Smeringopus mlilwane, 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 : 63

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3461.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0704C43A-73D8-4A28-915A-7FF8611C8606

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5256531

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03FBB532-FFBB-173D-FF6A-0BC03F3BFAF0

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Smeringopus mlilwane
status

sp. nov.

Smeringopus mlilwane View in CoL new species

Figs. 255 View FIGURES 243–255 , 274–275 View FIGURES 268–277 , 294–295 View FIGURES 278–297 , 362–366 View FIGURES 357–366

Type. Male holotype from Swaziland, Mlilwane Game Reserve [~ 26°26.5’S, 31°11.0’E], in crevices of rocks, 31.iii.2001 (B.A. Huber, K. Schütt), in ZFMK ( Ar 8521 ) GoogleMaps .

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

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners ( S. hanglip , S. lydenberg , S. ndumo ) by shapes of bulbal processes ( Figs. 364, 365 View FIGURES 357–366 ); from S. hanglip and S. lydenberg also by three black lines ventrally on abdomen (versus two; median line narrow); from other close relatives by process near palpal tarsal organ ( Fig. 362 View FIGURES 357–366 ), ventrally very strongly curved procursus ( Figs. 275 View FIGURES 268–277 , 362 View FIGURES 357–366 ), and prolateral process on procursus tip ( Fig. 363 View FIGURES 357–366 ).

Male (holotype). Total body length 8.0, carapace width 2.8. Leg 1: 69.6 (18.1 + 1.2 + 17.5 + 29.7 + 3.1), tibia 2: 12.7, tibia 3: 9.7, tibia 4: 13.1; tibia 1 L/d: 62. Habitus similar S. hanglip (cf. Fig. 247 View FIGURES 243–255 ). Carapace ochre-yellow with distinct dark pattern (median and lateral bands, no submarginal marks), clypeus with very indistinct pair of dark stripes, sternum mostly dark brown, legs with darker rings subdistally on femora and tibiae, abdomen dorsally with distinct dark pattern, ventrally with three dark lines in median part (median line narrow). Distance PME-PME 220 µm, diameter PME 220 µm, distance PME-ALE 80 µm, distance AME-AME 55 µm, diameter AME 210 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with indistinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae very similar S. hanglip (cf. Figs. 340, 341 View FIGURES 336–342 ). Palps as in Figs. 274 and 275 View FIGURES 268–277 , coxa without retrolateral apophysis, trochanter barely modified, femur with deep and wide retrolateral furrow with distinct rim proximally, cymbium with distinct projection near tarsal organ ( Fig. 362 View FIGURES 357–366 ), procursus ventrally very strongly curved ( Figs. 275 View FIGURES 268–277 , 362 View FIGURES 357–366 ), with prolateral process at tip ( Fig. 363 View FIGURES 357–366 ), bulb with distinctively shaped processes (dorsal process bifid; Figs. 364, 365 View FIGURES 357–366 ). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs on tibiae and metatarsi 1 and 2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 2.5%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1.

Variation. Tibia 1 in 3 other males: 11.9, 14.1, 16.3.

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1: 12.3. Epigynum a simple plate without pockets ( Fig. 294 View FIGURES 278–297 ), laterally whitish, very similar to close relatives ( S. hanglip , S. lydenberg ); internal genitalia as in Figs. 295 View FIGURES 278–297 and 366 View FIGURES 357–366 (also similar to close relatives).

Distribution. Known from two localities in Swaziland and eastern South Africa ( Fig. 299 View FIGURE 299 ).

Material examined. SWAZILAND: Mlilwane Game Reserve: 1♂ holotype above; same data, 1♂ in ZFMK (Ar 8522) .

SOUTH AFRICA: Mpumalanga: Songimvelo Nature Reserve, Diepgezet (25°56.7’S, 31°06.2’E), 1420 m a.s.l., ravine with indigenous forest, 17.–23.iii.2001 (D. & S. Ubick), 2♂ 1♀ + juvs in CAS (9027103). GoogleMaps

ZFMK

Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig

CAS

California Academy of Sciences

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Araneae

Family

Pholcidae

Genus

Smeringopus

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