Smeringopus florisbad, Huber, 2012

HUBER, BERNHARD A., 2012, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Afrotropical endemic genus Smeringopus Simon, 1890 (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 3461 (1), pp. 1-138 : 54-55

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3461.1.1

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:0704C43A-73D8-4A28-915A-7FF8611C8606

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5256520

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03FBB532-FFB0-1735-FF6A-0E623EAFFC18

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Smeringopus florisbad
status

sp. nov.

Smeringopus florisbad View in CoL new species

Figs. 262–263 View FIGURES 256–267 , 284–285 View FIGURES 278–297 , 317–321 View FIGURES 317–326

Type. Male holotype from South Africa, Free State, Brandford, Florisbad (28°46’S, 26°05’E), 1250 m a.s.l., 1.–15.ii.1988 (L.N. Lotz), in NMBA (4107) GoogleMaps .

Etymology. The name is a noun in apposition, derived from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners (other species of the natalensis group, especially S. lesnei , S. natalensis , S. blyde , S. koppies , S. harare , S. badplaas ) by shapes of bulbal processes ( Figs. 319, 320 View FIGURES 317–326 ); from other close relatives by absence of process near palpal tarsal organ ( Fig. 317 View FIGURES 317–326 ), relatively straight procursus (ventrally), absence of prolateral process on procursus tip, and three black lines ventrally on abdomen (versus two).

Male (holotype). Total body length 5.5, carapace width 1.7. Leg 1: 41.0 (10.9 + 0.7 + 10.4 + 16.7 + 2.3), tibia 2: 7.3, tibia 3: 5.5, tibia 4: 7.7; tibia 1 L/d: 59. Habitus similar S. koppies (cf. Figs. 245–246 View FIGURES 243–255 ). Carapace ochreyellow with distinct dark pattern (median, lateral, and submarginal marks), clypeus with pair of dark marks widening distally, sternum brown with light marks near leg coxae, legs with barely visible darker rings subdistally on femora and tibiae, abdomen dorsally with distinct dark pattern, ventrally with three dark lines in median part (median line narrow but distinct). Distance PME-PME 170 µm, diameter PME 140 µm, distance PME-ALE 70 µm, distance AME-AME 35 µm, diameter AME 140 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with very indistinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in S. badplaas (cf. Figs. 314, 315 View FIGURES 310–316 ). Palps as in Figs. 262 and 263 View FIGURES 256–267 , coxa without retrolateral apophysis, trochanter barely modified, femur with retrolateral furrow with distinct rim proximally, cymbium without projection near tarsal organ, procursus ventrally almost straight, without prolateral process at tip ( Figs. 317, 318 View FIGURES 317–326 ), bulb with three distinctively shaped processes ( Figs. 319, 320 View FIGURES 317–326 ). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs on metatarsi 1 and 2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 2.5%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1. Gonopore with two epiandrous spigots.

Variation. In males from Bronkhorstspruit the median bulbal projection is slightly shorter and the distance between dorso-distal apophysis and membranous tip of procursus (marked in Fig. 317 View FIGURES 317–326 ) is slightly shorter. Tibia 1 in 6 other males: 7.6–11.5 (mean 10.2).

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 9 females: 6.8–10.9 (mean 9.3). Epigynum a simple plate without pockets ( Fig. 284 View FIGURES 278–297 ), variable in shape and coloration and thus possibly not clearly distinguishable from close relatives ( S. lesnei , S. natalensis , S. blyde , S. koppies , S. harare , S. badplaas ); internal genitalia as in Figs. 285 View FIGURES 278–297 and 321 View FIGURES 317–326 (also very similar to close relatives).

Distribution. Known from four localities in central and eastern South Africa ( Fig. 299 View FIGURE 299 ).

Material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Free State: Brandford, Florisbad : 1♂ holotype above, together with 1 juv.; same data but 21.xii.1987 – 5.i.1988, 1♀ in NMBA (3845) ; 5.–19.i.1988, 1♀ in NMBA (3919) ; 19.i.–1.ii.1988, 1♂ in NMBA (3983) ; 1.–15.ii.1988, 1♀ in NMBA (4079) ; 2.–16.iii.1988, 1♀ in NMBA (4223) ; 24.v.–8.vi.1988, 1♂ in NMBA (4443) . 31.x.–18.xi.1988, 1♂ in NMBA (5225) . Florisbad , vi.1985 (Museum Staff), 1♂ in NMBA (839) . Bloemfontein (29°09’S, 26°10’E), 23.xi.1999 (L.N. Lotz), 1♂ in NMBA (9236) GoogleMaps ; Bloemfontein , 1440 m a.s.l., in house, 3.xii.1991 (L.N. Lotz), 1♂ in NMBA (5851) ; Bloemfontein , in house, 22.ix.1988 (L.N. Lotz), 1♂ in NMBA (2983) ; Bloemfontein , in house, ii.1993 (M. Swart), 1♀ in NMBA (6116) ; Bloemfontein , in museum, 1400 m a.s.l., 24.i.1992 (J. Irish), 1♀ in NMBA (6000) ; Bloemfontein , in house, 23.viii.1993 (J. Irish), 1♀ in NMBA (8299) . Bloemfontein, Naval Hill (29°06’S, 26°14’E), 1440 m a.s.l., viii.1990 (L.N. Lotz), 1♀ in NMBA (6518) GoogleMaps . Bloemfontein, Grant’s Hill South, Oliewenhuis (29°06’S, 26°13’E), xi.1991 (L.N. Lotz) 1♀ in NMBA (7930) GoogleMaps . Gauteng: Bronkhorstspruit [25°48’S, 28°44’E], “onder klip”, 12.ii.1967 (A.S.D.), 1♂ 1♀ in NCP (76/ 2015); GoogleMaps Bronkhorstspruit , in house, 15.iv.1987 (K. Viviers), 1♀ in NCP (91/223). GoogleMaps “Plaas Onverwacht”, ~ 12 km E Bronkhorstspruit [~ 25°51’S, 28°57’E], date not given, leg. A.S.D., 1♂ in NCP (76/2014) GoogleMaps .

NMBA

National Museum, Bloemfontein

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Araneae

Family

Pholcidae

Genus

Smeringopus

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