Lepthercus sofiae, Ríos-Tamayo & Lyle, 2020

Ríos-Tamayo, Duniesky & Lyle, Robin, 2020, The South African genus Lepthercus Purcell, 1902 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) phylogeny and taxonomy, Zootaxa 4766 (2), pp. 261-305 : 298-300

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4766.2.2

publication LSID

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BA570D47-FE77-446C-B000-9208C9A6E957

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3803506

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03F11B20-FFFB-FFAF-8EE8-3EBFFCA8D0C1

treatment provided by

Carolina (2020-04-24 18:34:33, last updated 2024-11-26 23:39:56)

scientific name

Lepthercus sofiae
status

sp. nov.

Lepthercus sofiae sp. nov.

( Figs. 2K View FIGURE , 23 View FIGURE A–J, 24)

http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:D717E390-D4BE-4507-A1FC-7C567BEC818B

Material examined. Type material: Holotype ♂. SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape Province, Lily Vlei Nature Reserve, Gouna State Forest , N of Knysna (33°55’S 23°2’E), iii.1984, Koen, J. H. leg., ( NCA 97 /395) GoogleMaps . – Paratype. SOUTH AFRICA: same data as holotype, 2 ♂♂ ( NCA 97/395).

Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape Province: Groeneweide Forest Station, NE of George (33°57′S 22°27′E), vi.1987, Koen, J. H. leg., 2 ♂♂ ( NCA 97 /291); Groeneweide Forest Station, Groenkop   GoogleMaps , NE of George (33°57′S 22°27′E), vii.1986, Koen, J. H. leg., 7 ♂♂ ( NCA 97 /331); Lily Vlei Nature Reserve   GoogleMaps , Gouna State Forest   GoogleMaps , N of Knysna (33°55’S 23°2’E), ii.1984, Koen, J. H. leg., 1 ♂ ( NCA 97 /283); Groeneweide Forest Station   GoogleMaps , Groenkop   GoogleMaps , NE of George (33°57′S 22°27′E), v.1987, Koen, J. H. leg., 2 ♂♂ ( NCA 97 /244); Knysna   GoogleMaps (Ara019) (33°57′S 23°3′E), 1.xi.2014, Swart   GoogleMaps , R. C. leg., 8 ♂♂ ( NCA 2017 /1609); same data (33°55′S 22°44′E), 4 ♂ ( NCA 2017 /1611).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym in honour of Sofia Casadey Bollati, the first author’s partner, for her continuing support.

Diagnosis. Males of L. sofiae sp. nov., can be distinguished from species present in “Group haddadi” by a metatarsus I with the presence of numerous short, strong setae ventrally 1:2A of the segment ( Fig. 23I View FIGURE ; cf. blunt spines in others), and by the higher number of maxillae cuspules (140). It can also be recognized by a very developed, almost square palp tibia ( Fig. 23D, E View FIGURE ) and by a more rounded bulb with two well marked keels on the embolus ( Fig. 23 View FIGURE F–H). Females are unknown.

Description. Male holotype (NCA 97/395, Fig. 23 View FIGURE A–J). Total length 13.90. Carapace ( Fig. 23A View FIGURE ): length 5.87, width 4.40, with lateral dark marginal bristles, with a little pubescence. Cephalic region: length 3.59; clypeus almost absent, with 7 bristles on the edge, 6 bristles in front of the OQ and 6 between the PME. Fovea: width 0.45, short, almost straight (slightly recurved). Ocular measurements: AME 0.17, ALE 0.31, PME 0.19, PLE 0.24, OQ length 0.47, 0.88 width; AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PLE 0.00, AME–PME 0.07, ALE–PLE 0.05, AME–AME 0.08, OMP–OMP 0.40. Chelicerae: length 2.55, width 1.55, with dark dorsal–anterior bristles, intercheliceral tumescence small, little marked with setae ( Fig. 23C View FIGURE ). Fang groove with 7 or 8 promarginal teeth and>30 mesobasal denticles. Labium: length 0.39, width 0.86. Maxillae: length 1.77, width 0.65, with about 140 cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face slightly curved, soft area long, with long uniformly distributed hairs, serrula present ( Fig. 2K View FIGURE ). Sternum ( Fig. 23B View FIGURE ): length 2.93, maximum width 2.31. Abdomen: length 5.42, covered with short hair. PMS: length 0.78; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 1.22:0.98:1.51; total length 3.71. Lengths of legs and palp: I: 3.46, 2.20, 2.97 (width/length: 0.47), 2.87, 1.79, 13.29. II: 3.77, 2.10, 2.46, 2.48, 1.80, 12.61. III: 3.60, 1.93, 2.15, 2.97, 1.69, 12.34. IV: 4.21, 2.22, 3.03, 4.04, 2.00, 15.50. Palp: 2.20, 1.07, 1.56, —, 0.90, 5.73.

