Chumma tsitsikamma sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: A9071899-EE0D-4AF2-B73A-F3039827CE96

Figs 10 A–C, 11A–E, 12

Diagnosis

Males of C. tsitsikamma sp. nov. are recognized by the dorsal bifid RTA with a sharp spur pointing up and backward, and by the solid embolus pointing down.

Etymology

The specific epithet is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

Material examined

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA: ♂, Eastern Cape Province, Tsitsikamma National Park, 34°00.742′ S, 23°52.282′ E, high moisture coastal forest, 24 Dec. 2011, J.A. Neethling and C. Luwes leg. (NCA 2012/4034).

Paratypes

SOUTH AFRICA: 3 ♂♂, same collecting data as for holotype (NCA 2015/4659).

Description

Male

BODY MEASUREMENTS. TL 2.57, CL 1.10, CW 1.00, CH 0.50.

CARAPACE. Pale yellow with slightly darker striae and cephalic area; chelicerae, legs and sternum pale yellow (Fig. 11 A–B).

ABDOMEN. With pale brown scutum, strongly narrowed in front; anterior third with supple setae, the frontal rows with sockets in front of pale circle; scutum with four impressed apodemes and two dorsal and two lateral depressions; sides and venter white, with two rows of apodemes.

EYES. AME: 0.20; ALE: 0.33; AME–AME: 0.07; AME–ALE: 0.03; PME: 0.30; PLE: 0.33; PME–PME: 0.17; PME–PLE: 0.07. Clypeus 0.27 or 0.82 times width of ALE.

STERNUM. Length 1.83, width 1.77, almost as long as wide.

LEGS. Anterior pairs of tarsi fusiform.

LEG MEASUREMENTS.

PALP (Figs 10 A–C, 11C–E). Tibia with two apophyses: dorsal one flat, truncated, at its base with sharp spur pointing up and backward; ventral one robust, short with concave ventral side; tegulum with short retrolateral and ventral protrusions; embolus solid, twisted, sharp prong, pointing ventrad.

Female

Unknown.

Note

It is not impossible that the females here described as C. bicolor sp. nov. belong to the same species. The difference in habitus and mainly the absence of black patches in C. tsitsikamma sp. nov. made us decide to keep them apart.

Distribution

Known from the Tsitsikamma National Park in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa (Fig. 12).