Pasilobus, Simon, 1895

Roff, John & Haddad, Charles R., 2015, Pasilobus dippenaarae sp. n. (Araneae: Araneidae), a new species of cyrtarachnine spider from South Africa, with a key to the Afrotropical species, African Invertebrates 56 (2), pp. 445-445 : 446-447

Key to the Afrotropical species of Pasilobus (females)

1 Anterior margin of abdomen with two pairs of tubercles, first either side of carapace margins and second laterally, both pairs variable in size.......................................2

– Anterior margin of abdomen with more than five pairs of tubercles, lateral pair largest, others smaller.............................................................................................4

2 Median pair of tubercles distinct, rounded; longitudinal distance from anterior median sigillum to second pair of median sigilla clearly greater than distance between second pair ( Madagascar)........................................................................3

– Median pair of tubercles poorly developed, barely protruding from anterior margin; longitudinal distance from anterior median sigillum to second pair of sigilla equal to distance between second pair ( Fig. 1 ) ( Congo) ............... P. laevis Lessert, 1930

3 Third pair of median sigilla with distinct sclerite; lateral anterior abdominal tubercles with basal constriction, sometimes appearing bilobed ( Fig. 2 )................................ .................................................................................. P. antongilensis Emerit, 2000

– Third pair of median sigilla with weak sclerite; lateral anterior abdominal tubercles rounded ( Fig. 3 )............................................................... P. capuroni Emerit, 2000

4 Anterior abdominal margin with seven pairs of smaller tubercles preceding large lateral tubercles; abdominal dorsum colouration variable .....................................5

– Anterior abdominal margin with five pairs of tubercles preceding large lateral tubercle; abdominal dorsum orange-brown or dark brown, darker along midline, with paired broad cream transverse markings medially and large black pair of spots behind them ( Figs 6–8 ).......................................................... P. dippenaarae sp. n.

5 Abdominal dorsum uniform ochre-yellow, without darker or paler markings ( Fig. 4 ); abdomen less than twice as broad as long................ P. mammosus ( Pocock, 1899)

– Abdominal dorsum pale yellowish, with large paired black patches on posterior margin ( Fig. 5 ); abdomen more than twice as broad as long................................... .................................................................. P. insignis O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1908

Figures

Figs1–5.Habitus illustrations ofAfrotropical Pasilobus species,taken from their original descriptions:(1) P. laevis Lessert,1930;(2) P.antongilensis Emerit,2000; (3) P.capuroni Emerit,2000;(4) P.mammosus (Pocock, 1899); (5) P.insignis O. Pickard-Cambridge,1908.All figures reproduced with permission.

Figs 6–9.Pasilobus dippenaarae sp. n., photographs of (6–8) the habitus of live females and (9) egg sac:(6) female from Boughton, Pietermaritzburg; (7) holotype and (8) paratype from Hilton College Nature Reserve; (9) egg sac suspended in web between foliage of shrubs, arrow indicating female sitting on leaf nearby (Boughton, Pietermaritzburg). Photographs: (6, 8, 9) by J. Roff; (7) by D. von Hoesslin.