Lepthercus confusus, Ríos-Tamayo & Lyle, 2020

Ríos-Tamayo, Duniesky & Lyle, Robin, 2020, The South African genus Lepthercus Purcell, 1902 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) phylogeny and taxonomy, Zootaxa 4766 (2), pp. 261-305 : 269-272

Lepthercus confusus sp. nov.

( Figs. 3 A–I, 4A–E, 24)

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:19380CC0-30E8-412C-8509-F69267536BC6

Material examined. Type material: Holotype ♂. SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu–Natal Province, Sani Pass (29°35′S 29°17′E, 2700m), 22.vi.2009, UP students leg., ( NCA 2011 /318) .— Paratypes. SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu–Natal

Province: Weza , Ngeli Forest [30°34’S 29°42’E], x.1962, Lawrence R.F. leg., 3 ♀♀ ( NM 8787 ); Same data as holotype: 22.i.2010, 1 ♂ ( NCA 2010 /4443); 20.i.2008, 1 ♂ ( NCA 2010/3642 ); same data as holotype 3 ♂♂ ( NCA 2010/3640 ); same data as holotype 22.i.2009, 2 ♂♂ ( NCA 2011/379 ); same data as holotype (29°36′ S 29°18′ E, 2400m), 24.i.2006, 2 ♂♂ ( NCA 2010/3735 ).

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the great confusion felt in the beginning stages of this work about the placement of this species.

Diagnosis. Males of L. confusus sp. nov., can be distinguished from males of “Group dregei” by a short bulb with a tapering embolus with longitudinal keels ( Fig. 3F, H ) similar to L. dregei but differs by their slender embolus, with a small lateral keel ( Fig. 3F, G ). Further it is differentiated by the presence of a small cuticular spur on tibia I ( Fig. 3I , longer in others). Females can be distinguished by the shape of their spermathecae with a base with a slight transition to the stalk, straight stalks twisted and oval receptacles inwardly curved ( Fig. 4E ).

Description. Male holotype (NCA 2011/318, Fig. 3 A–I). Total length 11.40. Carapace ( Fig. 3A ): length 5.21, width 4.17, lateral marginal bristles present, with sparse pubescence. Cephalic region: length 3.28; clypeus short with 5 bristles on the edge, numerous long bristles in front of the OQ and between the PME, dorsal line of bristles until the fovea. Fovea: width 0.45, short and almost straight. Ocular measurements: AME 0.14, ALE 0.21, PME 0.17, PLE 0.19, OQ length 0.48, 0.78 width; AME–ALE 0.05, PME–PLE 0.05, AME–PME 0.07, ALE–PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.11, OMP–OMP 0.31. Chelicerae: length 2.72, width 1.53, dorsal-anterior bristles present, interc- heliceral tumescence small, well-marked and with setae ( Fig. 3C ). Fang groove with 6 promarginal teeth and 7 basomedial denticles. Labium: length 0.35, width 0.80, without cuspules. Maxillae: length 1.60, width 0.72, with about 65 minuscule cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face slightly curved, with long uniformly distributed hairs. Sternum ( Fig. 3B ): length 2.71, maximum width 2.14. Abdomen: length 4.42. PMS: length 0.57; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 0.80:0.75:1.11; total length 2.66. Lengths of legs and palp: I 4.16, 2.24, 3.06, 3.13, 2.43, 15.02. II 3.95, 2.35, 2.67, 2.93, 2.21, 14.11. III 3.54, 1.89, 2.39, 3.39, 2.01, 13.22. IV 4.41, 2.15, 3.38, 4.77, 2.24, 16.95. Palp 2.23, 1.26, 1.39, —, 0.76, 5.64.

