Apochinomma sp.

Haddad, Charles Richard, 2013, A revision of the ant-like sac spider genus Apochinomma Pavesi 1881 (Araneae: Corinnidae) in the Afrotropical Region, Journal of Natural History 47 (39 - 40), pp. 2493-2529 : 2525

Apochinomma sp.

( Figures 1E , 2J , 3I )

Remarks

An apparently new species of Apochinomma collected only from fynbos habitats in the De Hoop Nature Reserve in southern South Africa was discovered ( Figure 16 ). This species has very distinctive white abdominal markings, notably a transverse anterior band, a median X-shaped marking and posterior ring ( Figures 1E , 2J , 3I ). One of the specimens, a subadult female, measured 6.3 mm in total length, and it is therefore likely that the adult female will only be marginally larger, probably less than 8.0 mm in length. This species will not be formally described until adults have been discovered. Based on the carapace shape and relatively elongate abdomen, this species clearly belongs to the A. decepta species group.

Material examined

SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape Province: De Hoop Nature Reserve, Lekkerwater Road , 34 ◦ 24.002’ S, 20 ◦ 33.151’ E, leg. C. Haddad, 6 April 2004 (under Thamnochortis with Camponotus ants), 1imm. 1sa ♀ ( NCA 2008 / 1905) .

Figures

Figure 1. General habitus of Afrotropical Apochinomma species (A–E) and two of their ant models (F, G). (A) A. formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881 male, Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa; (B) A. formicaeforme juvenile, Sodwana Bay, South Africa; (C, D) A. decepta sp. nov. female (C) and subadult male (D), Bartholomew Diaz Point, Mozambique; (E) undescribed Apochinomma sp. subadult female, De Hoop Nature Reserve, South Africa; (F) Polyrhachis sp. from Mombasa, Kenya; (G) Pachycondyla tarsata (Fabricius, 1798) from Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa.

Figure 2. Digital microscope photographs of the dorsal habitus of species in the Apochinomma formicaeforme species group (A–F) and the A. decepta species group (G–J). (A, B) A. formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881; (C, D) A. malkini sp. nov.; (E) A. parva sp. nov.; (F) A. tuberculata sp. nov.; (G, H) A. decepta sp. nov.; (I) A. elongata sp. nov.; (J) Apochinomma sp. A, C, E, G, I: males; B, D, F, H: females; J: subadult female. Scale bars: 2.0 mm.

Figure 3. Digital microscope photographs of the lateral habitus of species in the Apochinomma formicaeforme species group (A–E) and the A. decepta species group (F–I). (A, B) Apochinomma formicaeforme Pavesi, 1881; (C, D) A. malkini sp. nov.; (E) A. parva sp. nov.; (F, G) A. decepta sp. nov.; (H) A. elongata sp. nov.; (I) Apochinomma sp. A, C, E, F, H: males; B, D, G: females; I: subadult female. Scale bars: 2.0 mm.

Figure 16. Distribution of Apochinomma decepta sp. nov. (closed circles), A. elongata sp. nov. (closed stars), A. malkini sp. nov. (closed triangles), A. parva sp. nov. (closed square), A. tuberculata sp. nov. (open star) and an undescribed Apochinomma sp. (cross) in Africa.