Hexophthalma goanikontesensis, Lotz, 2018

Lotz, Leon N., 2018, An update on the spider genus Hexophthalma (Araneae: Sicariidae) in the Afrotropical region, with descriptions of new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 424, pp. 1-18 : 5-6

Hexophthalma goanikontesensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:EA012B80-652F-43DF-B071-33618A497072

Figs 2–4 , 18 , 24

Diagnosis

Female inner spermathecae consist of sac-like fingers on each side, with a sclerotized reduced outer spermatheca; the number of sac-like spermathecae varies from three to seven between specimens and from side to side ( Figs 2–4 ); may at first glance resemble H. leroyi sp. nov., but with more than two spermathecae sacs, the other sacs hidden behind two top sacs. Male embolus with a thin apical part with small keel at the base and a thicker basal part with a slight hump on one side, similar to that of H. damarensis , but differing by the presence of the small keel and the side hump being apical of median, on the thicker part of the embolus ( Fig. 18 ).

Etymology

The specific name is an adjective derived from the type locality.

Material examined

Holotype

NAMIBIA: ♂, Swakpomund , Namib-Naukluft Park, Goanikontes, 22.68565° S, 14.84964° E, 7 Feb.– 28 Mar. 2009, J. Irish & R. Scholtz leg. ( NMNW 47282 ).

Paratypes

NAMIBIA: 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, same data as for holotype (ex NMNW 47282 ); 1 ♀, Cape Cross [21°46′ S, 13°59′ E], 8 Jul. 1963, A. Els leg. ( NMNW 35066 ); 2 ♀♀, Damaraland, Klein Graias , 2014Cc, 5 Aug. 1985, E. Griffin leg. ( NMNW 41688 ); 1 ♂, 1 imm., Kaokoland, 17°37′ S, 12°12′ E, 14 Oct. 1988, H. Kleinhans leg. ( NMNW 40797 ); 1 ♂, Kaokoland, 15 miles W of Orupembe at park border, 1812Ac, R.E.G. leg. ( NMNW 35964 ); 2 ♀♀, 3 imm., Koichab River, Sceleton coast, 20 miles inland [ca 20°21′ S, 13°33′ E], 8 Nov. 1968, R.F. Lawrence leg. (AMSA); 1 ♀, Rössing Mine, Arandis water , 2214Bd, 7 Jun. 1984, E. Griffin leg. ( NMNW 38930 ); 1 ♂, Rössing Mine, Crusher Dust area , 2215Ca, 19 Mar.–9 Apr. 1984, E. Griffin leg. ( NMNW 37021 ); 1 ♂, Rössing Mine, Panner Gorge , 22°29′ S, 15°01′ E, 9 Apr.– 8 May 1984, E. Griffin leg. ( NMNW 37086 ) ; 1 ♀, same data as for preceding but 11 Mar.–9 Apr. 1985, Irish and Rust leg. ( NMNW 38737 ); 1 ♂, Rössing Mine, Upper Ostrich Gorge , 22°29′ S, 14°59′ E, 9 Apr.–8 May 1984, E. Griffin leg. ( NMNW 37057 ); 1 ♂, same data as for preceding but 5 Apr.–6 May 1985, Irish and Rust leg. ( NMNW 38794 ); 1 ♂, Swakopmund , 22.67° S, 14.52° E, 15 Mar. 2010, G. Ackerman leg. ( PPRI 2010/2540 ) ; 3 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Swakpomund, Namib-Naukluft Park , Goanikontes , 22°43′11.9″ S, 14°49′23.2″ E, 7–28 Feb. 2009, J. Irish & R. Scholtz leg. ( NMNW 47221 , 47233 ) ; 1 ♀, same data as for preceding but 5 Feb. 1929, R.D. Bradfield leg. ( AMSA 6003 ); 1 ♀, Ugab River [21°10′ S, 13°39′ E], 25 Apr. 1987 ( NMNW 40495 ); 1 ♂, Vogelfederberg , 23°06′ S, 14°55′ E, 5 Oct. 1984, E. Griffin leg. ( NMNW 42837 ).

Note

Hexophthalma goanikontesensis sp. nov. appears to be the same species as H. sp. 2 in Magalhaes et al. (2017), judging from the figures in their publication (figs 20C–D, 21C–D).

Description

Female (n =7)

TL= 10.26 (8.8–12.4); CL=4.80 (3.7–6.0); CW=4.76 (3.8–5.6); CLL= 0.59 (0.5–0.8). AME-LE= 0.6; eye diameter =0.2. Carapace reddish-brown, cephalic area slightly darker; abdomen and legs yellowbrown. Body and legs with lancet-like curved macrosetae, more strongly curved on body than on legs. Inner spermathecae consist of sac-like fingers on each side, with a sclerotized reduced outer spermatheca;

the number of sac-like inner spermathecae varies from three to seven sacs among specimens and from side to side ( Figs 2–4 ).

Leg measurements:

Male (n=10)

TL= 9.01 (8.0–9.8); CL=4.65 (4.1–5.2); CW =4.62 (4.2–5.1); CLL=0.61 (0.60–0.65). AME-LE =0.55; eye diameter=0.2. Colour and spination as in female. Embolus with a thin apical part with small keel at the base and a thicker basal part with a slight hump on one side, apical of median on the thicker part of the embolus ( Fig. 17 ).

Leg measurements:

Natural history

Hexophthalma goanikontesensis sp. nov. have been collected in desert areas, by pit traps and by hand from under rocks.

Distribution

Hexophthalma goanikontesensis sp. nov. is known from the northern coastal areas in Namibia ( Fig. 24 ).

Figures

Figs 1–8. Female internal genitalia. 1. Hexophthalma binfordae sp. nov. 2–4. H. goanikontesensis sp. nov. 5. H. leroyi sp. nov. 6–8. H. albospinosa (Purcell, 1908). Scale bar =1 mm.

Figs 17–23. 17–22. Male palps (right side prolateral). 17. Hexophthalma albospinosa (Purcell, 1908). 18. H. goanikontesensis sp. nov. 19. H. damarensis (Lawrence, 1928). 20. H. dolichocephala (Lawrence, 1928). 21. H. hahni (Karsch, 1878). 22. H. spatulata (Pocock, 1900). 23. H. spatulata, enlarged femoral seta (not to scale). Scale bars=1 mm.

Figs 24–25. Distribution maps for species of Hexophthalma Karsch, 1879. 24. H. goanikontesensis sp. nov., H. binfordae sp. nov. and H. leroyi sp. nov. 25. H. albospinosa (Purcell, 1908, H. damarensis (Lawrence, 1928), H. dolichocephala (Lawrence, 1928) and H. spatulata (Pocock, 1900).