Stasimopus Simon, 1892

Engelbrecht, Ian & Prendini, Lorenzo, 2012, Cryptic diversity of South African trapdoor spiders: Three new species of Stasimopus Simon, 1892 (Mygalomorphae, Ctenizidae), and redescription of Stasimopus robertsi Hewitt, 1910, American Museum Novitates 2012 (3732), pp. 1-44 : 8

Stasimopus Simon, 1892

Stasimopus Simon, 1892: 82 ; Pocock, 1897: 726–728; Hewitt, 1915a: 75–85; Roewer, 1942: 159; Raven, 1985: 143; Dippenaar Schoeman, 2002: 31–38.

TYPE SPECIES: Stasimopus caffrus (C.L. Koch, 1842) .

DIAGNOSIS: Stasimopus is currently placed in the family Ctenizidae , based on the following putative synapomorphies ( Raven, 1985: 140): chelicerae with two rows of teeth; outer surface of fangs smooth; carapace fovea strongly procurved; male pedipalpal bulb simple, pyriform; first two pairs of legs, distal segments with dense patches of short spines on lateral surfaces (females); tarsi with three claws; paired claws with few teeth (females); distal segment of posterior spinnerets domed. Species of Stasimopus differ from other ctenizid genera based on the following combination of characters ( Raven, 1985: 142–143): anterior lobe of maxillae anteriorly produced; group of ocelli twice as wide as long; leg III tibia not excavated dorsally. The monophyly of Stasimopus is presently untested but presumed based on the conservative morphology of its component species, and it is the only ctenizid known to occur in southern Africa ( Dippenaar Schoeman, 2002).

DISTRIBUTION: The genus Stasimopus is known only from South Africa and Lesotho (table 1). It has been recorded in all provinces of South Africa except Limpopo. Given the known distribution, this genus will probably also be recorded in Botswana, Namibia, and Swaziland in the future.

INCLUDED TAXA: The description of three new species in the present contribution raises the number of infrageneric taxa recognized in the genus to 48 (table 1).

Key to adult males of four Stasimopus species from Gauteng and North West provinces, South Africa

1. Legs I and II, spinules within tarsal scopulae present (figs. 12F, 19F, 23F); abdomen, dorsal surface blue (fig. 2A, C, E)................................................................................................2

– Legs I and II, spinules within tarsal scopulae absent (fig. 8F); abdomen, dorsal surface black..................................................................................................................... S. robertsi

2. Carapace fovea with prominent, posteriorly inclined hornlike protuberance (figs. 21A, C, 22A, C)............................................................................................ S. filmeri , n. sp.

– Carapace fovea without posteriorly inclined hornlike protuberance.....................................3

4. Pedipalp reaching distal end of leg I when both extended; leg I tibia convex in lateral profile (fig. 19C)................................................................................................. S. griswoldi , n. sp.

– Pedipalp reaching metatarsus of leg I when both extended; leg I tibia sublinear in lateral profile (fig. 12C)........................................................................................ S. hewitti , n. sp.