Ranops wandae, Jocqué & Henrard, 2020

Jocqué, Rudy & Henrard, Arnaud, 2020, Three new species of the genus Ranops (Araneae: Zodariidae) from southern Africa, Zootaxa 4899 (1), pp. 186-200 : 194-196

Ranops wandae sp. nov.

Figures 7 A–E, 8A–E

Diagnosis. Males of R. wandae sp. nov. are recognized by the large MA and the shape and position of the RTA: curved upward with a straight distal section and inserted ventrolaterally ( Figs 7 C–D, 8A–B). Females are characterized by the epigyne with a drop-shaped central plate ( Figs 7E , 8 C–D).

Etymology. The species name is a matronym for Wanda Wesołowska (Wrocław, Poland), in recognition of her work on Afrotropical Salticidae .

Description. Female (Holotype, SMNW 38382). Total length 3.26. Carapace: length 1.66, width 1.15. Carapace height 0.45.

Colour ( Fig. 7A ). Carapace medium brown; darker around AME; chelicerae, labium and endites medium brown; sternum medium brown with darker margin; legs and palps yellow; abdomen dorsum and sides dark grey, without pattern; spinnerets pale yellow.

Carapace ( Fig. 7A ). Anterior part slightly narrowed with lateral margins roughly parallel-sided, posterior part broader with lateral margins slightly rounded. With sparse cover of silvery setae.

Eyes. ALE 0.08; AME 0.13; PLE 0.08; PME 0.10; ALE-AME 0.05; AME-AME 0.07; PME-PME 0.20; MOQ 0.33 wide in front, 0.39 wide at posterior end, 0.31 long. Clypeus 0.25 high.

Sternum. 0.70 long and 0.86 wide.

Legs. Densely covered with flattened incised setae. Fe with one dorsal spine near base.

Leg measurements

Abdomen. With sparse cover of setae.

Epigyne ( Figs 7E , 8 C–E). With narrow median plate, posterior part rounded, strongly narrowed towards the front. Vulva: spermathecae stout, with 2 oval chambers: dorsal one larger, ventral one smaller, situated laterally.

Male (Paratype, NMNW 39752). Total length: 2.24. Carapace: length 1.31, width 1.09, height 0.32.

Colour ( Fig. 7B ). Carapace medium brown, mottled with dark; eye region black; chelicerae, labium and endites dark brown; sternum dark brown; legs: cx and tr yellow; Fe medium brown, remaining leg parts yellow; palps yellowish brown proximally, yellow distally; abdomen: dorsum and sides dark grey without pattern.

Leg measurements Abdomen. Venter sclerotized.

Palp ( Figs 7 C–D, 8A–B): Cymbium flat, without chemosensitive setae, with one distal and one prolateral, subdistal spine; RTA inserted ventrolaterally, curved upward, with distal section straight and sharp; subtegulum hidden by tegulum; MA massive, strongly curved, distal part tapered with blunt tip reaching posterior half of tegulum; E long, slightly curved sub-distally, reaching halfway along distal part of cymbium; without distal tegular apophysis.

Type material: Holotype ♀: NAMIBIA: Rossing Mine Survey , Arandis site, 22°22’S 14°59’E, leg. J. Irish & H. Rust, 23.X–13.XI.1984 (pitfalls) ( SMNW 38382 ).

Paratypes: NAMIBIA: as holotype, 1♀ ( SMNW 38381 ); Karossfontein 19°21’S 16°31’E, 7.X–14.XI.1986, leg. E. Griffin (pitfalls), 1³ ( NMNW 39752 ) .

Other material examined. NAMIBIA: Dorsland at junction of two roads of mining camp 18°46’S, 14°44’E, 8.X–14.XI.1986, leg. E. Griffin (pitfalls), 2³ 1♀ 1 juv. ( NMNW 39737 ) ; As preceding, 14.V–16.XI.1986, 1³ ( NMNW 39346 ) ; Rossing Mine Survey , Panner Gorge, 22°29’S, 15°01’E, leg. J. Irish & H. Rust, 20.XI–18.XII.1984 (pitfalls), 2³ ( NMNW 38477 ) ; W of Kamaseb , 19°04’S, 16°41’E, leg. E. Griffin, 12.X–11.XI.1986 (pitfalls), 1³ ( NMNW 39557 ) .

Distribution. Ranops wandae sp. nov. has a wide distribution in Namibia ( Fig. 9 ).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Ranops wandae sp. nov. A Female holotype (NMNW 38382), prosoma, dorsal view; B Male paratype (NMNW 39752), habitus, dorsal view; C Male holotype, left palp, ventral view; D Idem, retrolateral view; E Female paratype, epigyne, ventral view. Scales: A = 0.5 mm, B = 1 mm, C–E = 0,2 mm.

FIGURE 8. Ranops wandae sp. nov. genitalia, A–B Male paratype (NMNW 39752), C–E Female paratype (NMNW 38381). A Left palp, ventral view; B Idem, retrolateral view; C Epigyne, ventral view; D Idem, digested; E Vulva, dorsal view. Scales = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 9. Distribution map of Ranops species.