Mystaria savannensis, Honiball Lewis & Dippenaar-Schoeman, 2014

Honiball Lewis, Allet S. & Dippenaar-Schoeman, Ansie S., 2014, Revision of the spider genus Mystaria Simon, 1895 (Araneae: Thomisidae) and the description of a new genus from the Afrotropical region, Zootaxa 3873 (2), pp. 101-144 : 127-130

Mystaria savannensis sp. n.

Figs 3 , 33–35 , 75–78 , 99–102 , 124

Type material: Holotype: ♀, ZAMBIA: Southern Province, near Choma Wildlives Game Farm [16°50’S, 26°59’E], beating short shrubs, 4 December 2006, C. Haddad & R. Lyle (NCA 2007/530).

Paratypes: BOTSWANA: North-East District, 3 ♀, 1 juvenile Selkirk Mine , near Francistown [21°10’S, 27°30’E], 29 February–May 2008, D.H. Jacobs & M. Stiller (NCA 2009/5033, 2009/5034, 2009/5035) . SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng Province, 1 ♀, Hartbeespoortdam [25°43’S, 27°50’E], 10 March 1966, A. Capener (NCA 78/ 33) . KwaZulu-Natal Province, 1 ♀, Ubombo [27°33’S, 32°05’E], 16km N, 4 April 1958, E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech (CAS) ; 1♀, Mkuze Game Reserve [27°39’S, 32°10’E], alt 30 m, 13 June 1985, C.E. Griswold (NM) ; 2 ♀, 2 ♂, 4 juveniles Ophathe Game Reserve , river bed [28°29’S, 31°27’E], alt 455 m beating short shrubs, 2 October 2008, C. Haddad (NCA 2008/4179, 2008/4175) . Limpopo Province, 5 ♂, Blouberg Nature Reserve [23°06’S, 28°59’E], beating Sclerocarya birrea , 29 November 2005 – 26 March 2006, P. Tshivhandekano, V. Gelebe, M. Muelelwa & F. Mbedzi (NCA 2009/4617, 2009/4621, 2009/4622, 2009/4623) ; 2 ♀, 8 ♂, same locality, sweeping Spirostachys africana , 26 March 2006, S. Foord & N Hahn (NCA 2009/4618, 2009/4619, 2009/4620, 2009/4624, 2009/5024) ; 4 ♂, same locality, sweeping Kirkia acuminate , 24 March 2006, S. Foord (NCA 2009/5025) ; 1 ♂, Klasserie, Bokmakierie Game Farm [24°34’S, 31°12’E], open grass lands, 8 April 2001, R. Jocqué (MRAC 210095) ; 4 ♂, 4 ♀, 1 sub-adult ♂, Wallers Camp, near Pafuri [22°25’S, 31°02’E], alt 261 m, canopy fogging, 16 February 2008, R. Jocqué and team (NCA 2009/5039) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Kruger National Park, Punda Maria Camp [22°40’S, 31°01’E], Shipudze on road to Dunyadgiba , 2 May 1962, R.F. Lawrence (NM 23346) ; 2 ♂, Strydomtunnel [22°23’S, 30°00’E], tree beating, 22 February 1978, E.A. Ueckermann (NCA 88/592) ; 11 ♀, 30 ♂, 7 juvenile ♀, Tshulu Research Reserve [22°34’S, 30°48’E], alt 38 m, canopy fogging, 18 February 2008. R. Jocqué and team (NCA 2009/5040, 2009/5041, 2009/5042, 2009/5043, 2009/5044, 2009/5843, 2009/5844) ; 1 ♀, 2 ♂, Western Soutpansberg, Farm Little Leigh [23°05’S, 29°00’E], alt 108 m, beating Kirkia wilmsii , 24 November 2005 – 21 March 2006, F. Maanda (NCA 2009/4625, 2009/5027, 2009/5029) ; 1 ♀, same locality beating Pterocarpus rotundifolius , 22 March 2006, M. Muelelwa (NCA 2009/5026) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same locality, beating gallery forest, 22 December 2005 – 19 March 2006, E. Stam (NCA 2009/5028, 2009/5031) ; 1 ♀, same locality, beating Burkea africana , 23 February 2005, S. Foord (NCA 2009/5030) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Wolkberg, Haenertsburg [23°57’S, 29°56’E], sweeping shrubs, 15 July 1993, A. Leroy (NCA 2004/522) . Mpumalanga Province, 2 ♀, Loskopdam, Farm Ranch 2D [25°26’S, 29°20’E], bush beating, 27 February 1994, A. Leroy (NCA 2004/524, 2009/5032) ; 1 ♀, Kruger National Park, Letaba Camp [23°51’S, 31°35’E], 19 February 1962, R.F. Lawrence (NM) ; 1 juvenile ♀, Bourke’s Luck [24°50’S, 30°46’E], sifting leaf litter, 29 March 1991, M. Filmer (NCA 92/144) . ZIMBABWE: Masvingo Province, 1♀, Malilangwe Estate, Hakamela Camp [21°05’S, 32°00’E], active search on the ground, 26 March 2000, M. Cumming (NCA 2004/1424) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, same locality, SE low veld, sweeping dense grassland, 25 March 2004, M. Cumming (NCA 2004/1423) .

