Mystaria rufolimbata Simon, 1895

Honiball Lewis, Allet S. & Dippenaar-Schoeman, Ansie S., 2014, Revision of the spider genus Mystaria Simon, 1895 (Araneae: Thomisidae) and the description of a new genus from the Afrotropical region, Zootaxa 3873 (2), pp. 101-144 : 126-127

Mystaria rufolimbata Simon, 1895

Figs 1 , 31, 32 , 71–74 , 91–94 , 103–106 , 123

Mystaria rufolimbata Simon 1895: 989 ; Jézéquel 1964: 1111, fig. 9 (descr. ♀).

Type material: Lectotype (by present designation): ♀, SIERRA LEONE (MNHN) . Syntype series (designated by Simon 1895) from MNHN is examined. One female is elected as a new lectotype from the syntype series.

Paralectotypes: 1 ♀, same data as lectotype (MNHN) .

Other material examined. CAMEROON: Centre Region, 1 ♂, Yaonde [03°52’N, 11°30’E] (SMF10916) . COTE D’IVOIRE: Moyen-Cavally Region, 1 ♀, Park National de Tai , 15 km ESE of Tai [05°52’N, 07°27’W], alt 170 m, collected from branches of trees in primary rainforest, 5 January 1989, A.J. de Winter (MRAC 174.331) . DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (DRC): Bandundu Region, 1 juvenile, Kasonga , Maniema [04°27’S, 26°40’E], 24 August 1959, P.L.G. Benoit (MRAC 114.963) . Equateur Region, 1 ♀, Tshuapa, Etata [00°40’S, 19°22’E], 5 June 1971, J. Hauwaert (MRAC 140.398) . Nord-Kivu Region, 1 ♀, 39 km S of Walikale [01°24’S, 28°03’E], 25 July 1957, E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech (CAS) . Orientale Region, 1 ♀, Costermansville [02°29’S, 28°51’E], March 1934, H.J. Bredo (MRAC 21427). Sud-Kivu Region, 1 ♀, Ibanda [02°13’S, 28°55’E], 1952, M. Vandelannoite (MRAC 78438). GABON: Estuaire Region, 2 ♀, 10 km N of Kinguélé [00°29’N, 10°20’E] , 6 April 1986, A. Pauly (MRAC 173.085, 173.084); 1 ♀, Kougouleu [00°22’N, 09°55’E] , 12 April 1985, A. Pauly (MRAC 168.767); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, between Atogafina and Kingaélé [00°29’N, 10°20’E] , 23 March 1986, A. Pauly (MRAC 172.896). MOZAMBIQUE: Sofala Province, 1 ♀, Maputo, 16 km S of Villa Franca, Marnbone [21°11’S, 34°51’E] , 29 June 1971 – 3 July 1971, F. Farquharson (NCA 2009/4612). SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal Province, 1 ♀, Hellsgate [28°07’S, 32°18’E], tsetse fly survey , 3 May 2004, J. Esterhuizen (NCA 2006/ 1332); 1 ♀, Oribi Gorge , 21 km W of Port Shepstone [30°45’S, 30°20’E], alt 200–350 m , 27 November 1983, C.E. Griswold (NM); 1 ♂, Ndumo Game Reserve [26°54’S, 32°15’E], fever tree forest , 21 June 2006, A.S. Honiball (NCA 2006/1331). North West Province, 1 ♂, Buffelspoort dam [25°12’S, 27°16’E] , July 1988, L. Prendini (NCA 91/579).

Diagnosis. Female abdomen dark with two spots postero-laterally ( Fig. 31 ) or with border encircling the abdomen; males uniform copper-red or black ( Fig. 32 ). Carapace with dense short setae; atleast two long posterolateral setae on thoracic edge, laterally or near clypeal region more distinct than in M. flavogutatta . Epigyne with bell-shaped atrium ( Fig. 73 ). Male palp with RTA tip sharply pointed, directed anteriorly, situated close to bulb and tutaculum ( Figs 71, 72 ).

