Drassodella guttata sp. nov.

Figs 6, 18–21, 23–31, 34–39, 41, 43, 44, 46, 48–52, 55–59, 61, 79, 95, 96, 116–120

Etymology. The name is derived from the Latin guttatus, meaning spotted, referring to the white dorsolateral spots on the abdomen.

Diagnosis. Females of D. guttata sp. nov. are most similar to those of D. transversa sp. nov., but can be distinguished by the almost parallel-sided anterior hood with a slightly concave posterior margin, rather than almost semicircular anterior hood with a straight posterior margin, and by the larger separation of the posterior margin of the anterior hood and the anterior margin of ST II (compare Figs 61 and 68). Males of D. guttata sp. nov. are most similar to those of D. melana, but can be distinguished by the presence of white spots on the abdomen (absent in D. melana), the subtriangular rather than spatulate shape of the ventral prong in prolateral view (compare Figs 118 and 128), and the RTA broad basally and tapering to a point distally in retrolateral view, as opposed to being more slender with a slightly curved tip in D. melana (compare Figs 120 and 130).

Description. Female (Holotype, Platberg Nature Reserve, NCA 2015/2298). Measurements: CL 2.56, CW 1.84, AL 2.96, AW 1.76, TL 6.32 (5.94–6.36), FL 0.44, SL 1.44, SW 1.16, CH 0.08, AME-AME 0.07, AME-ALE 0.02, ALE-ALE 0.24, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.14, PLE-PLE 0.49, PERW 0.62, MOQAW 0.17, MOQPW 0.24, MOQL 0.27.

Length of leg segments: I 1.72 + 0.80 + 1.26 + 1.10 + 0.90 = 5.78, II 1.52 + 0.78 + 1.12 + 1.06 + 0.82 = 5.30, III 1.34 + 0.68 + 0.96 + 1.26 + 0.80 = 5.04, IV 1.88 + 0.88 + 1.60 + 2.12 + 0.96 = 7.44.

General appearance as in Fig. 95. Carapace black, with radiating black mottling; line of white feathery setae from cephalic region, more concentrated medially to fovea, diverging behind fovea forming upsilon marking, merging with lateral white line; lateral white line of feathery setae extends from leg I to bend of posterior margin. Clypeus height equal to AME diameter; AME smaller than ALE; AME separated by distance equal to 0.88 their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.25 AME diameter; PME smaller than PLE; PME separated by distance equal to 1.25 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1.75 PME diameter. Chelicerae dark brown anteriorly, brown posteriorly; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest, more closely spaced to distal tooth than to proximal tooth, distal tooth smallest; retromargin with two teeth, proximal tooth larger than distal tooth. Endites orange medially, pale at promarginal maxillar hair tuft, dark brown at margins. Labium orange, pale at anterior margin, brown medially and posteriorly, anterior margin straight. Sternum orange, with evenly scattered setae. Legs with dense black mottling, proximal segments orange, distal segments light orange. Leg spination: femora I do 2, II do 2, III do 2, IV pl 1 do 2 rl 1; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I spineless, II vt 1, III pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 2 vt 1, IV pl 1 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 1; metatarsi: I & II spineless, III pl 4 do 1 rl 4 plv 3 rlv 2 vt 1, IV pl 3 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; palpal spination: femora do 4; patellae rl 1; tibiae do 1 rl 3; tarsi pl 1 do 1 rl 3. Abdomen black, dorsum with four white spots with dense white feathery setae (Fig. 95); venter light brown; two lateral sclerites close to booklungs. Spinnerets light brown. Epigyne with deep anterior hood, anterior margin slightly convex, posterior margin slightly undulating and slightly concave, lateral ends tapering abruptly; lateral hoods cup-shaped, near copulatory openings; ST II dark yellow-brown, connecting ducts and ST I dark brown; ST I and II similar in size, ST II with oval head (Figs 61, 116, 117).

Male (Paratype, Platberg Nature Reserve, NCA 2015/2298). Measurements: CL 2.02, CW 1.58, AL 2.08, AW 1.20, TL 4.32 (4.28–4.48), FL 0.33, SL 1.12, SW 0.94, CH 0.08, AME-AME 0.06, AME-ALE 0.02, ALE- ALE 0.19, PME-PME 0.07, PME-PLE 0.11, PLE-PLE 0.40, PERW 0.48, MOQAW 0.36, MOQPW 0.19, MOQL 0.24.

Length of leg segments: I 1.44 + 0.64 + 1.12 + 0.98 + 0.84 = 5.02, II 1.34 + 0.62 + 0.96 + 1.00 + 0.80 = 4.72, III 1.52 + 0.76 + 1.10 + 1.48 + 0.92 = 5.78, IV 1.84 + 0.76 + 1.40 + 1.96 + 0.90 = 6.86.

General appearance as in Fig. 96. Carapace black, with radiating mottling; surface with long slender and feathery setae, upsilon-shaped broad faint median white line from PME to posterior margin above leg IV; thinner on slope, with erect setae. Clypeus height slightly larger than AME diameter; AME smaller than ALE; AME separated by distance equal to their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.33 AME diameter; PME and PLE equal in size; PME separated by distance slightly larger than their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1.83 PME diameter. Chelicerae dark-brown; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest; retromargin with two teeth. Endites pale yellow anteriorly, pale at maxillar hair tuft, brown medially, with black line along margin; few setae across surface. Labium brown, longer than wide. Sternum reddish brown; setae concentrated along edges, smooth medially. Legs dark-brown proximally, orange ventrally and distally. Leg spination: femora: I do 1, II do 2, III do 5, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 3, IV pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 1 rlv 2 vt 1; metatarsi: I & II spineless, III pl 4 rl 4 plv 3 rlv 3, IV pl 3 do 2 rl 3 plv 3 rlv 4; palpal spination: femur: do 3; patella, tibia and tarsus spineless. Abdomen black; dorsum with six white spots composed of feathery setae, three on each side, two lateral white spots composed of feathery setae (Fig. 96); single white spot of feathery setae above spinnerets; venter lighter; ante- and post-epigastric sclerites small. Spinnerets pale. Palp orange; tibia and RTA short, largely obscured in ventral view by retrolateral heel of cymbium; in retrolateral view triangular, with broad base and sharp tip; cymbium broad, 1.73 times longer than wide, distal end broadly rounded; ventral embolic prong much larger than dorsal prong in prolateral view, dorsal prong aligned with palpal axis in ventral view; median apophysis narrow, hook-shaped (Figs 79, 118–120).

Type material. Holotype ♀: SOUTH AFRICA: Free State Province: Harrismith, Platberg Nature Reserve, Bottom of Donkey Pass, 28°16.842'S, 29°12.024'E, 2040 m a.s.l., 13.XI.2015 – 24.I.2016, leg. C. Haddad, D. Fourie & Z. Mbo (pitfall traps, alpine grassland) (NCA 2015 /2298).

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Together with holotype, 2♂ 4♀ (NCA 2015 /2298); Same locality, 28°16.839'S, 29°12.062'E, 26. XII .2005, leg. C. Haddad (under rocks, mountainside), 1♂ (NCA 2016 /2818) .

Distribution. Only known from the type locality (Fig. 125).