Revision of the Afrotropical crab-spider genus Parabomis Kulczyński, 1901 (Araneae: Thomisidae) Dippenaar-Schoeman, Anna S. Foord, Stefan H. Zootaxa 2020 2020-12-30 4899 1 161 174 98Z94 Dippenaar-Schoeman & Foord, 2020 Dippenaar-Schoeman & Foord 2020 [151,349,151,178] Arachnida Thomisidae Parabomis Animalia Araneae 3 164 Arthropoda species elsae sp. nov.   Figures 4–7   Etymology.Named after Elsa van Niekerk (Pretoria South Africa), the graphic artist at Agricultural Research Council (ARC)—Plant Health and Protection, in recognition of her support for spider research at the ARC.   Diagnosis.Males and females of this species are recognized by their mottled bodies and copulatory organs ( Figs 4, 5).  Parabomis elsae  sp. nov.females resemble those of  P. megae  sp. nov.in the shape of the epigyne, but the colour differs by being strongly mottled in  P. elsae  sp. nov.In males of both species the RTA apex is directed dorsad, but in  P. elsae  sp. nov.the RTA apex is claw-like ( Fig. 6).   Description.  Holotypemale.Measurements: TL 1.8; CL 0.85; CW 0.95. Legs: I 1.42 (0.51, 0.12, 0.30, 0.27, 0.22) II; 1.42 (0.63, 0.21, 0.28, 0.20, 0.10); III 1.08 (0.34, 0.12, 0.32, 0.20, 0.10); IV 1.32 (0.47, 0.15, 0.32, 0.19, 0.19). Carapace fawn, with 3 faint yellowish bands, one medially other 2 radiating from PLE to posterior edge ( Fig. 4); darker patches laterally; integument granulose, with scattered small tubercles, with scattered short, thick, flat-lying setae, more numerous laterally; carapace slightly wider than long. Chelicerae brown; mouthparts paler brown. Sternum pale brown; integument granulose. Legs brown, same as in carapace; femora and tibiae slightly darker; articulation area of joints with strong white rim. Abdomen dorsum shield-like; with dark brown patches, with paler transverse patches in between, sides grey, speckled with white. Male palp with RTA tip claw-like curving upwards; VTA small fused with RTA ( Fig. 6).  Female.Measurements: TL 3.36; CL 1.36; CW 1.36. Legs: I 1.93 (0.68, 0.29, 0.43, 0.25, 0.28); II 1.84 (0.60, 0.27, 0.44, 0.25, 0.28); III 1.23 (0.42, 0.24, 0.26, 0.12, 0.19); IV 1.74 (0.56, 0.46, 0.29, 0.31, 0.12). Resembles male. Carapace fawn, with strong mottled appearance; 3 faint yellowish bands, one medially other two radiating; darker patches laterally; clypeus and eye area with three infused medial bands; clypeus paler ( Fig. 5); carapace as wide as long; integument granulose, with scattered small tubercles. Chelicerae pale yellow, mouthparts yellowish brown. Sternum yellowish brown; integument granulose. Legs brown, strongly mottled with white, base of setae brown giving legs spotted appearance; articulation area of joints with strong white rim. Abdomen dorsum creamish white, base of abdominal setae dark, giving abdomen strong spotted appearance, especially anteriorly. Epigyne atrium wider than long, egg-shaped, with lateral edges slightly thickened ( Fig. 7); intromittent orifices uncovered and situated in anterior part; spermatheca with two lobes ( Fig. 8).   Type material.  Holotype³:  SOUTH AFRICA:  Gauteng Province: Roodeplaat Dam Nature Reserve(West),  17 kmNE of Pretoria, 28º22’S, 25º37’E, leg. A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman,  5.XI.1981(beating Vacheliatrees) ( NCA 82/492).  Paratypes:  SOUTH AFRICA:  Gauteng Province, Roodeplaat Dam Nature Reserve (West), 17 kmNE of Pretoria, 28º22’S, 25º37’E, leg. A.S. Dippenaar-Dippenaar, 27.XI.1979(beating flowering  Acaciatrees, spider collected from yellow flowers), 1♀( NCA80/277); Same locality, leg. A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman, 17.XII.1981(sweeping grass), 1³ ( NCA81/1091); Same locality, leg. National Collection of Arachnidastaff, 22.IX.1988(beating  Acaciatrees), 1³, 2 imm.( NCA92/607).  Other material examined.   