown, with eight coarse transverse ridges on anterior surface of paturon; promargin with four teeth, proximal tooth smallest, second tooth largest, third and fourth teeth progressively smaller; retromargin without teeth. Sternum and mouthparts bright yellow-brown. Legs all creamy-yellow, leg I with slightly brighter yellow tinge. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1, II pl 1, III pl 2 do 2 rl 1, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, strongly scopulate, III & IV scopulate in distal half, III pl 5 rl 5 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 5 rl 5 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2; palp: femora do 2. Abdomen pale grey dorsally, with faint mottled creamy-grey chevron, pale grey laterally and ventrally, with grey ring around spinnerets; dorsum and venter lacking scutum or other sclerites, except two pairs of weak dorsal sigilla and small, oval post-epigastric sclerites. Male palpal tibia with proximal and distal retrolateral apophyses, and small triangular dorsal apophysis ( Figs 5 , 8–10 ); proximal retrolateral heel of cymbium strongly pronounced; median tegular apophysis broad, curved and elongate; embolus arc-shaped, with two lobes on inner margin, tip strongly curved ( Figs 5 , 8 ).

Material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo: Mariepskop State Forest, Northern Drakensberg , 23°35.06'S, 30°51.81'E, 1350m a.s.l., leg. D. Ubick & S. Prinsloo, 13.X.1999, 1♀ ( CAS, CASENT 9072380 ) . Mpumalanga: Songimvelo Nature Reserve, Diepgezet , 25°56'41''S, 31°06'10''E, 1420m a.s.l., leg. D. & S. Ubick, 20–23.III.2001 (pitfalls, ravine with indigenous forest), 1♂ ( CAS, CASENT 9072375 ) .

Distribution. Previously known only from the type locality near Nelspruit [Mbombela], this species is recorded from an additional site in Mpumalanga Province near the Swaziland border, as well as from the Limpopo Province for the first time, extending its distribution range to approximately 275 km ( Fig. 11 ).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Distribution of Austrachelas in South Africa, indicating type locality of A. entabeni sp. nov. (black star), type locality of A. bergi Haddad, Lyle, Bosselaers & Ramírez, 2009 (black circle), new localities of A. bergi (white circles), and distribution of other Austrachelas species (black triangles).

FIGURES 1 – 5. Digital microscope photographs of Austrachelas entabeni sp. nov. (1 – 3) and A. bergi Haddad, Lyle, Bosselaers & Ramírez, 2009 (4, 5): 1. Female holotype, dorsal habitus; 2. Same, ventral view of abdomen; 3, 4. Epigyne, ventral view; 5. Male palp, ventral view. Abbreviations: AH—anterior hood; EM—distal portion of embolus; ET—embolus tip; LH—lateral hoods; MAmedian apophysis. Scale bars: 1, 2 = 1 mm, 3 – 5 = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 6 – 10. Genitalic morphology of Austrachelas entabeni sp. nov. (6, 7) and A. bergi Haddad, Lyle, Bosselaers & Ramírez, 2009 (8 – 10): 6. Female holotype, epigyne, ventral view; 7. Same, dorsal view; 8. Male palp, ventral view; 9. Same, retrolateral view; 10. Same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD—copulatory duct; dRTA—distal retrolateral tibial apophysis; DTA—dorsal tibial apophysis; EM – embolus; MA—median apophysis; pRTA—proximal retrolateral tibial apophysis; ST 1 — primary spermathecae; ST 2 — secondary spermathecae. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.