Description of a new genus and three new species of the family Palpimanidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from Kenya Author Oketch, Ambata D. Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China & National Museums of Kenya, Museum Hill, P. O. Box 40658 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya & University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China Author Zonstein, Sergei Tel Aviv University, Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel & Department of Zoology and Centre for Invasion Biology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, 0950, South Africa Author Kioko, Esther N. National Museums of Kenya, Museum Hill, P. O. Box 40658 - 00100, Nairobi, Kenya Author Li, Shuqiang https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3290-5416 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China & University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China lisq@ioz.ac.cn text African Invertebrates 2020 2020-07-28 61 2 93 106 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/afrinvertebr.61.54004 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/afrinvertebr.61.54004 2305-2562-2-93 81DB0EF4176D5E8E94036F35D8EDFF30 Sceliscelis Oketch & Li gen. nov. Type species. Sceliscelis marshi sp. nov. Etymology. This genus possesses some characteristics that are also found in Sarascelis Simon, 1887 and Scelidocteus Simon, 1887, such as the dentate segments of leg I (which include at least the dorsal surface of the coxa and basal part of the femur) and the spiral embolus. The name is a combination of "Sceli" from Scelidocteus and "Scelis" from Sarascelis . The gender is feminine. Diagnosis. The new genus closely resembles Sarascelis in general appearance by having much larger AMEs (Fig. 1A ; also see Jezequel 1964 , fig. 5a-c, Zonstein and Marusik 2013 ; figs 5, 6). It can, however, be distinguished from Sarascelis , Scelidocteus and the close ally Steriphopus Simon, 1887 by (1) having a greatly extended bulb (vs. the more or less bulky palpal structures of Sarascelis and Steriphopus ) (2) the large AMEs ( Steriphopus has considerably smaller AMEs) (3) the shape of the thoracic fovea, which is an elongated Ω-shape in Sceliscelis (vs. a longitudinal slit or anchor-like in Sarascelis and Scelidocteus ) (4) the presence of a hook-like extension at the distal end of a sword-like "conductor" (vs. extension absent in other members of the family) (5) the poorly developed scopula on metatarsus and tarsus I (6) the rugose carapace in Sceliscelis gen. n. (vs. smooth or finely rugose in Sarascelis , Scelidocteus and Steriphopus ) (see Zonstein and Marusik 2013 ). Females of Sceliscelis can be distinguished from those of Sarascelis and Scelidocteus by the wavy, rigid extension of the genital area and by a pair of divergent sac-like receptacles. Description. Medium-sized. Carapace dome shaped, coarsely granulated and hairless, medially elevated, fovea longitudinal, open posteriorly (elongated Ω-shape ). Eight eyes, MOQ trapezoidal; AME largest, about 3 times as large as PME; ALE, PLE and PME subequal to each other. AER straight. Labium triangular, notched, longer than wide but broader at base. Chelicerae directed ventrally, 2 times longer than clypeus, granulate. Endites trapezoidal, about 1.5 times longer than wide. Abdomen clay yellow, oval and covered with short, gray setae in both sexes. Femur of male palp slender, longer than wide, patella shorter than "conductor" . Cymbium with setae, pointed at tip and indented (prolateral view). Embolus spiral, with accompanying membrane and a silvery, palm-like embolic extension. "Conductor" sword-shaped, longer than wide, slightly longer than embolus. Endogyne wavy anteriorly, forming a rigid epigastric wall. Composition. This genus currently includes only the type species.