Carteronius gentilis (Simon, 1909) comb. nov.

Figs 18, 19; Map 1

Procopius gentilis Simon, 1909: 382 (♂ holotype from “ Fernando Poo: Basilé”, leg. L. Fea, MNHN 22.254 —examined).

Note. The male holotype, from Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, is here tentatively associated with a female from continental Africa (Cameroon). Bioko is a continental-shelf island that supports relatively low levels of endemism of angiosperms, bats, birds, reptiles, and amphibians when compared to oceanic islands of the Gulf of Guinea (Príncipe, São Tomé and Annobón) (Jones 2004). This island was separated from mainland Africa by the rise in sea level at the end of the last glacial period, approximately 10 000 years ago (Schabetsberger et al. 2004; PérezPérez & Yu 2021). Both the Bioko and Cameroon specimens share a strikingly similar dorsal abdominal pattern (Fig. 18A, F), as well as similarities in leg spination. Nevertheless, this association must be tested when additional samples come to light. From a strictly nomenclatural point of view, proposing this doubtful association is preferable to making available a possibly unnecessary specific name.

Diagnosis. Males of C. gentilis comb. nov. differ from all other Carteronius species in having a bifid dorsal lobe on the RTA (Fig. 19A, B). Females resemble those of C. myene sp. nov. by the slightly curved transverse ridge (Figs 14A, 19C), but differ by the relatively small posterior sector and the extremely narrow copulatory duct in relation to the spermathecae (Fig. 19C, D).

Description. Male (holotype). Measurements: Total length 8.03, CL 3.82, CW 3.57, AL 3.95, AW 2.80, SL 1.93, SW 1.81. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.32, ALE 0.21, PLE 0.24, PME 0.26, AME-AME 0.21, AME-ALE 0.24, ALE-ALE 1.66, PME-PME 0.85, PME-PLE 0.52, PLE-PLE 2.07. Length of leg segments: I 4.13+ 1.74+4.05+3.10+1.22=14.24; II 4.02+1.70+3.95+3.20+1.26=14.13; III 2.61+1.26+2.18+2.15+1.00=9.20; IV 3.36+ 1.29+2.82+3.12+1.10=11.69. Chelicerae: promargin with three spaced teeth, median tooth largest; retromargin with two spaced teeth, subequal in size. Leg spination: femora: I do 0-1-1 pl 0-1-0, II do 0-1-0, III do 0-1-2, IV do 0-1-2; tibiae: I ve 2-2-2-2-2-2, II ve 1 p -1 r -2-2-2-2, III ve 0-2-2-0, IV ve 0-0-0-1 r; metatarsi: I ve 0-2-2-0, II ve 0-2-2-0, III pl 0-1-1 rl 0-1-1 ve 2-2-1, IV pl 0-1-1 rl 0-1-1 ve 2-2-0. Coloration: carapace and chelicerae dark reddish-brown. Endites, labium and sternum reddish-brown. Legs dark yellow, with femora I and II reddish-brown. Abdomen dorsally with yellowish area anteriorly and five transversal follicular bands in posterior half (Fig. 18A). Palp: RTA with apical spur approximately same size as ventral lobe, medial lobe short and pointed; ventral lobe sub-squared and excavated; sperm duct with long loop, retrolateral apical tegular process present, blunt; embolus long and thin, without projections (Figs 19A, B).

Female (MRAC 162.128). Measurements: Total length 7.92, CL 3.26, CW 2.78, AL 4.62, AW 3.26, SL 1.57, SW 1.60. Eyes diameters and interdistances: AME 0.22, ALE 0.18, PLE 0.19, PME 0.19, AME-AME 0.63, AME-ALE 0.20, ALE-ALE 1.35, PME-PME 0.32, PME-PLE 0.38, PLE-PLE 1.60. Length of leg segments I 3.13+1.33+3.01+2.30+1.10=10.87; II 3.05+1.30+2.90+2.29+1.09=10.63; III 2.23+1.00+1.89+1.73+0.87=7.72; IV 2.74+1.06+2.30+2.40+0.93=9.43. Chelicerae: promargin with three spaced teeth, median tooth largest; retromargin with two teeth, inner tooth larger. Leg spination: femora: I do 0-1-0 pl 0-1-0, II do 0-1-0, III do 0-1-2, IV do 0-1-2; tibiae: I ve 2-2-2-2-2-2, II ve 2-2-2-2-2, III ve 1 p -1 r -2, IV pl 0-1-0-1 rl 0-1-0-1 ve 1 p- 1 p -0-0; metatarsi: I ve 0-2- 2-0, II ve 0-2-2-0, III pl 1-0-0-1 rl 0-0-1 ve 2-2, IV pl 0-1-0-1 rl 0-1-0-1 ve 1 p- 1 p -1 r -1 r. Coloration: carapace and chelicerae dark reddish brown. Endites, labium and sternum orange red. Legs whitish with femora I and II reddish. Abdomen as in male (Fig. 18F). Epigynum: CDv long, straight, narrow; ST2 tappering, anteriorly located, gland ducts conspicuous, smaller than ST1; CDd large, S-shaped (Fig. 19D).

Other material examined: CAMEROON: Mount Cameroun, near Buea, 04°12’N, 09°11’E, 1400 m.a.s.l., II-III.1981, Bosmans & Van Stalle leg. (montane forest with arable fields, V.H.F) , 1♀ (MRAC 162.128) .

Distribution. Recorded from the island of Bioko (Equatorial Guinea) and Cameroon (Map 1).