Afrotrichona mahnerti, Tanasevitch, 2020

Tanasevitch, Andrei V., 2020, Linyphiid spiders collected by V. Mahnert in Kenya, with the description of a new genus and two new species (Arachnida: Araneae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 127 (2), pp. 349-360 : 350

Afrotrichona mahnerti sp. nov.

Figs 1-15

Holotype: MHNG; male [sample KENYA-74/35]; KENYA, Kerio Valley , 1100 m a.s.l., under stones; 18.XI.1974; leg. V. Mahnert.

Paratypes: MHNG; 1 male, 3 females [sample KENYA-74/35], collected together with the holotype . – MHNG; 1 male [sample KENYA-74/36]; KENYA, Lake Baringo , environs of Lake Baringo Lodge , 980 m a.s.l., sifting in savannah at foot of trees; 18.XI.1974; leg. V. Mahnert .

Etymology: The new species is named in honour of the well-known arachnologist, entomologist and ichthyologist Prof. Volker Mahnert, the collector of the type material.

Description

Male paratype: Total length 2.25 ( Fig. 1 ). Carapace unmodified, 0.80 long, 0.68 wide, pale brown, with a grey polygonal spot in its centre and with a narrow grey margin ( Figs 1-2 ). Chelicerae 0.35 long, unmodified. Legs pale brown to brown. Leg I 2.54 long (0.75 + 0.23 + 0.63 + 0.55 + 0.38), IV 2.66 long (0.78 + 0.25 + 0.63 + 0.60 + 0.40). Chaetotaxy 1.1.1.1, spines 1.5-2 times as long as diameter of corresponding leg segment. Metatarsus IV without trichobothrium. TmI 0.32. Palp ( Figs 8-12 ): tibia conical distally, with a dark tooth retrolaterally; paracymbium narrow, almost forming a loop; distal suprategular apophysis relatively short, spoon-shaped; radix large; anterior radical process flat, tapering and directed forward, slightly curved and partially guiding and covering embolus; embolus thin, twisted. Abdomen ( Fig. 1 ) 1.53 long, 1.18 wide, dark grey, sparsely covered with long hairs.

Female paratype: Total length 1.90 ( Fig. 3 ). Carapace unmodified, 0.73 long, 0.58 wide. Chelicerae unmodified, 0.30 long. Legs pale brown. Leg I 2.26 long (0.63 + 0.20 + 0.55 + 0.50 + 0.38), IV 2.49 long (0.75 + 0.20 + 0.63 + 0.53 + 0.38). TmI 0.29. Abdomen ( Figs 3-5 ) 1.23 long, 0.90 wide, dark grey, sparsely covered with long hairs (not visible in Figs 3-5 due to camera limitations). Epigyne ( Figs 4-7 , 13-15 ): epigynal cavity shallow, its anterior part somewhat covered by a rounded “visor”. Lateral walls forming an arch, tapering anteriorly. Posterior median plate as long as wide, its anterior edge with a wide and shallow invagination. Chaetotaxy as in male.

Distribution: Kenya.

Figures

Figs 1-7. Photographs of Afrotrichona mahnerti sp. nov., male paratype (1-2) and female paratype (3-7). (1, 3) Habitus, dorsal view. (2) Prosoma, dorso-frontal view. (4-5) Abdomen, ventral and postero-ventral view, respectively. (6-7) Epigyne, ventral and postero-ventral view, respectively.

Figs 8-15. Details of male palp and epigyne structure of Afrotrichona mahnerti sp. nov., male paratype (8-12) and female paratype (13-15). (8-9) Right palp, retrolateral and ventro-prolateral view, respectively. (10) Palpal tibia, dorsal view. (11) Embolic division, ventro-prolateral view. (12) Distal suprategular apophysis, lateral view. (13-15) Epigyne, ventral, postero-ventral and lateral view, respectively.