Micaria, Westring, 1851

Booysen, Ruan & Haddad, Charles R., 2021, Revision and molecular phylogeny of the spider genus Micaria Westring, 1851 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in the Afrotropical Region, Zootaxa 4940 (1), pp. 1-82 : 18-25

Key to the Micaria species of the Afrotropical Region (excluding Arabian Peninsula).

1) Males .............................................................................................. 2

- Females............................................................................................ 18

2) Retrolateraltibial apophysis (RTA) absent ( Figs 146, 150 , 160 , 168 ) ............................................. 3

- Oneormore RTAspresent ( Figs 112 , 120 , 124 , 148 , 164 ) ..................................................... 6

3) Palpaltibiamorethan 0.5 timescymbiumlength ( Figs 111, 112 , 115, 116 ) ........................................ 5

- Palpaltibialessthan 0.5 timescymbiumlength ( Figs 149, 150 , 159, 160 )......................................... 4

4) Embolus broadest in middle, tapered from middle to tip; two ventral terminal spines confined to prolateral half of cymbium ( Fig. 149 arrows); spermductcurveshalfwaybetweenmiddleandbaseof tegulum ( Figs 27 , 149 ) .. M. parvotibialis sp. nov.

- Embolus equal in thickness, tapering near tip; sperm duct makes ¾ circle following tegular ridge before ending at embolus base; twoventralterminalspineswidelyseparated ( Figs 32 , 159 ) ........................ M. quinquemaculosa sp. nov.

5) Embolus broad at base, leaf–like, tapered to short tip; median apophysis broad and facing ventrally; three ventral terminal spinesintransverserowwithmiddlespinemoreproximalthanlateralspines ( Figs 25 , 145 ) .............. M. laxa sp. nov.

- Embolus thin and elongate, curving inwards towards center; median apophysis thin, curving sharply inwards and downwards; characteristic “kink” in lower retrolateral section of sperm duct; three ventral terminal spines in straight transverse row in front of embolus ( Figs 36 , 167 ). .......................................................... M. tersissima Simon, 1910

6) Two RTAspresentonpalpaltibia ( Figs 16 , 124 ) ............................................. M. bispicula sp. nov.

- One RTApresentonpalpal tibia. ......................................................................... 7

7) RTAlocatedonapical ridgeof palpaltibia ( Figs 116 , 128 ).................................................... 10

- RTAlocatedsub–apically ( Figs 120 , 142 , 148 ) .............................................................. 8

8) RTAlocatedat leastmidwayonpalpaltibia ( Figs 26 , 148 ). .................................. M. mediospina sp. nov.

- RTAlocatedsub-apically, nomore thantwiceitslengthawayfrom apex. ......................................... 9

9) Embolus large and curved laterally inwards, with tip almost perpendicular to base; median apophysis large, broadest at base; small bent tip; three ventral terminal spines in front of embolus with retrolateral spine more distal than rest; both sexes with two largewhite spotsonabdomen ( Figs 14 , 119, 120 )........................................... M. bimaculata sp. nov.

- Embolus moderate in size with sharp elongate tip slanting inwards; median apophysis similar in size to embolus and thin; two ventralterminalspinesinfrontof embolus; abdomenwithoutspots ( Figs 23 , 141, 142 ) ............. M. koingnaas sp. nov.

10) RTAlocatedondorsalsurfaceof palpaltibia. .............................................................. 11

- RTAlocatedonretrolateral surfaceof palpaltibia........................................................... 12

11) Median apophysis large; located centrally on tegulum and slightly prolaterally; embolus elongate straight and slanting towards midline of tegulum; three ventral terminal spines present with two in front of embolus and one small one retrolaterally; RTA small ( Figs 10 , 111, 112 ) ............................................................. M. basaliducta sp. nov.

- Median apophysis located above center towards prolateral margin of tegulum, sharply curved and facing slightly prolaterally; embolus curved retrolaterally, short with broadened base; two ventral terminal spines located anteriorly and proximally to embolus ( Figs 10 , 115, 116 ) ......................................................... M. beaufortia ( Tucker, 1923)

12) Tibia Iwith no ventral spines; embolus with short tip; median apophysis large, thickened basally, tip curved prolaterally; sperm ductwithbasalloopslightlyskewedretrolaterally, U-shaped ( Figs 29 , 153, 154 ) ...................... M. plana sp. nov.

- Tibia Iwith two prolateral ventral and two retrolateral ventral spines; median apophysis structurally otherwise.......... 13

13) Basalloopof spermductwithsmallerandsharperbend, usuallyextendingintomiddleof tegulum ( Fig. 163 ) ........... 14

- Basal loop of sperm duct with large bend, extending distally past midpoint of tegulum ( Fig. 127 )..................... 15

14) Median apophysis located off–centre retrolaterally; embolus with broad base and thin tip slanting towards middle of tegulum ( Figs 34 , 163, 164 ) ..................................................................... M. sanipass sp. nov.