Chaetotaxy: Leg I: femur, 1-1-1-1 d (centrals), 1-1 PA; patella, 1 PA; tibia, 1-1 P, 2-3-1 V, a short and robust cuticular spur, with an apical megaspine with a strong curved spine at the base of the spur ( Fig. 23J View FIGURE ); metatarsus, 1-1-2 V, presence of numerous short and strong setae (1:2A, Fig. 23I View FIGURE ); tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1-1-1 PA; patella, 1-1 PA; tibia, 1-1 P, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1 P, 2-2-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1-1-1-1 d (thick), 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1-1-1 D-R; patella, 1-1 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1 D, 1-1 R, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1-1 D-R, 2-3-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1-1-1-1-1 d, 1 P A, 1-1 D-R A; patella, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1 R, 2-2-2 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1-1 D-R, 2-3-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp ( Fig. 23D, E View FIGURE ): femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1 PA; patella, 1 PA; tibia, 2 P, (width/length: 0.79); tarsus, 0.

Scopulae: Metatarsi: I, sparse, uniformly distributed, more abundant around the strong setae; II, sparse (3:4 A), more abundant in the anterior part; III–IV, absent. Tarsi: I-II, dense, uniformly distributed throughout the segment; III, dense, uniformly distributed and divided by a narrow band of setae; IV, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by a wide band of setae. Trichobothria: Tibiae: I 9-10; II 11-12; III 10-11; IV 11-10. Metatarsi: I (3)1(1)1(2)1(5)1; II (4)1(2)1(5)1; III (5)1(0)1(2)1(5)1; IV (6)1(2)1(2)1(5)1. Tarsi: I 13; II 12; III 12; IV 13. Preening combs: metatarsus: II, 4 PV; III, 4 PV–4 RV; IV, 3 PV–5 RV. Copulatory bulb: long, with a curved embolus tapering gradually with 2 keels ( Fig. 23G, H View FIGURE ), spermatic duct curved. Color: Overall orange–yellowish (chelicerae darker). Abdomen light brown, with spots, spinnerets dorsally light yellowish.

Distribution. Western Cape Province, South Africa ( Fig. 24 View FIGURE ).

Hewitt, J. (1917) Descriptions of new South African Arachnida. Annals of the Natal Museum, 3, 687 - 711.

Purcell, W. F. (1902) New South African trap-door spiders of the family Ctenizidae in the collection of the South African Museum. Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society, 11, 348 - 382. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 21560382.1900.9525972

Gallery Image

FIGURE. 2. Preening comb. A Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov. (female paratype, NCA 2007/3847). Maxillary cuspules (males). B L. dippenaarae. C L. kwazuluensis. Serrula. D L. mandelai sp. nov. (female, NCA 2014/415A); E L. filmeri sp. nov. (female, NCA 91/1437); F L. haddadi sp. nov. (male, NCA 2007/1486); G L. haddadi sp. nov. (female, NCA 2007/3847); H L. engelbrechti sp. nov. (female, NCA 2018/385); I L. engelbrechti sp. nov. (male, NCA 2018/384); J L. dregei Purcell, 1902 (female, NCA 2012/2333); K L. sofiae sp. nov. (male, NCA 97/395).

Gallery Image

FIGURE. 23. Lepthercus sofiae sp. nov. (male holotype, NCA 97/395). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, arrow indicates the pallid intercheliceral tumesence, prolateral view; D right pedipalp, arrow indicates the palpal tibia base dorsally very convex and the development of the anterior side of the retrolateral side of the ventral excavation, retrolateral view; E right pedipalp, arrows indicates the few proventral setae and the development of the anterior side of the retrolateral side of the ventral excavation, prolateral view; F–H copulatory bulb, F retrolateral view, G ventral view, H prolateral view, arrows indicate the two keels in the embolus; I tibia-metatarsus I, showing the curved metatarsus, arrow indicate the numerous ventral short and strong setae, prolateral view; J tibia I, arrow indicates the strong curved spine near of the base of the megaspine, ventral view.

Gallery Image

FIGURE. 24. Distribution map of Lepthercus spp: ● Lepthercus confusus sp. nov., ○ Lepthercus dippenaarae sp. nov., Ɨ Lepthercus dregei Purcell, 1902, O Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov., A Lepthercus filmeri sp. nov., * Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov., D Lepthercus kwazuluensis sp. nov., ■ Lepthercus lawrencei sp. nov., v Lepthercus mandelai sp. nov., ▼ Lepthercus rattrayi Hewitt, 1917, ▲ Lepthercus sofiae sp. nov. Solid black line indicates the two species overlapped.

R

Departamento de Geologia, Universidad de Chile

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Araneae

Family

Nemesiidae

Genus

Lepthercus