Pseudomicrommata Järvi, 1914

Moradmand, Majid, 2015, Revision of the grass huntsman spider genus Pseudomicrommata Järvi, 1914 (Araneae: Sparassidae) in the Afrotropical Region, African Invertebrates 56 (2), pp. 425-425 : 427-429

Genus Pseudomicrommata Järvi, 1914

Micrommata Latreille, 1804 [in part]: BÖsenberg & Lenz 1895: 34, pl. 1, fig. 11; Simon 1897 a: 490; Simon 1897 b: 65, fig. 54; Lawrence 1927: 43, fig. 30; Lessert 1936: 271, figs 68–69 (misidentification). Pseudomicrommata JÄrvi, 1914: 49 , 162, pl. 3, figs 4–6, 40; Lawrence 1942: 168; Levy 1989: 163; JÄger & Kunz 2005: 168, figs 255–258, 262–267.

Type species: Pseudomicrommata longipes ( Bösenberg & Lenz, 1895) , subsequent designation of genus by Järvi (1914) using the material of Simon, 1897 b sub Micrommata vittigerum (junior synonym of P. longipes ).

Extended and comparative diagnosis: Pseudomicrommata (and Arandisa ) are distinguishable from other Sparassidae genera by a distinct pair of epigynal pockets (EP) in females, while the median septum (MS) is clearly visible throughout the epigynal field (EF) between the EP (e.g. Figs 8 , 28 , 33 ) (pocket-like structures present in the Asian genera Sinopoda Jäger, 1999 and Bhutaniella Jäger, 2000 too, but in a different morphology: MS, if present, is not extended into the anterior half of the EF). In males, Pseudomicrommata (and Arandisa ) have an enlarged embolic apophysis (EA) originating from the median point of the embolus. The presence of a median dark stripe running the length of the dorsum ( Fig. 1 ) clearly distinguishes Pseudomicrommata from its closest relative, Arandisa . Additionally, in Pseudomicrommata spp. the anterior lateral eyes (ALE) are usually the largest, while in Arandisa spp. the posterior lateral eyes (PLE) are distinctly the largest eyes. Moreover, Pseudomicrommata is diagnosable from Eusparassus by the presence of three pairs of ventral tibial spines on legs I–IV (two pairs in Eusparassus ).

Redescription: Small to medium-sized Sparassidae ; prosoma slightly longer than wide; opisthosoma elongated; leg formula IV II I III or IV II III I; two rows of eyes, with anterior row recurved and posterior row procurved, AME smallest, remaining eyes subequal ( Fig. 6 ); chelicerae with two anterior and three to four posterior teeth, posterior row with first two larger and one or two smaller teeth, cheliceral furrow without denticles ( Fig. 7 ); cheliceral basal segment (paturon) with single bristle at distal retromarginal end close to fang base ( Fig. 19 ); male palp with embolus and tegulum forming “U”; EA well developed, embolus membrane (EM) present, conductor small and hyaline ( Figs 3–5 ); tegulum with small projection at its transition part to embolus ( Fig. 15 ); subtegulum not clearly visible; dorsal (dRTA) and ventral retrolateral tibial apophysis (vRTA) well developed, nearly the same length ( Figs 3 , 15 , 23 ); female epigyne with epigynal EF longer than wide ( Fig. 8 ) or as long as wide ( Fig. 28 ); anterior bands of epigynal field (AB) mostly not ( Fig. 20 ) or weakly developed ( Fig. 11 ); median septum visible alongside epigynal field (e.g. Figs 8 , 33 ); copulatory ducts (CD) elongated, a pair of parallel simple ducts comprising more than half of entire vulva; vulva in posterior half continuing with two turning loops, termed here first and second (f-, sTL), glandular pores present mostly on fTL ( Figs 9, 10 ) or additionally on sTL ( Figs 29, 30 ).

Coloration (live): Body background is pale grey or greenish-brown, with prosoma and opisthosoma decorated mid-dorsally with a reddish-brown stripe; additional longitudinal stripes present on the legs ( Fig. 1 ).