- Median apophysis large, thin and curved inwards, located centrally towards apical margin of tegulum; embolus elongate with moderatelybroadbase, tiponlyslightlyslantingprolaterally ( Figs. 20 , 135, 136 )....................... M. felix sp. nov.

15) Abdomen uniform in colour and with two small white spots close to anterior margin; embolus straight with thin short tip; sperm ductendinginslightcurvedtube; darkbrowntoblackincolour ( Figs 17 , 127 ) ................. M. chrysis ( Simon, 1910)

- Abdomen divided into two parts by median transverse constriction (usually light in colour), with anterior half sometimes lighter thanposteriorhalf ( Figs 18, 19 ); embolusandspermduct otherwise ............................................ 16

16) Scutum broad (in males only), covering most of anterior half of abdomen; embolus broad at base, slightly curved retrolaterally attip ( Figs 35 , 165, 166 ) ............................................................... M. scutellata sp. nov.

- Scutum narrow or barely visible, when present only 1/3 width of abdomen; embolus broad at base, tip slightly or sharply curved retrolaterally ( Figs 18, 21 , 131, 132 , 139, 140 ) ............................................................. 17

17) Median apophysis thick (ventral view); sperm duct ending in elongate open curve posterior to embolus; embolus with short tip; retrolateralspineoncymbiumpresent atheightof tipof embolus; lightbrown toyellow incolour ( Figs 19 , 131 ). .......... .................................................................................... M. durbana sp. nov.

- Median apophysis thin (ventral view); sperm duct ending in short sharply curved tube well below embolus base; embolus tip elongate; retrolateralspineoncymbiumpresentatbaseof embolus; browntodarkbrownincolour ( Figs 22 , 139, 140 ) ..... ..................................................................................... M. gagnoa sp. nov.

18) Anteriorhoodofepigynedividedintotwoparts ( Figs 109 , 113, 114 , 118 , 143 , 151 , 155 , 157 ) ....................... 19

- Anteriorhoodof epigynecontinuous ( Figs 121 , 125 , 129 , 133 , 161 ) ............................................ 24

19) Copulatory ducts with short, secondary duct below midpoint of duct; copulatory ducts elongate and aligned parallel to each otheruptoheightof anteriorhood ( Figs 9 , 109, 110 ) ....................................... M. basaliducta sp. nov.

- Copulatory ducts without any secondary ducts; other characters variable......................................... 20

20) Copulatory ducts narrowed and curved closely above spermathecae, extending laterally towards tapered tip; anterior hood close copulatoryducts; posteriorpocketslocatedcentrallyastwoverticalsclerites ( Figs 28 , 151, 152 ) ......... M. plana sp. nov.

- Copulatory ducts rounded at tip, or bulbous, but if tapered then thickened at base ( M. lata ) ( Figs 113, 114 , 143, 144 , 155, 156 , 159, 160 ). .......................................................................................... 21

21) Anteriorhoods widelyseparated ( Figs 113 , 117 , 155 ). ....................................................... 23

- Anteriorhoodsclosetoeachother, separatedbynomorethanhalfthelengthofonesection ( Figs 143 , 157 ) ............ 22

22) Copulatory ducts bifurcated and closely bent backwards over itself with apices not extending past interior margin of spermathecae; anteriorhoodalmosttouchingin middle; nodorsalspotsvisibleinholotype ( Figs 24 , 143, 144 )..... M. lata sp. nov.

- Copulatory ducts without any bifurcation and separated from spermathecae; five spots present on abdomen, three medially and 2 (may sometimes fade) anteriorly ( Figs 31 , 157, 158 ) ................................. M. quinquemaculosa sp. nov.

23) Posterior pockets located basal to spermatheca, presenting as elongate laterally expanding structures with inwards curve on outer lateral ends; abdomen dark brown with median white band and white (sometimes dotted) longitudinal stripe from median bandtowardsspinnerets; anteriorhoodscurved ( Figs 11 , 113, 114 )… ...................... M. beaufortia ( Tucker, 1923)

- Anterior hood elongated, curving around copulatory openings; copulatoryducts square-shaped, posterior pockets elongate Lshaped, extending up to copulatory openings; abdomen light brown with two antero-lateral white markings, median white stripe onposteriorhalf intersectingwithmedianwhitetransverse band. ( Figs 30 , 155, 156 ). ............... M. quadrata sp. nov.

24) Anterior hood “wave–like” with middle section procurved and lateral section recurved; copulatory ducts short and thick, with bifurcatingapices ( Figs 15 , 121, 122 ) ..................................................... M. bispicula sp. nov.

- Anteriorhoodentirelyrecurved; copulatoryductselongate ................................................... 25

25) Abdomen with two small white spots anteriorly; black to dark brown in colour; moderately sized atrium, curved anterior hood that is slightly flattened in middle, posterior pockets present centrally on epigyne as two longitudinal sclerites ( Fig. 17 , 125, 126 )............................................................................. M. chrysis ( Simon, 1910)

- Abdomenpatternvariable; anteriorhoodotherwise ......................................................... 26

26) Anteriorhoodstronglycurved ( Figs 133 , 137 ) ............................................................. 27

- Anteriorhood flattened, withonlytipscurvingslightly ( Figs 129 , 161 ). ......................................... 28

27) Atriumlarge; anteriorhoodelongate; spermathecaewiderthanlong ( Figs 21 , 137, 138 ) ............... M. gagnoa sp. nov.

