Sitamacho tao, Wood & Kulkarni & Ramírez & Scharff, 2024

Wood, Hannah M., Kulkarni, Siddharth, Ramírez, Martín J. & Scharff, Nikolaj, 2024, Phylogeny and biogeography support ancient vicariance and subsequent dispersal out of Africa in Palpimanidae spiders (Araneae), Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (2) : -

Sitamacho tao sp. nov.

( Figs 6, 7D)

Type: Male holotype ( CASENT9053359 ) and paratypes (10 males, 8 females, and 9 juveniles; CASENT9070078 ): Tanzania, Tanga, W. Usambara Mountains, Mazumbai ; 4°49 ʹ S, 38°30 ʹ E, 1400–1800 m, forest, sissing liưer, 11–20 November 1995; collected by C. E. Griswold, N. Scharff, and D. Ubick. Deposited in CAS .

Etomology: Ŋe specific name is Swahili for ‘arc’, for the Eastern Arc Mountains where this species occurs; used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis: Ŋis species is diagnosed by the unique shape of the median apophysis in the male pedipalpal bulb, which is broad and serrated at the distal edge, and by the shape of the female genitalia, with a single bursa and a sclerotized plate that projects dorsad.

Description of holotype male: Total length 1.88, carapace 0.87 long, carapace 0.69 wide, and sternum 0.54 long. Carapace, chelicerae, and sternum reddish brown. Abdomen 0.73 long. Abdomen pale yellowish white. Femur I 0.67, patella I 0.44, tibia I 0.42, metatarsus I 0.21, and tarsus 0.30. Legs all light reddish brown. Eye diameters: AME 0.072 and PLE 0.046. Pedipalpal bulb with embolus narrow and wiry, conductor curved and broad, median apophysis broad in shape, with serrated edge.

Description of female paratype (CASENT9070078): Total length 2.63, carapace 1.09 long, carapace 0.85 wide, and sternum 0.62 long. Abdomen 1.44 long. Femur I 0.88, patella I 0.60, tibia I 0.52, metatarsus 0.23, and tarsus 0.34. Coloration same as male. Eye diameters: AME 0.074 and PLE 0.044. Female genitalia with a single bursa, with approximately five membranous sacs on long stalks originating on each lateral side of bursa, with a dorsally projecting sclerotized plate.

Variation: Males (N = 5): total length 1.73–1.98, carapace length 0.79–0.97, femur I length 0.58–0.70, and ratio of AME:PLE 1.69–2.09. Females (N = 5): total length 2.07–2.69, carapace length 0.91–1.19, femur I length 0.73–0.83, and ratio of AME:PLE 1.44–1.83.

Distribution: Known only from the type locality in the West Usambara Mountains in Tanzania.

Other material: All from same locality as holotype and paratypes ; one male, three juveniles, same locality as holotype except 1400–1600 m, 11–19 November 1995, pitfall traps, CASENT9070076 ; four males, one female, same locality as holotype except 4°49 ʹ S, 38°29.5 ʹ E, 1800–1900 m, 12–20 November 1995, pitfall traps, CASENT9070077 ; one male, three females, one juvenile, same locality as holotype except 4°49 ʹ S, 38°29.5 ʹ E, 1800–1900 m, 12–20 November 1995, sissing liưer, CASENT9070080 .