Afroceto coenosa (Simon, 1897), 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 : 348-350

Afroceto coenosa (Simon, 1897) , comb. n

Figs 9 , 62, 63

Ceto coenosa Simon, 1897 c: 11 ; Simon 1897 b: 179, fig. 183.

Diagnosis: This species may be recognised by the short curved entrance ducts that extend from the copulatory openings to ST II, and short diverging tubes leading to ST I ( Fig. 62 ). Remarks: Simon (1897 b) illustrated the palp of A. coenosa . However, no males of this species could be traced in MNHN or other collections, and thus no redescription of the male is given. The holotype female of A. coenosa is deposited with a male of A. martini , which he may erroneously have interpreted as its matching male. As such, the true male of A. coenosa is unknown. It is possible that A. gracilis sp. n., known only from the male, is the matching male of A. coenosa , but specimens have not been collected together at the same locality and they are regarded as separated species until additional material can be sampled.

Redescription:

Female.

Measurements: CL 2.00–2.30, CW 1.70–1.93, AL 2.10–3.00, AW 1.95–2.10, TL 4.20– 5.30, FL 0.13–0.15, SL 1.23–1.28, SW 0.98–1.05, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.30, PME–PME 0.18, PME–PLE 0.15, PLE–PLE 0.68. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 1.60+0.75+1.18+1.00+0.75=5.28; II 1.48+0.70+1.03+0.95+0.95=4.79; III 1.13+0.63+0.73+0.95+0.43=3.87; IV 1.13+0.73+ 1.43+1.43+0.53=5.35.

Carapace brown to reddish brown ( Fig. 9 ); rounded with highest point in second third of carapace length; surface smooth, covered in short, fine setae; fovea small, distinct and slightly thickened, at two thirds CL. Ocular region dark brown, eyes with black rings; AER slightly recurved, ALE larger than AME; clypeus height equal to AME diameter; AME separated by distance equal to their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance equal to half AME diameter; PER very slightly recurved, almost straight, PME and PLE equal in size; PME separated by 1.2 their diameter; PME separated from PLE by 1.2 PME diameter. Chelicerae bright orange, with short, light setae scattered over anterior surface; two promarginal teeth, proximal tooth largest; two retromarginal teeth, distal tooth largest, proximal tooth slightly smaller. Sternum dark orange, brown towards border; covered in short, fine setae, with longer setae towards border.Abdomen creamy white to pale yellow dorsally, with mottled grey pattern over entire abdomen; brown and grey mottled mark situated anteriorly; abdomen broader anteriorly and tapering posteriorly; scutum small, extending one quarter abdomen length; dorsal surface smooth, covered in fine setae; venter pale grey, covered in fine setae. Legs I to IV uniform yellow to light brown, dense ventral setae on tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi; anterior legs more robust than posteriors; femora with large incomplete band covering almost entire segment, patellae with incomplete dorsal band, tibiae and metatarsi with two incomplete bands, situated proximally and distally.Leg spination: femora: I pl 1; patellae and tibiae spineless; metatarsi IV vt 1. Epigyne with semi­circular lateral ridges, which extend into relatively large medially located copulatory openings and copulatory ducts; copulatory ducts large, curving anteriorly into broad, curved ST II, with narrow ducts running posteriorly, diverging to posterior ST I; ST I small and oval, situated at epigastric fold ( Figs 62, 63 ).

Holotype (examined): ♀ deposited together with 1♂ A. martini : SOUTH AFRICA: Natal [no specific locality], C. Martin ( MNHN, 71288).

Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: 1♀ Durban, Bluff , 14.iv.1976, F. Wanless & A. Russell-Smith, coastal dune scrub, shrub layer (BMNH) ; 1♀ Pietermaritzburg, Town Bush , 15.iv.1976, F. Wanless & A. Russell­Smith, on pine trunk (BMNH) . Mpumalanga: 1♀ 11 km South East from Pilgrims Rest , 1400 m, 11–31 xii.1985, S. & J. Peck, relict native forest edge, FIT­malaise ( AMNH) .

Distribution: Known from scattered localities in KwaZulu­Natal and Mpumalanga provinces, South Africa ( Fig. 67 ).

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 62, 63.Afroceto coenosa (Simon, 1897) comb.n. female:(62) epigyne, ventral view; (63) vulva, dorsal view. Scale bar = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 67. Distribution of Afroceto capensis sp. n., A. coenosa (Simon, 1897) and A. corcula sp. n. in South Africa.