SOUTH AFRICA:  Gauteng Province: Enkeldoorn, 25°24’S, 28°40’E, leg. A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman,  6.VIII.1974(sweeping grass), 4imm.( NCA 76/298);  Roodeplaatdam Nature Reserve, 28º22’S, 25º37’E, leg. M. Stiller,  29.IX.1980(sweeping grass), 1imm.( NCA 1992/608);  Samelocality, leg. M. Stiller,  13.VIII.1980(sweeping grass), 1imm.( NCA 1981/862);  Samelocality, leg. A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman,  27.XI.1980(sweeping grass), 2imm.( NCA 1999/34).   KwaZulu-Natal Province:iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Hell’s Gate, 28º01.2’S, 32º21.6’E, leg. J. Esterhuizen,  1.XI.2004( blue trap), 1³ ( NCA 2020/547);  Samelocality data,  3.VIII.2008( blue trap), 1³ ( NCA 2020/548);  Samelocality data,  20.IX.2004( blue trap), 2³, 1imm.( NCA 2020/549); iSimangaliso Wetland Park, False BayPark, 27º58.8’S 32º21.72’E, leg. M. Hamer,  6.XI.2004(tree beating), 1³, 1imm.( NCA 2006/58).   Limpopo Province: Rust de Winter, 25°13’S, 28°29’E, leg. A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman,  30. IV.1981(beating grass), 1♀, 1imm.( NCA 99/35);  Polokwane Nature Reserve, 23º58’S, 29º28’E, leg. T. Khoza& M. Modiba,  3. II.2006(riverine and sweet thorn ticket, tree beating), 1³, 1♀( NCA 2008/2204).   Mpumalanga Province: Loskopdam Nature Reserve, 25°46’S, 29°23’E, leg. A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman,  2. IV.1973(sweeping grass), 1imm.( NCA 2009/455).   Distribution. South Africa: Gauteng, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, and MpumalangaProvinces ( Fig. 32).   Biology/Habitat.Specimens have been mainly collected beating flowering  Vachelliatrees and sweeping grass in the Savanna Biome. Adults were sampled from September to December. 3023423382 1981-11-05 NCA A. S. Dippenaar-Schoeman South Africa -28.366667 Roodeplaat Dam Nature Reserve 1232 25.616667 3 164 NCA 82 1 Gauteng holotype 3023423310 1974-08-06 1980-11-27 1974-08-06 NCA A. S. Dippenaar-Schoeman South Africa -28.366667 Roodeplaatdam Nature Reserve 1232 25.616667 Enkeldoorn 3 164 NCA 76, NCA 1992, NCA 1981, NCA 1999 8 Gauteng 3023423354 1974-08-06 1980-11-27 1974-08-06 NCA M. Stiller South Africa -28.366667 Roodeplaatdam Nature Reserve 1232 25.616667 Enkeldoorn 3 164 NCA 76, NCA 1992, NCA 1981, NCA 1999 8 Gauteng 3023423395 1974-08-06 1980-11-27 1974-08-06 NCA M. Stiller South Africa -28.366667 Roodeplaatdam Nature Reserve 1232 25.616667 Enkeldoorn 3 164 NCA 76, NCA 1992, NCA 1981, NCA 1999 8 Gauteng 3023423349 1974-08-06 1980-11-27 1974-08-06 NCA A. S. Dippenaar-Schoeman South Africa -28.366667 Roodeplaatdam Nature Reserve 1232 25.616667 Enkeldoorn 3 164 NCA 76, NCA 1992, NCA 1981, NCA 1999 8 Gauteng 3023423361 2004-09-20 2008-08-03 2004-09-20 NCA J. Esterhuizen South Africa Wetland Park -27.98 Wetland Park 92 32.362 Hell's Gate 3 164 NCA 2020, NCA 2006 2 KwaZulu-Natal 3023423367 2004-09-20 2008-08-03 2004-09-20 NCA South Africa Wetland Park -27.98 Wetland Park 92 32.362 Hell's Gate 3 164 NCA 2020, NCA 2006 2 KwaZulu-Natal 3023423308 2004-09-20 2008-08-03 2004-09-20 NCA South Africa Wetland Park -27.98 Wetland Park 92 32.362 Hell's Gate 3 164 NCA 2020, NCA 2006 2 KwaZulu-Natal 3023423379 2004-09-20 2008-08-03 2004-09-20 NCA M. Hamer South Africa Wetland Park -27.98 Wetland Park 92 32.362 Hell's Gate 3 164 NCA 2020, NCA 2006 2 KwaZulu-Natal 3023423346 1981-04-30 2006-02-03 1981-04-30 IV, T, II A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman South Africa -23.966667 Polokwane Nature Reserve 1253 29.466667 Rust de Winter 3 164 NCA 99, NCA 2008 3 2 Limpopo 3023423323 1981-04-30 2006-02-03 1981-04-30 IV, T, II T. Khoza & M. Modiba South Africa -23.966667 Polokwane Nature Reserve 1253 29.466667 Rust de Winter 3 164 NCA 99, NCA 2008 3 2 Limpopo 3023423392 1973-04-02 IV A. S. Dippenaar-Schoeman South Africa -25.766666 Loskopdam Nature Reserve 1245 29.383333 3 164 NCA 2009 1 Mpumalanga