Chaetotaxy: Leg I: femur, 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 d (centrals), 1-1-1-2 P SUP, 1-0-1-1 R SUP; patella, 1 P A; tibia, 1-1-2 P, 1-1 R, 1-2-1-2-3-2 V, a small spur, with an apical long and curved spine (longer than the spur, Fig. 3I ); metatarsus, 1-1-0-1 V POST, straight without protuberance; tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1-1-1-1-1-1 d, 1-0-1-1 P SUP, 1-1-1 R SUP; patella, 1 P A; tibia, 1-1 P, 2-2-1-4 V; metatarsus, 1 D M, 2-2-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1-1-1-1 P SUP, 1-1-1-1 R SUP; patella, 1-1-2 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1 D, 1-1 R, 2-1-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 2-1-2-2 D, 2-1-1-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1-1-1-1-1 d, 1-1-1-1 P SUP, 1-1-1-1 R SUP; patella, 1 R; tibia, 1 P, 1-1-1 R, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1 P, 1-1-2-1-2 D, 2-2-1-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp ( Fig. 2D, E ): femur, 1-1-1-3 d; patella, 1 p; tibia, 1-2 P, 1 RA, 1 v, (width/length: 0.56); tarsus, 0.

Scopulae: Metatarsi: I–II, dense, uniformly distributed throughout the segment; III, sparse (1:3A), divided by narrow band of setae; IV, sparse (A), divided by a wide band of setae. Tarsi: I-II, dense, uniformly distributed throughout the segment; III, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by narrow band of setae; IV, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by a narrow band of setae. Trichobothria: Tibiae: I-II 10-11; III 10-10; IV 12-12. Metatarsi: I (4)1(1)1(2)1; II (5)1(3)1(5)1; III (6)1(2)1(6)1; IV (4)1(3)1(4)1(6)1. Tarsi: I-II 13; III-IV 12. Preening combs: III 2 R V–2 P V, IV 3/2 R V. Copulatory bulb: small, with a short and acuminate embolus with basal keels and the tip curved ( Fig. 3 F–H), spermatic duct slightly curved. Color: Carapace and legs brown-orange. Abdomen dorsally dark without bands, covered with short and long dark hairs; sternum and ventral abdomen lighter; spinnerets yellowish with dark spots.

Female paratype (NM8787, Fig. 4 A–E). Total length 12.07. Carapace ( Fig. 4A ): length 4.06, width 2.74, with small marginal bristles and sparse pubescence. Cephalic region: length 2.61, clypeus small (almost absent) with 3 marginal bristles; 4 bristles in front of the OQ and 3 between the PME, line of small bristles until the fovea. Fovea: width 0.34, almost straight (slightly procurved). Ocular measurements: AME 0.10, ALE 0.23, PME 0.13, PLE 0.17, OQ length 0.36, width 0.72; AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PLE 0.03, AME–PME 0.06, ALE–PLE 0.02, AME–AME 0.09, PME–PME 0.28. Chelicerae ( Fig. 4D ): length 2.30, width 1.46; with dorsal-retrolateral dark bristles. Fang groove with 8 promarginal teeth and 18 mesobasal denticles. Labium: length 0.27, width 0.67, dorsally slightly concave without cuspules. Maxillae: length 1.43, width 0.69, with 85 cuspules on posterior inner corner, prolateral face concave, soft, with long uniformly distributed hairs, serrula present on anterior inner corner. Sternum ( Fig. 4C ): length 1.98, maximum width 1.64. Abdomen ( Fig. 4B ): length 6.43, with small hairs in the dorsum. PMS: length 0.61; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 1.23:0.79:1.16; total length 3.18. Lengths of legs and palp: I: 2.63, 1.72, 1.85, 1.38, 0.98, 8.56. II: 2.41, 1.45, 1.51, 1.33, 0.98, 7.68. III: 2.21, 1.35, 1.36, 1.80, 1.02, 7.74. IV: 2.88, 1.66, 2.04, 1.74, 1.15, 9.47. Palp: 1.88, 1.21, 1.14, —, 1.24, 5.47.

