Afroceto bisulca, Lyle & Haddad, 2010

Lyle, Robin & Haddad, Charles R., 2010, A revision of the tracheline sac spider genus Cetonana Strand, 1929 in the Afrotropical Region, with descriptions of two new genera (Araneae Corinnidae), African Invertebrates 51 (2), pp. 321-321 : 343-344

Afroceto bisulca sp. n.

Figs 5 , 51–53

Etymology: From Latin bis (double) and sulcus (a furrow); refers to the split in the retrolateral tibial apophysis, which forms two subtriangular excrescences.

Diagnosis: The male can easily be recognised by the broad tongue­like embolus and the retrolateral tibial apophysis split into two excrescences, of which the most dorsally situated one has a sharper point ( Figs 52, 53 ). Female unknown.

Description:

Male.

Measurements: CL 2.40, CW 1.80, AL 2.20, AW 1.45, TL 4.60, FL 0.13, SL 1.23, SW 1.30, AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.28, PME–PME 0.13, PME–PLE 0.15, PLE–PLE 0.63. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 2.10+0.93+1.70+1.23+0.98=6.94; II 1.78+0.78+1.38+1.28+0.88=6.10; III 2.05+0.65+ 0.78+1.13+0.50=5.11; IV 1.75+0.75+1.60+1.65+0.53=6.28.

Carapace pale yellow, orange posteriorly ( Fig. 5 ); first third of carapace evenly high, second third with gradual decline and last third with relatively steep decline; surface covered in fine, short setae; fovea short, distinct, at two thirds CL. Ocular region orange with light rings around eyes; AER slightly recurved, AME larger than ALE; clypeus height equal to AME diameter; AME separated by distance equal to 0.8 their diameter; AME separated from ALE by 0.2 AME diameter; PER slightly recurved, PLE slightly larger than PME; PME separated by distance equal to their diameter; PME separated from PLE by 0.8 PME diameter. Chelicerae orange; long, pale orange setae scattered on anterior surface; fangs light orange to pale yellow near tip; two promarginal teeth, distal tooth largest; two retromarginal teeth, distal tooth largest. Sternum pale yellow, slightly darker yellow towards border; fine, pale setae scattered on surface. Abdomen very pale yellow dorsally, without distinctive markings or sigilla; abdomen broader anteriorly, tapering posteriorly; venter pale yellow. Legs I to IV uniform pale yellow; leg spines and cusps present. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1; patellae spineless; tibiae: I plv 4 rlv 1 cusps, II plv 2 cusps, III pl 2 rl 1 vt 1; metatarsi: I plv 10 rlv 2 vt 1 cusps, II plv 7 rlv 5 cusps, III pl 1 rl 1; tarsi: I plv 1 cusp, II plv 1 rlv 1 cusps ( Fig. 51 ). Palp yellow; embolus broad, tongue­like ( Fig. 52 ); retrolateral tibial apophysis prominent, with short, well­rounded ventral excrescence and sharply pointed dorsal excrescence ( Fig. 53 ).

Holotype: ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: Cape Peninsula, Bergvliet, near Diep Rivier [34.04°S: 18.47°E], x.1898, F. Purcell ( SAMC, 6238).

Distribution: Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 55 ).

Figures

Figs 1–22. General appearance of Afroceto gen. n. species: A. martini (Simon, 1897) comb. n. female (1) and male (2); A. arca sp. n. female (3) and male (4); A. bulla sp. n. female (5); A. bisulca male (6); A. capensis sp. n. female (7) and male (8); A. coenosa (Simon, 1897) comb. n. female (9); A. corcula sp. n. female (10); A. croeseri sp. n. female (11) and male (12); A. flabella sp. n. male (13) and female (14); A. gracilis sp. n. male (15); A. plana sp. n. male (16) and female (17); A. porrecta sp. n. male (18); A. rotunda sp. n. male (19) and female (20); A. spicula sp. n. male (21) and female (22).

Figs 51–54.Afroceto bisulca sp.n.(51–53) male:(51) schematic representation of cusp arrangement on legs I and II; (52) left palp, ventral view; (53) left palp, retrolateral view; and A. bulla sp. n. female: (54) epigyne ventral view. Scale bars (52–54) = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 55. The distribution of Afroceto bulla sp. n. and A. bisulca sp. n. in South Africa.