Revision and cladistic analysis of the Afrotropical endemic genus Smeringopus Simon, 1890 (Araneae: Pholcidae)
Author
HUBER, BERNHARD A.
text
Zootaxa
2012
2012-09-07
3461
1
1
138
http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3461.1.1
journal article
53629
10.11646/zootaxa.3461.1.1
664d9cee-5b75-4788-a394-6b35a37de652
11755334
6415657
0704C43A-73D8-4A28-915A-7FF8611C8606
Smeringopus blyde
new species
Figs. 252
,
268–269
,
288–289
,
331–335
Type.
Male
holotype
from
South Africa
,
Mpumalanga
,
Blyde River Canyon
[~
24°31’S
,
30°48’E
], “Botaniese Reservaat”, in house, under roof,
9.iv.2001
(
D. van den Spiegel
), in
MRAC
(211081 part)
.
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. florisbad
,
S. koppies
,
S. harare
,
S. badplaas
) by shapes of bulbal processes (
Figs. 333, 334
); from other close relatives by absence of process near palpal tarsal organ (
Fig. 331
), 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 7.0, carapace width 2.2. Leg 1: 54.2 (14.1 + 0.9 + 14.0 + 22.7 + 2.5), tibia 2: 9.6, tibiae 3 and 4 missing; tibia 1 L/d: 66. Habitus similar
S. koppies
(cf.
Figs. 245, 246
). Carapace ochre-yellow with distinct dark pattern (median, lateral, and submarginal marks), clypeus with pair of dark marks widening distally, sternum brown with light marks, 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 150 µm, diameter PME 175 µm, distance PME-ALE 70 µm, distance AME-AME 45 µm, diameter AME 145 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with very indistinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in
S. badplaas
(cf.
Figs. 314, 315
; just slightly larger). Palps as in
Figs. 268 and 269
, 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. 331, 332
), bulb with three distinctively shaped processes (
Figs. 333, 334
). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs ventrally on metatarsi 1 and 2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 2.5%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1.
Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1: 9.7 (missing in other females). Epigynum a simple plate without pockets (
Figs. 288
), possibly not clearly distinguishable from close relatives (
S. lesnei
,
S. natalensis
,
S. florisbad
,
S. koppies
,
S. harare
,
S. badplaas
); internal genitalia as in
Figs. 289
and
335
(longer than in close relatives).
Distribution. Only known from
type
locality in eastern
South Africa
(
Fig. 299
).
Material
examined.
SOUTH AFRICA
:
Mpumalanga
:
Blyde
River
Canyon
:
1♂
holotype
above; same data,
2♀
5 juvs, in
MRAC
(211081 part)
;
same locality but under rocks,
5.iv.2001
(R. Jocqué),
1♀
in
MRAC
(210166).