Smeringopus bwindi, Huber, 2012

HUBER, BERNHARD A., 2012, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Afrotropical endemic genus Smeringopus Simon, 1890 (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 3461 (1), pp. 1-138 : 17-18

Smeringopus bwindi new species

Figs. 2 , 19 , 30–31 , 42–45 , 65–72

Type. Male holotype from Uganda, Kanungu District, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park , waterfall trail near Buhoma (0°59.8’–1°00.2’S, 29°36.9–37.2’E), ~ 1500–1600 m a.s.l., 22.xi.2010 (B.A. Huber), in ZFMK ( Ar 8490 ) .

Etymology. The name is a noun in apposition, derived from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners (other species of the rubrotinctus group) by shapes of procursus and embolus ( Figs. 65–67, 70–71 ); from most (except S. rubrotinctus ) also by deeply indented epigynum ( Figs. 42–45 ); from most other congeners by long apophyses on male chelicerae ( Figs. 68, 69 ).

Male (holotype). Total body length 5.3, carapace width 1.7. Leg 1: 41.9 (10.3 + 0.7 + 10.6 + 17.7 + 2.6), tibia 2: 7.3, tibia 3: 5.7, tibia 4: 8.2; tibia 1 L/d: 63. Habitus as in Fig. 19 . Carapace with wide median and lateral brown bands, clypeus and sternum dark brown, leg femora and tibiae with indistinct subdistal rings, abdomen with indistinct pattern dorsally and ventrally. Distance PME-PME 175 µm, diameter PME 175 µm, distance PME-ALE 90 µm, distance AME-AME 45 µm, diameter AME 115 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with indistinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep but small thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in Figs. 68 and 69 , with pair of strong apophyses. Palps as in Figs. 30 and 31 , coxa with indistinct bulge, trochanter barely modified, femur with deep retrolateral furrow with distinct rim proximally, ventral end of rim with apophysis, cymbium without projection near tarsal organ, procursus with distinctive tip with ventral bifid apophysis and whitish prolateral process ( Figs. 65–67 ), bulb with relatively simple branched embolus ( Figs. 70, 71 ). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs ventrally and dorsally on tibiae and metatarsi 1 and 2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 2%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1.

Variation. Tibia 1 in 2 other males: 10.2, 10.3. The cheliceral apophyses vary slightly in width and length.

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 4 females: 8.3, 9.0, 9.1, 10.0. Epigynum anterior plate with large indentation ( Figs. 42–44 ; very similar S. rubrotinctus ), without pockets; posterior plate simple, not projecting; internal genitalia as in Figs. 45 and 72 .

Distribution. Known from southwestern Uganda and eastern Congo D.R. (Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu) ( Fig. 58 ).

Material examined. UGANDA: Western Region: Kanungu District, Bwindi Impenetrable N.P., waterfall trail near Buhoma : 1♂ holotype above; same data, 3♀ in ZFMK (Ar 8491) ; same data, 2♀ in pure ethanol in ZFMK (Uga 126) .

CONGO D.R.: Nord-Kivu Prov.: Butembo-vallée Musosa [~ 0°09’N, 29°18’E], 1745 m a.s.l., iv.1968 (R. P.M. Lejeune), 2♂ in MRAC (134024) . Sud-Kivu Prov.: Kabare, riv. Nyakagera [~ 2°28’S, 28°49.5’E], 1600–1700 m a.s.l., xi.1955 (N. Leleup), 1♂ 1♀ in MRAC (84164–5).

Figures

FIGURE 58. Known distributions of the rubrotinctus group, the chogoria group, and S. ngangao. Squares: further undescribed species.

FIGURES 2–13. Smeringopus, alive specimens in their natural habitats. 2. S. bwindi, female with eggsac (Uganda, Bwindi). 3–4. S. chogoria, females with eggsac and spiderlings (Kenya, Mau Mau and Chogoria). 5. S. mpanga, female with spiderlings (Uganda, Kalinzu). 6–7. S. ngangao, male and web with silk-balls (Kenya, Ngangao). 8–10. S. peregrinus, web with silk-balls (Kenya, Gonkonyi), female (Kenya, Hell’s Gate), female with eggsac (Gonkonyi). 11. S. pallidus, female with eggsac (Uganda, Semuliki). 12. S. lesserti, male (Gabon, Mayebout). 13. S. cylindrogaster (Guinea, Dieke).

FIGURES 18–27. Smeringopus rubrotinctus group, habitus and male prosomata, oblique frontal views. 18. S. rubrotinctus, female, ventral view. 19. S. bwindi, male, dorsal view. 20–21. S. ruhiza, male and female, dorsal views. 22–23. S. mpanga, male and female, dorsal views. 24. S. rubrotinctus. 25. S. mgahinga. 26. S. ruhiza. 27. S. mpanga.

FIGURES 28–37. Smeringopus rubrotinctus group, left male palps, prolateral and retrolateral views. 28–29.S. rubrotinctus. 30–31. S. bwindi. 32–33. S. mgahinga. 34–35. S. ruhiza. 36–37. S. mpanga.

FIGURES 38–57. Smeringopus rubrotinctus group, epigyna, ventral views (47: lateral view) and cleared female genitalia, ventral and dorsal views. 38–41. S. rubrotinctus (38: syntype, 39: Karisimbi, 40–41: Rwegura). 42–45. S. bwindi (Buhoma). 46–49. S. mgahinga (46–47: Ruhiza, 48–49: Mgahinga). 50–53. S. ruhiza (50: Kitahurira, 51–53: Buhoma). 54–57. S. mpanga (Kanyanchu).

FIGURES 65–72. Smeringopus bwindi. 65. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 66–67. Left procursus, ventral and dorsal views. 68–69. Male chelicerae, lateral and frontal views. 70–71. Left embolus, prolateral and dorsal views. 72. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.