Kikongo buta, Rodrigues & Rheims, 2020

Rodrigues, Bruno V. B. & Rheims, Cristina A., 2020, An overview of the African genera of Prodidominae spiders: descriptions and remarks (Araneae: Gnaphosidae), Zootaxa 4799 (1), pp. 1-80 : 67-68

Kikongo buta sp. nov.

Figs 52 A–F

Type material. Male holotype from D. R . Congo, Forest Buta, route Beni-Irumu-Bunia, Mbao, Alt. 1100 m, 00°38’N 29°30’E, December 1973 – January 1974, M. Lejeune leg., deposited in RMCA 236900 . Paratypes: 2 females from D. R . Congo, Forest Visik , Kivu, 00°12’N 29°15’E, 22 December 1971, M. Lejeune leg. ( MRAC 140800 ); 1 female from D. R . Congo, Albert National Park (Virunga National Park), Mt. Hoyo , grotte Atshokabi , Alt. 1135 m, 01°13’N 29°49’E, 19 July 1955, P. Vanschuytbroeck leg. ( MRAC 234181 ); 1 male from D. R . Congo, Albert National Park (Virunga National Park), massif Ruwenzori , riv. Kakalari , affl. Bombi , Alt. 1725 m, 00°20’N 29°50’E, 6 April 1954, P. Vanschuytbroeck & H. Synave leg. ( MRAC 233867 ); 1 male from D. R . Congo, Albert National Park (Virunga National Park), sect. Nord , ruiss. Katubu , affl. dr. de la Mukandwe, Alt. 1200 m [0°2’24.00”S 29°22’48.00”E], 28 March 1953, P. Vanschuytbroeck & J. Kekenbosch leg. ( MRAC 237633 ) .

Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality, noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Males of K. buta sp. nov. are distinguished from the other species of the genus by the presence of a VTA on palp in addition to the RTA (VTA absent in K. ruwenzori sp. nov. and K. rutshuru sp. nov.) ( Figs 52 A–C); females differ by the positioning ridges resembling a mustache ( Fig. 52D ).

Description. Male (holotype). Total length: 2.32. Carapace 1.03 long, 0.79 wide; Abdomen 1.09 long, 0.70 wide; Sternum 0.68 long, 0.55 wide; Spinnerets: ALS 0.21 long, 0.12 wide. Eye diameters: AME 0.04, ALE 0.03, PME 0.04, PLE 0.03; interdistances: AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.05. Chelicerae 0.31 long. Leg measurements: I: 3.21 (0.89, 0.64, 0.66, 0.55, 0.47); II: 2.50 (0.66, 0.42, 0.54, 0.45, 0.43); III: 2.27 (0.60, 0.34, 0.46, 0.42, 0.45); IV: 3.33 (0.95, 0.46, 0.70, 0.66, 0.56). Leg spination: I—femur d1-1-0. II—femur d1-1-0. III—femur d1-1-0; tibia v1-0-1, p1-0-1; metatarsus v0-2-0, p1-0-1. IV—femur d1-1-0; tibia v1p-1p-2, p1-0-1, r1-0-1; metatarsus v1-1-0, p0-0-1, r0-1-0. Palp: single RTA with tip slightly truncated and ventrally bent; tegulum ovoid with distal region narrower than basal region; embolar insertion at 10 o’clock position; embolus with distal part straight; conductor arising between 12–1 o’clock position, directed retrolaterally ( Figs 52 A–C).

Female (paratype). Total length: 2.25. Carapace 0.76 long, 0.62 wide; Abdomen 1.39 long, 0.70 wide; Sternum 0.57 long, 0.47 wide; Spinnerets: ALS 0.16 long, 0.11 wide. Eye diameters: AME 0.04, ALE 0.04, PME 0.03, PLE 0.03; interdistances: AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.04. Chelicerae 0.22 long. Leg measurements: I: 2.52 (0.68, 0.52, 0.52, 0.44, 0.36); II: 1.93 (0.53, 0.32, 0.40, 0.35, 0.33); III: 1.71 (0.46, 0.24, 0.34, 0.33, 0.34); IV: 2.71 (0.75, 0.39, 0.60, 0.52, 0.45). Leg spination: I—femur d1-1-0. II—femur d1-1-0. III—femur d1-1-0; tibia p1-0-1; metatarsus v0-1-1, p0-0-1. IV—femur d1-1-0; tibia v1p-0-1p, p1-1-0, r1-0-1; metatarsus v0-1-1, p0-0-1, r0-0-1. Epigyne: positioning ridge directed posteriorly ( Fig. 52D ). Vulva: copulatory ducts with one curve, connecting duct with proximal and terminal part far from each other and without twist in terminal part (close to primary spermathecae); primary spermathecae rounded; fertilization duct directed diagonally ( Figs 52E, F ).

Variation. Total length (4 males): 2.00–2.31; (3 females): 2.13–2.34.

Distribution. D.R. Congo ( Fig. 53 ).

Figures

FIGURE 52. Kikongo buta sp. nov. Male palp: (A) prolateral view; (B) ventral view; (C) retrolateral view. Female: (D) epigyne, ventral view; (E) vulva, dorsal view; (F) vulva, schematic course of internal duct system. C—conductor; CD—copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; CoD—connecting duct; E—embolus; FD—fertilization duct; PS—primary spermathecae; SS—secondary spermathecae; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophisys; VTA—ventral tibial apophisys. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURE 53. Known distribution records of species of Kikongo gen. nov. from D.R. Congo and Kenya.