Afroceto dippenaarae, Lyle, 2015

Lyle, Robin, 2015, Two new species of the Afrotropical sac spider genus Afroceto Lyle & Haddad, 2010 (Araneae: Trachelidae), African Invertebrates 56 (2), pp. 415-423 : 418-420

Afroceto dippenaarae sp. n.

Figs 2, 6–8 Etymology: This species is named after Dr Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman, in recognition of the siGnificant contribution she has made throuGhout her career in the field of Arachnology on the African continent, especially in South Africa.

Diagnosis: A. dippenaarae sp. n. and A. porrecta Lyle & Haddad, 2010 both have an elongated embolus and cymbium. These two species are the only Afroceto species with two clearly separated retrolateral tibial apophyses. Afroceto dippenaarae sp. n. is recognised from A. porrecta by the broader, elongated embolus that ends with a folded tip, the less strongly ventrally curved cymbium, and the smaller dorsal retrolateral apophysis ( Fig. 8).

Description:

Male.

Measurements: CL 2.68, CW 2.13, AL 2.71, AW 1.84, TL 5.39, FL 0.23, SL 1.48, SW 1.28, AME–AME 0.09, AME–ALE 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.44, PME–PME 0.17, PME– PLE 0.20, PLE–PLE 0.70, MOQAW 0.37, MOQPW 0.40, MOQL 0.34. Length of leg segments: I 2.48+1.14+2.04+1.82+1.19=8.67; II 2.26+1.06+1.76+1.66+1.13=7.87; III 2.45+0.73+1.13+1.36+0.67= 6.34; IV 1.51+0.96+1.91+2.30+0.60=7.28.

Carapace: Reddish brown, darker at ocular reGion; first two-thirds Gradually rounded, with hiGhest point at one third carapace lenGth; surface finely Granulated, almost smooth; fovea distinct, black, at two thirds carapace length.

Eyes: Black rings around eyes; AER recurved, PER slightly recurved, almost straight; AME larger than ALE, AME separated by distance 0.3× their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance 0.8× AME diameter; PME slightly smaller than PLE, PME separated by distance 1.3× their diameter, PLE separated from PME by distance 1.3× PME diameter.

Chelicerae: Brown, orange towards fang base; anterior surface covered with scattered long setae; cheliceral furrow with four promarginal teeth, second distal tooth largest; two retromarGinal teeth, larGest situated proximally; fanGs oranGe.

Sternum: Shield-shaped; brown, surface texture smooth, covered with lonG, fine setae scattered on surface.

Abdomen: Pale yellow with mottled grey; broader anteriorly, tapering posteriorly; dorsal scutum extendinG almost entire abdominal lenGth; venter pale Grey, covered in fine setae. Legs: Uniform light brown, with incomplete grey bands on all legs; anterior legs more robust than posteriors; leg spines and cusps present ( Fig. 6).

Leg spination: Femora: I pl 1, II pl 1, III pl 3 IV rl 1; patellae spineless; tibiae: I plv 2 spines plv 12 cusps rlv 4 cusps vt 1 cusp, II plv 9 rlv 2 cusps, III pl 1 plv 7 rlv 3 vt 1, IV pl 2 plv 2 rl 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I pl 1 plv 2 plv 20 cusps rl 1 rlv 1 rlv 15 cusps; tarsi: I plv 15 cusps rlv 10 cusps, II plv 8 cusps rlv 6 cusps ( Fig. 6).

Palp: Brown; tegulum small; embolus broad, originating retrolaterally on tegulum, curving retrolaterally on narrow elongated cymbium; embolus basally almost as wide as post-tegular cymbium, tip folded ( Fig. 7), two retrolateral apophyses, ventral apophysis small, rounded, two thirds of dorsal apophysis length, dorsal apophysis sharply pointed ( Fig. 8). No patellar apophysis present.

Female. Unknown.

Holotype: ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: Cederberg, Crystal Pools, Wupperthal , 32°19.934'S 19°08.460'S, 1113 m, 1.iii.2009, S. Kritzinger-Klopper, pit traps (15.1.6) (NCA 2012/1901).

Distribution: Known only from type locality in the Cederberg Mountain range, Western Cape Province, South Africa ( Fig. 9).