A revision of the endemic South African spider genus Austrachelas, with its transfer to the Gallieniellidae (Arachnida: Araneae) Author Haddad, Charles R. Author Lyle, Robin Author Bosselaers, Jan Author Ramirez, Martin J. text Zootaxa 2009 2296 1 38 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.191594 6f65b06c-5600-4172-9ee2-854f09ef4455 1175-5326 191594 Austrachelas incertus Lawrence, 1938 ( Figs 2, 3 , 54–57 ) Austrachelas incertus Lawrence, 1938 : 504 , fig. 28. (Ƥ) Diagnosis . The female of A. incertus can be recognised by the very broad distinctive semi-circular anterior hood ( Fig. 54 ); males closely resemble A. kalaharinus n. sp. , but can be distinguished by the size and position of the denticles on the distal margin of the embolus ( Fig. 56 ), and by the simple retrolateral tibial apophysis (with two denticles in A. kalaharinus n. sp. ). FIGURES 52–59. Genitalic morphology of Austrachelas species. (52–53) A. bergi n. sp. : female epigyne, ventral view (52), dorsal view (53); (54–57) A. incertus Lawrence, 1938 : female epigyne, ventral view (54), dorsal view (55), male palp, ventral view (56), retrolateral view (57); (58–59) A. kalaharinus n. sp. , male palp, ventral view (58), retrolateral view (59). Scale bars = 0.1mm. Female. Measurements: CL 4.20–4.62, CW 2.98–3.22, FL 0.40–0.42, AL 4.65–7.50, AW 2.30–4.20, SL 2.33–2.55, SW 1.60–1.70, TL 8.85–12.25, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.40, PME–PME 0.09, PME–PLE 0.16, PLE–PLE 0.68. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 2.65 + 1.73 + 2.20 + 1.65 + 1.08 = 9.31; II 2.48 + 1.62 + 2.03 + 1.63 + 1.00 = 8.76; III 2.30 + 1.30 + 1.38 + 1.87 + 1.00 = 7.85; IV 2.98 + 1.63 + 2.30 + 2.70 + 1.20 = 10.81. Carapace deep red-brown, dark orange-red along midline ( Fig. 2 ); AER strongly procurved, laterals larger than medians; AME separated by distance equal to their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to ½ AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 1½ times AME diameter at AME, equal to ¾ ALE diameter at ALE; PER straight, laterals larger than medians; PME separated by distance equal to their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1½ times PME diameter. Chelicerae deep red-brown; promargin with three teeth, proximal tooth smallest, median tooth largest; median and distal teeth closest together; retromargin with two small subequal teeth, situated close to fang base. Legs all yellow-orange, slightly darker distally. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1 do 1, II pl 1 do 1, III pl 1 do 2–3 rl 1, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2–3 do 0–1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, strongly scopulate, III & IV scopulate in distal half, III pl 6 do 2 rl 5 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 6 rl 5 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2; palp: femora pl 1 do 2, patellae spineless, tibiae pl 3 r1 2, tarsus pl 3 do 1 rl 1 plv 1 rlv 1. Abdomen dark grey dorsally, with cream chevron markings ( Fig. 2 ), cream laterally and ventrally; dorsum and venter lacking scutum or other sclerites. Female epigyne with broad semi-circular anterior hood ( Fig. 54 ); copulatory openings anterolaterally situated, entering median ST 2; ST 1 oval, posteriorly situated, distinctly separated ( Fig. 55 ). Male. Measurements: CL 4.23, CW 2.98, FL 0.42, AL 4.35, AW 2.25, SL 2.33, SW 1.57, TL 8.98, AME–AME 0.12, AME–ALE 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.35, PME–PME 0.09, PME–PLE 0.16, PLE–PLE 0.65. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 3.18 + 1.78 + 2.45 + 1.95 + 1.18 = 10.54; II 3.00 + 1.68 + 2.25 + 1.90 + 1.20 = 10.03; III 2.58 + 1.30 + 1.53 + 2.01 + 1.08 = 8.50; IV 3.45 + 1.68 + 2.53 + 3.08 + 1.20 = 11.94. Carapace deep orange-brown, paler along midline ( Fig. 3 ); AER strongly procurved, laterals larger than medians; AME separated by distance equal to 1½ times their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to ¾ AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 2¼ AME diameter at AME, equal to ALE diameter at ALE; PER straight, laterals larger than medians; PME separated by distance equal to ¾ their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1½ times PME diameter. Chelicerae pale yellow-orange; promargin and retromargin with single small tooth; promarginal tooth larger, retromarginal tooth closer to fang base. Legs all yellow-orange, slightly paler distally. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1 do 1, II pl 1 do 1, III pl 1 do 2 rl 1, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, strongly scopulate, III & IV scopulate in distal half, III pl 6 rl 4 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 6 rl 5 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2. Abdomen grey with cream chevron dorsally ( Fig. 3 ), cream laterally and ventrally; small anterior dorsal scutum present, venter without any sclerites. Male palp with broad rounded prolateral tibial apophysis and simple triangular retrolateral tibial apophysis; median tegular apophysis hook-shaped; embolus curved in broad arc, with curved tooth-like prolateral and hook-like retrolateral projection on distal margin of embolus ( Figs 56, 57 ); palpal spination: femora do 2, tarsi pl 1. Type material : Holotype Ƥ, deposited in NMSA (examined): SOUTH AFRICA : KwaZulu-Natal Province , Bulwer [ 29°48'S , 29°45'E ], V.1936 , R.F. Lawrence ( NMSA 120). Additional material examined : SOUTH AFRICA : KwaZulu-Natal Province , Cathkin Peak [ 29°04'S , 29°21'E ], 5800ft a.s.l., no further information, 1 sa 3, 1 sa Ƥ ( NMSA 2161) [leg spination corresponds with other specimens]; Hilton, near Pietermaritzburg [ 29°33'S , 30°18'E ], Grounds of St Anne’s Diocesan School, 6.V.1991 , P. Croeser & Members of Wildlife Club, 1Ƥ ( NMSA 21892); Karkloof, 50km NNW of Pietermaritzburg, 29°26'S , 30°19'E , 4600ft a.s.l., 20.X.1985 , C. Griswold, T. Griswold & J. Doyen (forest), 2Ƥ ( NMSA 21893); Ndumeni forest, Cathedral Peak, 4800 ft a.s.l., 28°57'S , 29°12'E , 21-24.II.1984 , C. Griswold & T. Meikle-Griswold, 13 ( NMSA 21894); Pietermaritzburg [ 29°37'S , 30°22'E ], Chase Valley, III. 1937 , R.F. Lawrence, 1 sa Ƥ ( NMSA 1712) [leg spination corresponds with holotype ]. Distribution . Known from the KwaZulu-Natal midlands and uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Mountains ( Fig. 82 ).