Smeringopus mayombe, Huber, 2012

HUBER, BERNHARD A., 2012, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Afrotropical endemic genus Smeringopus Simon, 1890 (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 3461 (1), pp. 1-138 : 119-121

Smeringopus mayombe new species

Figs. 701 , 715–717, 729–731

Type. Male holotype from Congo D.R., Congo Centrale Prov. (“Bas-Congo”), Mayombe, Luki Forest Reserve (5°37.3’S, 13°05.9’E), hand catch, edge of road near guest house, 4.xi.2006 (D. de Bakker, J.P. Michiels), in MRAC ( 221613 part) .

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

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners (other species of the thomensis species group) by shape of embolus (one large and one tiny apophysis arising from embolus; Figs. 729, 730 ; similar S. principe ); from S. thomensis also by pair of sclerotized areas on posterior rim of epigynum ( Fig. 715 ) and wider pore plates ( Fig. 731 ); from S. principe also by absence of dorsal projection from procursus tip (procursus as in S. thomensis , cf. Figs. 719, 720 ). Easily distinguished from all other congeners by distinctive color pattern dorsally on abdomen (figure composed of three black elements on posterior half; Fig. 701 ).

Male (holotype). Total body length 6.1, carapace width 1.8. Leg 1: 53.3 (13.7 + 0.8 + 12.8 + 23.7 + 2.3), tibia 2: 8.7, tibia 3: 6.1, tibia 4: 8.5; tibia 1 L/d: 60. Habitus as in Fig. 701 . Carapace ochre-yellow with light brown median mark and narrow lateral marks, clypeus distal half darker, sternum dark brown with small light spots, legs ochre-yellow, femora and tibiae with dark subdistal rings and light tips, abdomen grey with distinctive dorsal pattern, ventrally with dark anterior and posterior plates and three indistinct bands in median section. Distance PME-PME 125 µm, diameter PME 160 µm, distance PME-ALE 60 µm, distance AME-AME 25 µm, diameter AME 135 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with small dark ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae with pair of small distal apophyses as in S. thomensis (cf. Fig. 721 ). Palps in general as in S. thomensis (cf. Figs. 705, 706 ), procursus not distinguishable (cf. Figs. 719, 720 ), only bulb different, with one large and one tiny dorsal processes ( Figs. 729, 730 ). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, without curved hairs, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 3%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1.

Variation. Tibia 1 in 3 other males: 10.9, 11.3, 11.3. Posterior part of median mark on carapace sometimes barely visible.

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 11 females: 6.7–11.3 (mean 9.7). Epigynum a simple, roughly triangular plate with pair of pockets and pair of sclerotized areas on posterior rim, transversal internal structure variably well visible, posterior plate semicircular ( Figs. 715, 716 ); internal genitalia as in Figs. 717 and 731 .

Distribution. Only known from type locality in western Congo D.R. ( Fig. 718 ).

Material examined. CONGO D.R.: Congo Centrale Prov.: Mayombe , Luki Forest Reserve : type above, together with 2♀; same locality, fogging in primary rainforest, 4.–13.xi.2006 and 26.ix.–4.x.2007 (8 vials) 5♂ 13♀ in MRAC (parts of 219850, 219852–53, 219855, 224312, 224315, 224318–19); fogging in old secondary rainforest, 18.–25.ix.2007 (5 vials), 9♀ in MRAC (parts of 224304–07, 224311); beating in old secondary rainforest, 17.ix.2007 and 22.ix.2007 (2 vials), 3♂ 2♀ 1 juv. in MRAC (parts of 223120, 224308); beating in primary rainforest, 29.ix.2007, 1♀ in MRAC (223842 part); beating along trails near guest house, 9.xi.2006 and 19.ix.2007 (2 vials), 3♀ in MRAC (parts of 221618, 223761); central zone of Luki F. R., 26.–27.ix.2007 (W. Hubau), 1♀ in MRAC (222155 part) .

Figures

FIGURE 718. Known distributions of the thomensis and roeweri groups. “?”: unknown type locality of S. roeweri in Rwanda. Squares: further undescribed species.

FIGURES 699–708. Smeringopus thomensis group. S. thomensis (699–700, 705–706), S. principe (702–704, 707–708), and S. mayombe (701). 699, 701, 703. Males, dorsal views. 700, 702. Male prosomata, oblique frontal views. 704. Female, ventral view. 705–708. Left male palps, prolateral and retrolateral views.

FIGURES 725–731. Smeringopus principe (725–728) and S. mayombe (729–731). 725. Left procursus, prolateral view. 726–727, 729–730. Left emboli, prolateral and dorsal (slightly distal) views. 728, 731. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal views. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.

FIGURES 709–717. Smeringopus thomensis group. Epigyna, ventral views and cleared female genitalia, ventral and dorsal views. 709–711. S. thomensis. 712–714. S. principe. 715–717. S. mayombe.

FIGURES 719–724. Smeringopus thomensis. 719. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 720. Left procursus, prolateral view. 721. Male chelicerae, frontal view. 722–723. Left embolus, prolateral and dorsal (slightly distal) views. 724. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.