Lessertina capensis, Haddad, Charles R., 2014

Haddad, Charles R., 2014, A revision of the endemic South African sac spider genus Lessertina Lawrence, 1942 (Araneae: Eutichuridae), Zootaxa 3873 (1) : -

Lessertina capensis sp. nov.

Figs 4, 5 , 31, 32

Diagnosis. L. capensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from L. mutica by the more closely positioned median and lateral eyes, the much broader cymbium of the male palp, and the more compact, broader palpal conductor. Female unknown.

Etymology. The species is named for the Eastern Cape Province, wherein the type locality is found.

Male (holotype, Brenton-on-Sea, SAMC, SAM-ENW-C005378). Measurements: CL 3.40, CW 2.50, AL 3.34, AW 1.95, TL 6.58, FL 0.17, SL 1.86, SW 1.35, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.30, ALE–ALE 1.02, PME–PME 0.14, PME–PLE 0.42, PLE–PLE 1.30, PERW 1.49, MOQAW 0.43, MOQPW 0.46, MOQL 0.41.

Length of leg segments: I 2.40 + 1.10 + 2.13 + 2.10 + 1.25 = 8.98; II 1.94 + 0.90 + 1.61 + 1.59 + 0.86 = 6.90; III 1.60 + 0.88 + 1.10 + 1.30 + 0.65 = 5.53; IV 2.20 + 1.10 + 1.80 + 2.05 + 0.75 = 7.90.

General appearance as in Figs 4, 5 . Carapace dark red-brown, with radiating black striae in thoracic region. AER procurved, medians slightly larger than laterals; AME separated by distance slightly more than ½ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance approximately 1¾ AME diameter; clypeus height equal to AME diameter; PER straight, medians slightly larger than laterals; PME separated by distance approximately 4⁄5 their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 2 2⁄5 PME diameter; CW: PERW = 1.68:1. Chelicerae dark red-brown with black mottling; promargin with four widely spaced teeth, proximal tooth medium sized, second tooth larger and bifid, distal denticle smaller, third and fourth teeth very small; retromargin with four widely separated small teeth, proximal and distal teeth subequal, larger than median teeth. Endites and labium dark orange-brown, paler distally; sternum dark orange-brown with black mottling, with faint broad black stripes from coxae, converging in middle of sternum. Legs: femora I orange-brown, II–IV yellow-brown, with dense black mottling, absent dorsally at spines on femora II–IV; patellae I–IV yellow-brown with black mottling, absent proximally dorsally on patellae III and IV; tibiae I yellow-brown with broad mottled black band in proximal ¾, absent distally; tibiae II–IV yellow-brown with broad proximal and distal black bands; metatarsi I and II yellowbrown with black mottling, III and IV yellow with broad proximal and distal bands; tarsi I and II yellow-brown, III and IV yellow. Leg spination: femora: II do 1, III do 1, IV do 2 rl 1; patellae and tibiae: spineless; metatarsi: I vt 1, II plv 1 vt 1. Palp spineless. Abdomen black dorsally, without markings; venter dark grey. Palpal femora and patellae yellow, tibiae dark orange-brown, tarsus orange-brown; tibia with very large curved retrolateral apophysis, positioned basally; cymbium oval, with distinct retrolateral expansion, with several modified rod-like setae at distal end ( Fig. 31 ); tegulum nearly as broad as long, with prolateral distal subtriangular conductor with curved margins; median apophysis fine, hook-like, placed in retrolateral distal cavity ( Fig. 32 ); embolus long, originating proximally, curving around tegulum; broad at its base, gradually narrowing distally, with tip alongside prolateral margin of conductor.

Type material. ♂ Holotype: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province: Brenton-on-Sea, 34°04'S, 25°02'E, leg. H.G. Robertson, 1–10.XII.1996 (Winkler bag leaf litter sample, coastal forest) ( SAMC, SAM-ENW-C 005378).

Other material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape Province: Diepwalle Forest Station, 22km NE of Knysna, 33°57'S, 23°10'E, leg. C. Griswold, J. Doyen & T.M. Griswold, 11–13.XI.1985 (leaf litter, indigenous forest), 1 imm. 1sa♀ ( NMSA 20274).

Distribution. Known from only two localities in the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces, falling within the Cape Floristic Region Centre of Endemism ( Fig. 33 ).

Habitat and biology. The only known specimens were collected in late spring—early summer in coastal and Afromontane forests.

Figures

FIGURE 33. Distribution of Lessertina mutica Lawrence, 1942 (circles) and L. capensis sp. nov. (triangles) in South Africa, indicating the extent of the Cape Floristic Region Centre of Endemism (CFR) and the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany Centre of Endemism (MPA).

FIGURES 1 – 5. General habitus of Lessertina mutica Lawrence, 1942 (1 – 3) and L. capensis sp. nov. (4, 5): 1, 4. Male, dorsal view; 2. Female, dorsal view; 3. Live female from Silaka Nature Reserve; 5. Male, lateral view. Scale bars: 1, 2, 4, 5 = 2 mm.

FIGURES 27 – 32. Genitalic morphology of Lessertina mutica Lawrence, 1942 (27 – 30) and L. capensis sp. nov. (31, 32): 27, 31. Male palp, ventral view; 28, 32. Same, retrolateral view; 29. Epigyne, ventral view; 30. Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: C—conductor; CD—copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; EB—embolus base; ET—embolus tip; FD—fertilisation duct; MA—median apophysis; MDS—modified distal cymbial setae; ST—spermathecae I and II. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.