Smeringopus similis Kraus, 1957

HUBER, BERNHARD A., 2012, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Afrotropical endemic genus Smeringopus Simon, 1890 (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 3461 (1), pp. 1-138 : 111-113

Smeringopus similis Kraus, 1957

Figs. 563 , 586–587 , 606–607 , 686–692

“ Smeringopus hypocrita ” (misidentification): Simon 1910: 190 (female from Kubub only).

Smeringopus similis Kraus 1957: 230–232 , figs. 34–40.

Types. All types from Namibia: Male holotype from Otjozondjupa Region, Okahandja [21°59’S, 16°55’E], v.1955 ( Gaerdes ), in SMF (RII 10626; only one palp, chelicerae missing) . 4♀ 1 juv. paratypes (3 vials), same data, in SMF (RII 11054–56) . 1♀ 2 juvs paratypes from Omaheke Region, Gobabis [22°27’S, 18°58’E], date and collector not given, in SMF (RII 7677) . 1♀ paratype from Kubub [locality not identified, see Note under S. hypocrita redescription], iv.1904 (L. Schultze), misidentified by E. Simon as S. hypocrita , in ZMB (10461) . 3♂ 7♀ paratypes from Oshikoto Region, Otjikoto, 20 km W Tsumeb [19°11.5’S, 17°33.0’E], 16.vi.1911 (W. Michaelsen), in ZMH . 1 juv. paratype from Otjozondjupa Region, Grootfontein [10°34’S, 18°07’E], 7./ 11.vi.1911 (W. Michaelsen), in ZMH . 1 juv. paratype from Otjozondjupa Region, Okaputo, 64 km SW Otavi [20°07’S, 16°58’E], 5.vi.1911 (W. Michaelsen), in ZMH . All types examined.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners by tip of procursus (distinctive sclerotized and membranous elements; Figs. 686–688 ), shape of embolus ( Fig. 689–691 ; distinctive dorsal view); from S. peregrinoides also by more downward directed cheliceral apophyses (similar S. peregrinus ; cf. Figs. 614, 615 ) and absence of v-shaped or u-shaped structure frontally in female internal genitalia ( Fig. 606 ); from S. atomarius and S. uisib (which have overlapping geographic distributions) also by larger epigynal pockets closer together ( Fig. 606 ).

Male (paratype from Otjikoto). Total body length 6.9, carapace width 2.2. Leg 1: 46.2 (12.4 + 0.9 + 12.3 + 17.9 + 2.7), tibia 2: 8.9, tibia 3: 6.8, tibia 4: 9.6; tibia 1 L/d: 50. Habitus as in Fig. 563 . Color pattern similar S. peregrinoides but less distinct (possibly artificially), clypeus lines wider, light marks on sternum larger, ventral abdominal pattern limited to pair of interrupted lines. Distance PME-PME 160 µm, diameter PME 150 µm, distance PME-ALE 70 µm, distance AME-AME 45 µm, diameter AME 140 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae very similar S. peregrinus (cf. Figs. 614, 615 ). Palps as in Figs. 586 and 587 , coxa with distinct retrolateral apophysis and shallow wide furrow, trochanter barely modified, femur with retrolateral furrow with distinct rim proximally, procursus with distinctive distal elements ( Figs. 686–688 ), bulb with distinctively shaped prolateral process on embolus ( Figs. 689–691 ). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs on tibiae and metatarsi 1 and 2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 3%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1.

Variation. Some males with small conical projection ventrally on embolus (arrow in Fig. 689 ) and slightly more slender distal apophysis of procursus (in dorsal view). Males from Otavi and Andara-Kavango and two males from Otjikoto with many light brown marks on femora; specimens (male and females) from Otavi also otherwise with much more distinct color pattern (possibly the normal condition). Tibia 1 in 8 males: 6.3–14.8 (mean 10.7); in holotype: 14.8.