- Atriumnormal; anteriorhoodshort; spermathecaelongerthanwide ( Figs 133, 134 ) .................... M. felix sp. nov.

28) Anteriorhoodbroadandelongate, extendingfarlaterally, closeto spermathecae; brown incolour ( Figs 33 , 161, 162 ). ...... .................................................................................... M. rivonosy sp. nov.

- Anterior hood normal, hardly extending laterally to copulatory openings; tips of anterior hood curved sharply downwards; yellowtolightbrownincolour ( Figs 18 , 129, 130 ) .............................................. M. durbana sp. nov.

Figures

FIGURES 145–150. Genital morphology of Micaria laxa sp. nov. (145, 146), M. mediospina sp. nov. (147, 148) and M. parvotibialis sp. nov. (149, 150): 145, 147, 149 male palp, ventral view; 146, 148, 150 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 157–160. Genital morphology of Micaria quinquemaculosa sp. nov.: 157 female epigyne, ventral view; 158 same, dorsal view; 159 male palp, ventral view; 160 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 165–168. Genital morphology of Micaria scutellata sp. nov. (165, 166) and M. tersissima Simon, 1910 (167, 168): 165, 167 male palp, ventral view; 166, 168 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 109–112. Genital morphology of Micaria basaliducta sp. nov.: 109 female epigyne, ventral view; 110 same, dorsal view; 111 male palp, ventral view; 112 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 117–120. Genital morphology of Micaria bimaculata sp. nov.: 117 female epigyne, ventral view; 118 female epigyne, dorsal view; 119 male palp, ventral view; 120 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 121–124. Genital morphology of Micaria bispicula sp. nov.: 121 female epigyne, ventral view; 122 same, dorsal view; 123 male palp, ventral view; 124 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 161–164. Genital morphology of Micaria rivonosy sp. nov. (161, 162) and M. sanipass sp. nov. (163, 164): 161 female epigyne, ventral view; 162 same, dorsal view; 163 male palp, ventral view; 164 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 113–116. Genital morphology of Micaria beaufortia (Tucker, 1923): 113 female epigyne, ventral view; 114 same, dorsal view; 115 male palp, ventral view; 116 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 27–36. Stereomicroscope photographs of the dorsal habitus of Afrotropical Micaria species: 27 M. parvotibialis sp. nov. male; 28 M. plana sp. nov. female and 29 male; 30 M. quadrata sp. nov. female; 31 M. quinquemaculosa sp. nov. female and 32 male; 33 M. rivonosy sp. nov. female; 34 M. sanipass sp. nov. male; 35 M. scutellata sp. nov. male; 36 M. tersissima Simon, 1910 male. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 18–26. Stereomicroscope photographs of the dorsal habitus of Afrotropical Micaria species: 18 M. durbana sp. nov. female and 19 male; 20 M. felix sp. nov. male; 21 M. gagnoa sp. nov. female and 22 male; 23 M. koingnaas sp. nov. male; 24 M. lata sp. nov. female; 25 M. laxa sp. nov. male; 26 M. mediospina sp. nov. male. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 9–17. Stereomicroscope photographs of the dorsal habitus ofAfrotropical Micaria species: 9 M. basaliducta sp. nov. female and 10 male; 11 M. beaufortia (Tucker, 1923) female and 12 male; 13 M. bimaculata sp. nov. female and 14 male; 15 M. bispicula sp. nov. female and 16 male; 17 M. chrysis (Simon, 1910) female. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 125–128. Genital morphology of Micaria chrysis (Simon, 1910): 125 female epigyne, ventral view; 126 same, dorsal view; 127 male palp, ventral view; 128 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 141–144. Genital morphology of Micaria koingnaas sp. nov. (141, 142) and M. lata sp. nov. (143, 144): 141 male palp, ventral view; 142 same, retrolateral view; 143 female epigyne, ventral view; 144 same, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 151–154. Genital morphology of Micaria plana sp. nov.: 151 female epigyne, ventral view; 152 same, dorsal view; 153 male palp, ventral view; 154 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 133–136. Genital morphology of Micaria felix sp. nov.: 133 female epigyne, ventral view; 134 same, dorsal view; 135 male palp, ventral view; 136 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 129–132. Genital morphology of Micaria durbana sp. nov.: 129 female epigyne, ventral view; 130 same, dorsal view; 131 male palp, ventral view; 132 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 137–140. Genital morphology of Micaria gagnoa sp. nov.: 137 female epigyne, ventral view; 138 same, dorsal view; 139 male palp, ventral view; 140 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 155–156. Genital morphology of Micaria quadrata sp. nov.: 155 female epigyne, ventral view; 156 same, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.