Chaetotaxy: Leg I: femur, 1-1-1-1-1 d, 1 P A; patella, 0; tibia, 1 p, 1-1-2 v; metatarsus, 2-1-1 V; tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1-1-1-1-1-1 d, 1 P A; patella, 0; tibia, 1 p, 2-2-3 v; metatarsus, 2-2-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1 P A, 1-1 R A; patella, 1-1 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1-1 D, 1 R, 2-2-3 V (thins); metatarsus, 2-1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D–P, 2- 1-2 D–R, 3-3-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1-1-1-1-1 d, 1 R A; patella, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1 R, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D–P, 1-1-0-1 D–R, 1-1-1 R, 4-1-2-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp: femur, 1-1-1 d, 1 pa; patella, 0; tibia, 1-1 P, 2-3 V (1:2A); tarsus, 2 V B.

Scopulae: Metatarsi: I, dense, uniformly distributed and divided by bristles; II, dense (1:2 A), divided by band of setae; III–IV, no present. Tarsi: I, dense, uniformly distributed and divided by bristles; II, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by setae; III, sparse (1:3 A) and divided by a narrow band of setae; IV, sparse (3:4 A) and divided by a wide band of setae. Trichobothria: Tibiae: palp 7-8; I 10-9; II 9-9; III 8-8; IV 10-9. Metatarsi: I (3)1(1)1(4)1; II-III (4)1(2)1(4)1; IV (4)1(2)1(3)1(5)1. Tarsi: palp 8; I 12; II-IV 11. Preening combs: metatarsus: II 5 P V; III 3 P V–3 R V; IV 2 P V–3 R V. Spermathecae: as in Fig. 4E . Color: Overall orange-yellowish, sternum lighter. Abdomen brown mottled with light spots on dorsal side, spinnerets light brown.

Distribution. KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa ( Fig. 24 ).

Figures

FIGURE. 3. Lepthercus confusus sp. nov. (male holotype, NCA 2011/318). A cephalothorax and abdomen, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view, arrow indicates the intercheliceral tumesence; D right pedipalp, arrow indicates the small dorsal setae, and a normal anterior part of the retrolateral side of ventral excavation, retrolateral view; E right pedipalp, prolateral view, arrow indicates the abundant proventral rigid setae; F–H copulatory bulb; F retrolateral view, G ventral view, H prolateral view; F, H arrow indicates the longitudinal keels along the embolus, G arrow indicates the small lateral keel; I Tibia I, arrow indicates the small cuticular spur.

FIGURE. 4. Lepthercus confusus sp. nov. (female paratype, NM 8787). A cephalothorax, dorsal view; B sternum, arrow indicates the anterior maxillary edge slightly concave, ventral view; C abdomen, dorsal view; D spermathecae.

FIGURE. 2. Preening comb. A Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov. (female paratype, NCA 2007/3847). Maxillary cuspules (males). B L. dippenaarae. C L. kwazuluensis. Serrula. D L. mandelai sp. nov. (female, NCA 2014/415A); E L. filmeri sp. nov. (female, NCA 91/1437); F L. haddadi sp. nov. (male, NCA 2007/1486); G L. haddadi sp. nov. (female, NCA 2007/3847); H L. engelbrechti sp. nov. (female, NCA 2018/385); I L. engelbrechti sp. nov. (male, NCA 2018/384); J L. dregei Purcell, 1902 (female, NCA 2012/2333); K L. sofiae sp. nov. (male, NCA 97/395).

FIGURE. 24. Distribution map of Lepthercus spp: ● Lepthercus confusus sp. nov., ○ Lepthercus dippenaarae sp. nov., Ɨ Lepthercus dregei Purcell, 1902, O Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov., A Lepthercus filmeri sp. nov., * Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov., D Lepthercus kwazuluensis sp. nov., ■ Lepthercus lawrencei sp. nov., v Lepthercus mandelai sp. nov., ▼ Lepthercus rattrayi Hewitt, 1917, ▲ Lepthercus sofiae sp. nov. Solid black line indicates the two species overlapped.