The South African genus Lepthercus Purcell, 1902 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) phylogeny and taxonomy Author Ríos-Tamayo, Duniesky Author Lyle, Robin text Zootaxa 2020 2020-04-20 4766 2 261 305 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.4766.2.2 fe76f860-39b1-4520-a13c-d01a47dfc130 1175-5334 3765467 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BA570D47-FE77-446C-B000-9208C9A6E957 Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov. ( Figs. 2H, I , 16A, B , 17 A–K, 18A–C, 24) http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 5CC73DE1-28E2-4FA2-9784-BA1C58B0F910 Material examined. Type material : Holotype ♂ . SOUTH AFRICA : Western Cape Province , Swellendam District ; ca. 3km W of Bonnievale ; S slope of hill on S side of tar road ( 33°55’19.70”S 20°4’3.90”E ), 19.v.2013 , Engelbrecht, I. , Correia, M. leg. , ( NCA 2018 /384) . – Paratype . SOUTH AFRICA : same data as holotype , 1 ♀ ( NCA 2018/385). Other material examined : SOUTH AFRICA : Western Cape Province : Swellendam , Bontebok N.P ( 34°04′S 20°27′E ), 27.x.1987 , Entomology Staff leg. , 1 ♂ ♀ ( NMBA 17794 ); Swellendam District ; ca. 3km W of Bonnievale ; S slope of hill on S side of tar road ( 33°55’19.70”S 20°4’3.90”E ), 19.v.2013 , Engelbrecht, I. leg. , 3 ♂♂ , 7 ♀♀ ( NCA 2018 /383). Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronymic in honor of Dr Ian Engelbrecht who collected the type specimens and for his contribution to arachnology in South Africa . Diagnosis. Males of L. engelbrechti sp. nov. , can be recognized from all other species in “Group haddadi), by the presence of a curved megaspine with the apex flattened laterally ( Fig. 17I, J ); the presence of one prolateral strong and curved spine, near the spur ( Fig. 17I, J ) and by the presence of a shorter copulatory bulb ( Fig. 17 F–H). Females can be distinguished from L. haddadi sp. nov. , by the shape of their spermathecae with a short stalk ( Fig. 18D ). FIGURE. 16. Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov. , in vivo . A male; B female. (photos courtesy Ian Engelbrecht) . FIGURE. 17. Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov. (male holotype , NCA 2018/384). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view, arrow indicates the intercheliceral tumesence; D right pedipalp, arrows indicates the palpal tibia base dorsally very convex and a development of the anterior part of the retrolateral side of ventral excavation; E right pedipalp, arrow indicates the development of the anterior part of the retrolateral side of ventral excavation, prolateral view; F–H copulatory bulb, F retrolateral view, G ventral view, H prolateral view; I tibia-metatarsus I, arrow indicates the curved metatarsus and the apical patch of numerous black blunt spinules, prolateral view; J tibia I, arrow indicates the strong curved spine near of the base of the megaspine and the prolateral strong spine, ventral view. FIGURE. 18. Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov. (female paratype , NCA 2018/385). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view; D spermathecae . Description. Male holotype (NCA 2018/384, Figs. 17 A–J). Total length 12.38. Carapace ( Fig. 17A ): length 5.52, width 4.05, with lateral dark marginal bristles, with a little pubescence. Cephalic region : length 3.29; clypeus almost absent, without bristles on the edge, 4 bristles in front of the OQ and 5 between the PME. Fovea : width 0.39, short, slightly recurved. Ocular measurements : AME 0.14, ALE 0.24, PME 0.18, PLE 0.22, OQ length 0.45, 0.75 width; AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PLE 0.00, AME–PME 0.05, ALE–PLE 0.03, AME–AME 0.09, OMP–OMP 0.29. Chelicerae : length 2.35, width 1.36, with dark dorsal–anterior bristles, intercheliceral tumescence small, wellmarked with setae ( Fig. 17C ). Fang groove with 8 promarginal teeth and 18 mesobasal denticles. Labium : length 0.41, width 0.72. Maxillae : length 1.64, width 0.71, with about 71 short cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face slightly curved, soft area small, with long uniformly distributed hairs, serrula present ( Fig. 2I ). Sternum ( Fig. 17B ): length 2.66, maximum width 2.05. Abdomen : length 5.28, covered with small dark hair and bristles. PMS: length 0.54; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 1.02:0.63:1.23; total length 2.88. Lengths of legs and palp : I: 3.47, 2.18, 2.66 (width/length: 0.53), 2.42, 1.60, 12.33. II: 3.40, 2.06, 2.25, 2.17, 1.48, 11.36. III: 3.08, 1.79, 1.88, 2.66, 1.47, 10.88. IV: 3.88, 2.19, 2.71, 3.51, 1.68, 13.97. Palp: 1.76, 1.01, 1.41, —, 0.80, 4.98. Chaetotaxy : Leg I: femur, 1-1-1-1 d (centrals), 1 PA; patella, 1 PA; tibia, 1-1 P, 2-3-1 V, a small spur, with an apical megaspine with the apex flattened laterally. Presence of a strong curved spine near of the base of the megaspine