Re-description. Female. Size, measurements (n = 7). TL: 4.28 (3.10–5.24); CL: 1.16 (1.39–1.95); CW: 1.54 (1.22–1.86); CI: 1.08 (1.05–1.14); CH: 1.08 (0.86–1.2); CLL: 0.29 (0.23–0.35); MOQ-L: 0.31 (0.24–0.46). Colour. Carapace dark reddish-brown to almost blackish-brown; legs yellow to orange, femora I–II may be dark brown, metatarsi and tarsi IV with a reddish shade. Carapace. Slightly wider than long, texture varies from smooth to granular studded with small holes; dense, flat lying setae. Chelicerae. As in Fig. 1 . Sternum. SL: 0.70; SW: 0.72; SI: 0.97. Eyes. Eye measurements: AME–AME: 0.31; ALE–AME: 0.41; AME–AME/AME–ALE: 0.77; PME–PME: 0.44; PLE–PME: 0.37; PME–PME/PME–PLE: 1.19; ALE/AME: 1.30; PLE/PME: 0.84; MOQ-AW/ MOQ-PW: 0.71; MOQ-L/MOQ-W: 0.45; Clyp/AME–AME: 0.93. Legs. Legs I–II almost twice the length of legs III–IV; tarsal claws with long teeth, as in Figs 91–94 ; leg formula: II:I:IV:III; leg measurements: leg I—Fe 1.00, Pat 0.45, Tib 0.85, Mt 0.74, Ta 0.54, total 3.58; II—Fe 1.34, Pat 0.44, Tib 1.01, Mt 0.88, Ta 0.50, total 4.17; III—Fe 0.87, Pat 0.35, Tib 0.59, Mt 0.53, Ta 0.36, total 2.71; IV—Fe 0.93, Pat 0.32, Tib 0.63, Mt 0.55, Ta 0.35, total 2.76. Abdomen. AL: 2.62; AW: 2.16; AI: 1.28. Epigyne. See Fig. 73 ; intromittent orifices open laterally of atrium; intromittent canals extended antero-laterally ( Fig. 74 ).

Male. Size, measurements (n = 4). TL: 2.60 (2.09–2.91); CL: 1.12 (0.87–1.29); CW: 1.04 (0.84–1.18); CI: 1.07 (1.05–1.10); CH: 0.76 (0.61–0.94); CLL: 0.21 (0.17–0.24); MOQ-L: 0.24 (0.19–0.26). Similar to female but smaller in size and differs as follows: Colour. Body uniform copper-brown, black or brown ( Fig. 32 ). Carapace. Longer than wide, with two long, erectile setae on postero-thoracic edge. Sternum. As wide as long; SL: 0.49; SW: 0.49; SI: 1. Eye s. Eye measurements: AME–AME: 0.22; ALE–AME: 1.27; AME–AME/AME–ALE: 0.82; PME–PME: 0.31; PLE–PME: 0.26; PME–PME/PME–PLE: 1.21; ALE/AME: 1.22; PLE/PME: 0.83; MOQ-AW/ MOQ-PW: 0.72; MOQ-L/MOQ-W: 0.34; Clyp/AME–AME: 0.94. Legs. tarsal claws as in Figs 103–106 ; leg formula: II:I:IV:III; leg measurements: leg I—Fe 0.89, Pat 0.41, Tib 0.84, Mt 0.72, Ta 0.57, total 3.44; II—Fe 1.06, Pat 0.32, Tib 0.95, Mt 0.74, Ta 0.39, total 3.46; III—Fe 0.66, Pat 0.23, Tib 0.50, Mt 0.39, Ta 0.31, total 2.10; IV– Fe 0.68, Pat 0.25, Tib 0.54, Mt 0.44, Ta 0.33, total 2.23. Abdomen. Fairly round; AL: 1.47; AW: 1.29; AI: 1.14. Palp. Embolus long, coiling around bulb at least twice; RTA short, delicate with tip very slender ( Fig. 71 ), RTA slightly longer than VTA; VTA long, flattened ( Fig. 72 ).