Etymology. Named after the Savanna Biome, which signifies a favourable habitat of most individuals of the species. Adjective.

Diagnosis. Both sexes differ from any other species by the presence of a dark longitudinal stripe present on all legs, which extends from tibia or patella until tarsi ( Fig. 34 ). Epigyne with atrium long-oval, teardrop-shaped, differ from other species by having the longest and largest atrium; intromittent orifices open antero-laterally ( Fig. 77 ). Bulb large with RTA very broad base, differ from other species by a leaf-shaped RTA base, slender tip directed anteriorly ( Figs 75, 76 ).

Description. Female. Size, measurements. (n = 9). TL: 3.76 (3.15–5.08); CL: 1.38 (1.20–1.65); CW: 1.33 (1.20–1.53); CI: 1.03 (0.93–1.11); CH: 0.93 (0.84–1.10); CLL: 0.26 (0.21–0.33); MOQ-L: 0.29 (0.27–0.33). Colour. Carapace orange-red or dark brown with a yellow or orange patch on clypeus, may have dark patches over lateral eyes or with a black eye spot on PME ( Fig. 33 ); abdomen pale, may be decorated dorsally as follows: longitudinal band centrally, broader anteriorly than posteriorly extending laterally, or with only dark areas on lateral sides; ventrally pale with striae dark blue to black, white in between; legs I–IV femora may have infuscated bands dorso-ventrally. Carapace. Smooth to slightly granular. Chelicerae. As in Fig. 3 . Sternum. SL: 0.56; SW: 0.61; SI: 0.92. Eye s. Eye measurements: AME–AME: 0.27; ALE–AME: 0.38; AME–AME/AME–ALE: 0.70; PME–PME: 0.45; PLE–PME: 0.35; PME–PME/PME-PLE: 1.29; ALE/AME: 1.43; PLE/PME: 0.77; MOQ-AW/ MOQ-PW: 0.59; MOQ-L/MOQ-W: 0.49; Clyp/AME–AME: 0.98. Legs. Covered with fine short setae on all segments, femora I–IV with two medium spiniform setae dorsally; tibiae with two short spiniform setae dorsally; tarsal claws as in Figs 99–102 ; leg formula: I:II:IV:III; leg measurements: leg I—Fe 0.89, Pat 0.36, Tib 0.75, Mt 0.62, Ta 0.43, total 3.05; II—Fe 0.93, Pat 0.36, Tib 0.69, Mt 0.62, Ta 0.42, total 3.03; III—Fe 0.68, Pat 0.30, Tib 0.47, Mt 0.42, Ta 0.31, total 2.19; IV—Fe 0.84, Pat 0.29, Tib 0.58, Mt 0.53, Ta 0.35, total 2.61. Abdomen. AL: 2.38; AW: 2.27; AI: 1.05. Epigyne. With flap posteriorly ( Fig. 77 ); intromittent canals antero-laterally extended ( Fig. 78 ).

Male. Size, measurements. (n = 9). TL: 2.74 (2.50–3.27); CL: 1.17 (1.06–1.32); CW: 1.10 (0.98–1.34); CI: 1.07 (1.02–1.15); CH: 0.74 (0.66–0.85); CLL: 0.27 (0.24–0.31); MOQ-L: 0.27 (0.25–0.31). Resemble female but differ as follows: Colour. Carapace dark or pale copper-brown; abdomen dorsally dark orange or black, with narrow whitish border anteriorly, may have an orange-brown pattern or with spots posteriorly ( Fig. 35 ); legs reddish-brown or orange, yellow or pale-green, femora I–II with infuscated bands, tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi IV darker brown. Sternum. SL: 0.46 SW: 0.52 SI: 0.90. Eyes. MOQ big, long wide; eye measurements: AME–AME: 0.24; ALE–AME: 0.31; AME–AME/AME–ALE: 0.76; PME–PME: 0.37; PLE–PME: 0.29; PME–PME/ PME–PLE: 1.29; ALE/AME: 1.33; PLE/PME: 0.78; MOQ-AW/MOQ-PW: 0.63; MOQ-L/MOQ-W: 0.43; Clyp/ AME–AME: 1.16. Legs. Patellae may have medium spiniform setae; tibiae III–IV with medium spiniform setae dorsally and ventrally; leg formula: I:II:IV:III; leg measurements: leg I—Fe 0.91, Pat 0.28, Tib 0.81, Mt 0.70, Ta 0.49, total 3.17; II—Fe 0.86, Pat 0.26, Tib 0.75, Mt 0.62, Ta 0.42, total 2.91; III—Fe 0.61, Pat 0.24, Tib 0.49, Mt 0.40, Ta 0.30, total 2.04; IV—Fe 0.68, Pat 0.23, Tib 0.53, Mt 0.49, Ta 0.33, total 2.27. Abdomen. AL: 1.57; AW: 1.47; AI: 1.06. Palp. RTA widened at base ( Fig. 75 ); VTA fairly long, almost equal in length to RTA ( Fig. 76 ).