and with another prolateral strong curved spine, near the spur ( Fig. 17I, J ); metatarsus, 1-1-2 V, presence of numerous black blunt spinules (1:3A, Fig. 17I ); tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1-1 PA; patella, 1 PA; tibia, 1-1 P, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 2-3-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1-1 PA; patella, 1-1 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1 D, 1-1 R, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1-1 D-R, 2-3-1-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1-1 RA; patella, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 R, 2-2-2 V; metatarsus, 2-1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-0-1 D-R, 1-1 R, 2-3-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp ( Fig. 17D, E ): femur, 1-1-1 d (1:2A), 1 PA; patella, 1 pa; tibia, 1 P, (width/length: 0.80); tarsus, 0. Scopulae : Metatarsi: I, sparse, around the black blunt spinules; II, sparse (3–4 A), more abundant in the anterior part, with some long and fine setae; III, sparse (A); IV, absent. Tarsi: I–II, dense, uniformly distributed throughout the segment; III, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by a narrow band of setae; IV, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by a wide band of setae. Trichobothria : Tibiae: I 11-11; II 10-10; III 9-9; IV 11-11. Metatarsi: I (3)1(2)1(4)1; II (5)1(2)1(3)1; III (4)1(2)1(5)1; IV (6)1(2)1(3)1(6)1. Tarsi: I 13; II 12; III-IV 13. Preening combs : metatarsus: II, 3 PV; III, 3 PV–2 RV; IV, 2 PV–3 RV. Copulatory bulb : with a curved embolus tapering gradually ( Fig. 17 F–H), spermatic duct slightly curved. Color : Overall brown-reddish (Mt-T I darker). Abdomen mottled with light spots forming wide bands; spinnerets light yellow with ventral dark longitudinal bands. Female paratype (NCA 2018/385, Figs. 18 A–D). Total length 12.85. Carapace ( Fig. 18A ): length 4.88, width 3.62. Cephalic region : length 3.20, clypeus small (almost absent) with 5 marginal bristles; 7 bristles in front of the OQ and numerous small ones between the PME. Fovea: width 0.34, almost straight (slightly procurved). Ocular measurements : AME 0.13, ALE 0.28, PME 0.19, PLE 0.25, OQ length 0.45, width 0.80; AME–ALE 0.06, PME– PLE 0.00, AME–PME 0.06, ALE–PLE 0.03, AME–AME 0.12, PME–PME 0.30. Chelicerae ( Fig. 18C ): length 2.64, width 1.71; with dorsal-retrolateral dark bristles. Fang groove with 8 promarginal teeth (one small between 7th and 8th) and 15 mesobasal denticles. Labium : length 0.40, width 0.81. Maxillae : length 1.71, width 0.75, with 75 cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face curved, soft area long, with long uniformly distributed hairs, serrula present on anterior inner corner ( Fig. 2H ). Sternum ( Fig. 18B ): length 2.36, maximum width 1.99. Abdomen : length 5.60, with small bristles in the dorsum. PMS: length 0.64; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 1.00:0.58:1.00; total length 2.58. Lengths of legs and palp : I: 3.24, 2.06, 2.06, 1.48, 1.03, 9.87. II: 2.82, 1.79, 1.68, 1,43, 1.06, 8.78. III: 2.05, 1.44, 1.36, 1.92, 1.15, 7.92. IV: 3.31, 1.98, 2.19, 2.76, 1.31, 11.55. Palp: 2.21, 1.36, 1.29, —, 1.31, 6.17. Chaetotaxy : Leg I: femur, 0; patella, 0; tibia, 1-2 vant; metatarsus, 2-1-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1 pa; patella, 1 pa; tibia, 1 P, 1-2 vant; metatarsus, 2-2-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1-1-1 d, 1-1 ra; patella, 1-1 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1 D, 1 R, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 2-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1-1 D-R, 2-3-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1 ra; patella, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 R, 2-2-2 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1-0-1 D-R, 1 R (1:3A), 2-3-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp: femur, 1-1-1-1 d (1:2A), 1 pa; patella, 0; tibia, 1-3 V; tarsus, 0. Scopulae : Metatarsi: I, dense, uniformly distributed, divided by setae; II–IV, without scopula. Tarsi: I, dense, uniformly distributed, divided by setae; II dense, uniformly distributed, divided by a narrow band of setae; III–IV, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by a wide band of setae. Trichobothria : Tibiae: palp 8-7; I 9-9; II 9-10; III 9-8; IV 10-10. Metatarsi: I (3)1(2)1(4)1; II (4)1(2)1(4)1; III (4)1(2)1(5)1; IV (4)1(1)1(2)1(6)1. Tarsi: palp 11; I 12; II 11; III 12; IV 11. Preening combs : metatarsus: II 3 PV; III 3 PV–3 RV; IV 2 PV–3 RV. Spermathecae : small, tubulars and curved ( Fig. 18D ). Color : Overall orange-yellowish (chelicerae darker). Abdomen mottled with light spots forming wide bands, spinnerets light yellow with dark, longitudinal bands ventrally. Distribution. Eastern and Western Cape Provinces, South Africa ( Fig. 24 ).