Natural history. Collected from vegetation, more specifically records from rainforests and Acacia xanthophloea forests. Sampled material suggests adults to occur from November to July and juveniles emerge during August.

Distribution. Sierra Leone. New records: Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC), Gabon, Mozambique and South Africa ( Fig. 123 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1–5. SEM photographs of chelicerae of Mystaria species. 1 M. rufolimbata Simon, 1895 from Democratic Republic of Congo, Walikale; 2 M. flavogutatta (Lawrence, 1952) comb. n. from South Africa, Richards Bay; 3 M. savannensis sp. n. from South Africa, Kruger National Park, Letaba Camp; 4 M. soleil sp. n. from Kenya, Kakamega; 5 M. budongo sp. n. from Kakamega. Scale lines = 100 µm (1,4,5), 10 µm (2,3).

FIGURES 25–42. Microscope photographs of dorsal and lateral views of Mystaria species. 25 Mystaria mnyama sp. n. male from Tembe Elephant Park (dorsal view); 26–28 Mystaria occidentalis (Millot, 1942) comb. n. (26, 27 female from Democratic Republic of Congo, Kaisola antero-and latero-dorsal views, 28 male from Rwanda, Butare dorsal view); 29–30 Mystaria oreadae sp. n. female from Rwanda, Rwankuba antero-and latero-dorsal views; 31–32 Mystaria rufolimbata Simon, 1895 (31 female from Democratic Republic of Congo, Walikale dorsal view, 32 male from Gabon, Kinguélé dorsal view); 33–35 Mystaria savannensis sp. n. (33, 34 female from South Africa, Soutpansberg antero-and latero-dorsal views, 35 male from Soutpansberg dorsal view); 36–37 Mystaria soleil sp. n. (36 female from Kenya, Kakamega dorsal view, 37 male from Kakamega dorsal view); 38–39 Mystaria stakesbyi sp. n. (38 female from Ghana, Legon dorsal view; 39 male from Democratic Republic of Congo, Semliki dorsal view). 40–42 Mystaria variabilis (Lessert, 1919) comb. n. (40, 41 female from Democratic Republic of Congo, Kisantu antero-and latero dorsal views, 42 male from Democratic Republic of Congo, Butembo dorsal view).

FIGURES 69–82. Line drawings of copulatory organs in male and female Mystaria species, with ventral- (left) and retrolateral (right) views of male palps and ventral- (left) and dorsal (right) views of female epigynes. 69–70 Mystaria oreadae sp. n. female epigyne; 71–74 Mystaria rufolimbata Simon, 1895 (71, 72 male left palp, 73, 74 female epigyne); 75–78 Mystaria savannensis sp. n. (75, 76 male left palp, 77, 78 female epigyne); 79–82 Mystaria soleil sp. n. (79, 80 male left palp, 81, 82 female epigyne). Scales = 10mm.

FIGURES 91–102. SEM photographs of tarsal claws and tufts on leg I–IV of female Mystaria species. 91–94 M. rufolimbata Simon, 1895 from South Africa, Hellsgate; 95–98 M. oreadae sp. n. from Rwanda, Rwankuba; 99–102 M. savannensis sp. n. from South Africa, Kruger National Park, Letaba Camp. Scale lines = 100 µm (91–94). 10 µm (95–102).

FIGURES 103–114. SEM photographs of tarsal claws and tufts on leg IIV of male Mystaria species. 103–106 M. rufolimbata from South Africa, Ndumo Game Reserve; 107–110 M. soleil sp. n. from Kenya, Kakamega; 111–114 M. budongo sp. n. from Kakamega. Scale lines: 10 µm (103–106, 111–114), 100 µm (107–110).

FIGURES 123–126. Recorded geographical distribution of Mystaria species. 123 Mystaria rufolimbata Simon, 1895; 124 Mystaria savannensis sp. n.; 125 Mystaia soleil sp. n.; 126 Mystaria stakesbyi sp. n. Scale lines = 2400 km (123, 126), 1240 km (124, 125).