Natural history. Specimens have been collected mostly from trees or sometimes shrubs by means of sweeping, beating or fogging. Other methods include active searching on the ground and leaf litter sifting. Individuals have been observed (pers. comm.) to be frequently hanging on their own silk thread when disturbed from a branch or twig. Some individuals occur in mountainous areas, but seem to be more prevalent in the savanna biome in southern Africa. Individuals prefer living on a variety of indigenous tree species such as Sclerocarya birrea , Spirostachys africana , Kirkia acuminate , K. wilmsii and Pterocarpus rotundifolius . Adults occur from October until July, while juveniles occur from October until February.

Distribution. Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe ( Fig. 124 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1–5. SEM photographs of chelicerae of Mystaria species. 1 M. rufolimbata Simon, 1895 from Democratic Republic of Congo, Walikale; 2 M. flavogutatta (Lawrence, 1952) comb. n. from South Africa, Richards Bay; 3 M. savannensis sp. n. from South Africa, Kruger National Park, Letaba Camp; 4 M. soleil sp. n. from Kenya, Kakamega; 5 M. budongo sp. n. from Kakamega. Scale lines = 100 µm (1,4,5), 10 µm (2,3).

FIGURES 25–42. Microscope photographs of dorsal and lateral views of Mystaria species. 25 Mystaria mnyama sp. n. male from Tembe Elephant Park (dorsal view); 26–28 Mystaria occidentalis (Millot, 1942) comb. n. (26, 27 female from Democratic Republic of Congo, Kaisola antero-and latero-dorsal views, 28 male from Rwanda, Butare dorsal view); 29–30 Mystaria oreadae sp. n. female from Rwanda, Rwankuba antero-and latero-dorsal views; 31–32 Mystaria rufolimbata Simon, 1895 (31 female from Democratic Republic of Congo, Walikale dorsal view, 32 male from Gabon, Kinguélé dorsal view); 33–35 Mystaria savannensis sp. n. (33, 34 female from South Africa, Soutpansberg antero-and latero-dorsal views, 35 male from Soutpansberg dorsal view); 36–37 Mystaria soleil sp. n. (36 female from Kenya, Kakamega dorsal view, 37 male from Kakamega dorsal view); 38–39 Mystaria stakesbyi sp. n. (38 female from Ghana, Legon dorsal view; 39 male from Democratic Republic of Congo, Semliki dorsal view). 40–42 Mystaria variabilis (Lessert, 1919) comb. n. (40, 41 female from Democratic Republic of Congo, Kisantu antero-and latero dorsal views, 42 male from Democratic Republic of Congo, Butembo dorsal view).

FIGURES 69–82. Line drawings of copulatory organs in male and female Mystaria species, with ventral- (left) and retrolateral (right) views of male palps and ventral- (left) and dorsal (right) views of female epigynes. 69–70 Mystaria oreadae sp. n. female epigyne; 71–74 Mystaria rufolimbata Simon, 1895 (71, 72 male left palp, 73, 74 female epigyne); 75–78 Mystaria savannensis sp. n. (75, 76 male left palp, 77, 78 female epigyne); 79–82 Mystaria soleil sp. n. (79, 80 male left palp, 81, 82 female epigyne). Scales = 10mm.

FIGURES 91–102. SEM photographs of tarsal claws and tufts on leg I–IV of female Mystaria species. 91–94 M. rufolimbata Simon, 1895 from South Africa, Hellsgate; 95–98 M. oreadae sp. n. from Rwanda, Rwankuba; 99–102 M. savannensis sp. n. from South Africa, Kruger National Park, Letaba Camp. Scale lines = 100 µm (91–94). 10 µm (95–102).

FIGURES 123–126. Recorded geographical distribution of Mystaria species. 123 Mystaria rufolimbata Simon, 1895; 124 Mystaria savannensis sp. n.; 125 Mystaia soleil sp. n.; 126 Mystaria stakesbyi sp. n. Scale lines = 2400 km (123, 126), 1240 km (124, 125).