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 22 females: 7.2–12.7 (mean 10.1). Epigynum a rather pale indistinct plate with distinct, round pockets ( Fig. 606 ); most females from the two eastern-most localities (Andara-Kavango and Sitwa) have smaller pockets wider apart and may thus not be conspecific with the males from these localities; internal genitalia as in Figs. 607 and 692 (very similar S. kalomo , S. chibububo ).

Distribution. Widely distributed in northern Namibia ( Fig. 608 ).

Material examined. NAMIBIA: Otjozondjupa: Okahandja, 1♂ holotype and 4♀ 1 juv. paratypes above. Grootfontein , Totes Tal Cave (19°56’S, 17°23’E), in cave, 11.iv.1991 (J. Irish), 1♀ in NMBA (5729) . Grootfontein , 1 juv. paratype above. Okaputo : 1 juv. paratype above. Omaheke: Gobabis , 1♀ 2 juvs paratypes above. Oshikoto: Otjikoto , 3♂ 7♀ paratypes above. [Near] Otavi, Ghaub Cave [19°29.0’S, 17°46.7’E], 29.iv.1972 (P. Wrede, P. Strinati), 1♂ 2♀ + juvs in MHNG . Omusati: Etosha National Park, Bitterwater [~ 18°56’S, 15°06’E], 16.iii.1998 (A. Russell-Smith), 1♂ in ZFMK (Ar 8564) . Etosha National Park , iii.1998 (A. Russell-Smith), 1♂ in MRAC (215622) . Okawango: Andara-Kavango , Okavango riv. [18°04’S, 21°27’E], 1979 (M.E. Baddeley), 1♂ 6♀ in MRAC (152787) . Caprivi: Sitwa near Choy , 10 km S Kongola [17°52’S, 23°22’E], under bark, 19.x.1987 (R. Jocqué), 1♂ 2♀ 1 juv. in MRAC (168618) . Khomas: Windhoek [22°34’S, 17°05’E], date and collector not given, 1♂ in SMF (part of RII 6618 ; misidentified by Kraus 1957 as S. atomarius ) . Unidentified locality: Kubub: 1♀ paratype above.

Figures

FIGURE 608. Known distribution of the peregrinus group. S. butare and S. peregrinus are represented by triangles in order to facilitate distinction from S. peregrinoides. Squares: further undescribed species.

FIGURES 558–571. Smeringopus peregrinus group, habitus and male prosomata, oblique frontal views. 558–559. S. peregrinus, male, dorsal and ventral views. 560–561. S. peregrinoides, female, dorsal view and male, ventral view. 562. S. butare, male dorsal view. 563. S. similis, male, dorsal view. 564–565. S. kalomo, male and female, dorsal views. 566–567. S. chibububo, male, dorsal view and female, ventral view. 568. S. katanga, male, dorsal view. 569. S. moxico, male, dorsal view. 570. S. chibububo. 571. S. kalomo.

FIGURES 584–591. Smeringopus peregrinus group, left male palps, prolateral and retrolateral views, epigynum, and cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. 584–585. S. dundo. 586–587. S. similis. 588–591. S. moxico.

FIGURES 592–607. Smeringopus peregrinus group, epigyna, ventral views and cleared female genitalia, dorsal views. 592–593. S. peregrinus. 594–595. S. peregrinoides. 596–597. S. butare. 598–599. S. katanga. 600–601. S. kalomo. 602–603. S. chibububo. 604–605. S. dundo. 606–607. S. similis.

FIGURES 686–692. Smeringopus similis. 686. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 687–688. Left procursus, dorsal and prolateral views. 689–691. Left embolus, prolateral, dorsal, and prolatero-ventral views (arrow points to variable structure). 692. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.

FIGURES 609–616. Smeringopus peregrinus. 609. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 610. Left procursus, prolateral view. 611–613. Left embolus, prolateral, dorsal, and ventral (slightly prolateral) views (arrow points to variable structure; see text). 614–615. Male chelicerae, frontal and lateral views. 616. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.