Natural history and habitat preferences: Females construct a papery egg sac attached to grass leaves (one female specimen from NCA). The species were recorded mostly from savannah grasslands ( Fig. 2 ), but also occur in bushes, small trees and leaf litter (male specimens in Guinea) .

Distribution:Widely distributed in tropical Africa, including Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa.

Species included: Pseudomicrommata longipes ( Bösenberg & Lenz, 1895) , P. vittigera ( Simon, 1897) stat. rev., P. mary sp. n. and P. schoemanae sp. n.

Figures

Figs8–10.Pseudomicrommata longipes (Bösenberg &Lenz, 1895),female,Tanzania(MRAC):(8) epigyne, ventral view; (9) vulva, dorsal view; (10) left vulva, anterio-dorso-lateral view.Abbreviations:AMP – anterior margin of epigynal pocket; CD – copulatory duct;CO – copulatoryopening; EF – epigynal field; EP – epigynal pocket; FD – fertilization duct; fTL – first turning loop; GPO – glandular pores; LL – lateral lobes; MS – median septum; PMP – posterior margin of epigynal pocket; SS – slit sensillum; sTL – second turning loop.

Figs 28–30. Pseudomicrommata mary sp. n., female paratype, Mt Nimba, Guinea (MRAC): (28) epigyne, ventral view; (29) vulva, dorsal view; (30) left vulva, anterio-dorso-lateral view.

Figs 33–37. Pseudomicrommata schoemanae sp. n., female holotype, Bossoum, Cameroon (ZMB): (33) epigyne, ventral view; (34) vulva, dorsal view; (35) left vulva, anterio-dorso-lateral view; (36) eye arrangement; (37) left chelicera, ventral view.

Figs 1–2. (1) Habitus of Pseudomicrommata longipes (Bösenberg & Lenz, 1895) from Ellisras, South Africa; (2) grasslands, the common habitat of Pseudomicrommata spp., in Ellisras, South Africa. Photos by Peter Webb.

Figs 3–7.Pseudomicrommata longipes (Bösenberg & Lenz,1895),male,Tanzania (MRAC):(3–5) left palp: (3) ventral view,(4) retrolateralview and (5) tipof embolus,embolic apophysisand conductor,ventral view; (6) eye arrangement; (7) left chelicera, ventral view. Abbreviations: C – conductor; dRTA – dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis;E – embolus; EA – embolic apophysis; EM – embolus membrane; ET – embolus tip; H – haematodocha; T – tegulum; vRTA – ventral retrolateral tibial apophysis.

Figs 15–19. Pseudomicrommata vittigera (Simon, 1897), male, Pafuri, South Africa (NCA): (15–17) left palp: (15) ventral view, (16) retrolateral view and (17) tip of embolus, embolic apophysis and conductor, ventral view; (18) eye arrangement; (19) left chelicera, ventral view.

Figs 23–27. Pseudomicrommata mary sp. n., male holotype, Mt Nimba, Guinea (SMF): (23–25) left palp, (23) ventral view, (24) retrolateral view and (25) tip of embolus, embolic apophysis and conductor, ventral view; (26) eye arrangement; (27) left chelicera, ventral view.

Figs20–22.Pseudomicrommata vittigera (Simon,1897),female syntype,Transvaal,SouthAfrica (MNHN): (20) epigyne, ventral view; (21) vulva, dorsal view; (22) left vulva, anterio-dorso-lateral view.

Figs 11–14. Pseudomicrommata longipes (Bösenberg & Lenz, 1895), (11–13) female, Barberspan, South Africa (NCA) and (14) male, Brandfort, SouthAfrica (SMF):(11) epigyne, ventral view; (12) vulva, dorsal view; (13) schematic course of internal ductsystem;(14) tipof embolus,embolic apophysis and conductor,ventral view.Abbreviation:AB – anterior bandsof epigynal field;for others see Figs 8–10.