Present status of Sicariidae (Arachnida: Araneae) in the Afrotropical region
Author
Lotz, L. N.
text
Zootaxa
2012
2012-10-19
3522
1
41
journal article
1175-5326
5FDF2E4A-1F35-4EC8-A1FE-DCE443E4E702
Loxosceles simillima
Lawrence, 1927
(
Figs. 9I
,
10I
,
15B
)
Loxosceles simillima
Lawrence, 1927: 6
;
Newlands, 1986: 71
, f. 43–45.
Loxosceles spiniceps
Lawrence, 1952: 187
, f. 7;
Newlands, 1986: 75
, f. 49–51 (syn.).
Types:
Loxosceles simillima
—
2♀
(
1♀
Lectotype
—here designated) from
Namibia
: Andoni, [1835'S, 1642'E];
1♀
paralectotype
from
Angola
: Namakunde, [1718'S, 1551'E];
Loxosceles spiniceps
—
1♂
3♀
syntypes
from
South Africa
:
Zululand
,
Ingwavuma
, [2708'S, 3202'E] [examined in part, see note]
.
Note:
Lawrence (1927)
described
Loxosceles simillima
on
two females
(SAM-ENW-B005925) and
one female
(SAM-ENW-B006281). At present there is only
one specimen
in vial SAM-ENW-B005925 and it is this specimen that is designated the
Lectotype
. The other
syntype
specimen from SAM-ENW-B005925 seem to be lost. The types of
Loxosceles spiniceps
were not examined, but specimens from a whole range of localities from
Namibia
to
Kwazulu-Natal
,
South Africa
were examined.
Newlands (1986)
looked at specimens from the type localities and suggested revalidating both species. It is felt that only
Loxosceles simillima
should be revalidated with
Loxosceles spiniceps
as a synonym, as no discernable differences could be found in specimens in the type locality areas and the areas in between.
Diagnosis: Male palp cymbium and tibia short, similar to
L. bergeri
,
L. pilosa
,
L. smithi
and
L. spinulosa
; differing from
L. bergeri
in the palp cymbium being 1.5 times as long as the patella; differing from
L. pilosa
in the cymbium being 1.5 times as long as tibia; differing from
L. smithi
in the palp femur length being equal to the patella+tibia length; differing from
L. spinulosa
in the structure of the embolus (
Fig. 9I
). Female spermathecae consist of two, small, round sacs; posterior sac slightly larger and rounder than anterior sac; two thin copulatory tubes joined at a widening base, with posterior tube longer and coiled; similar in some respects to
L parramae
,
L. speluncarum
and
L spinulosa
; differing from
L. parramae
and
L. spinulosa
in the copulatory tube being short between the copulatory opening and the split in the copulatory tube; differing from
L. speluncarum
in the posterior copulatory tube being coiled (
Fig. 10I
).
Female
: (SAM-ENW-B005925): TL = 8.7; CL = 3.2; CW = 2.7; CLL = 0.4. AME-LE 0.1; Eye diameter 0.2.
Leg measurements:
I II III IV Palp Femur 6.0 6.2 5.5 6.2 0.9 Patella 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 0.4 Tibia 6.0 6.0 4.7 5.6 0.6 Metatarsus 5.8 6.1 4.6 7.0 – Tarsus 1.3 1.3 1.1 1.4 1.2 Total 20.1 20.6 16.9 21.2 3.1
Male
: (NMBA 15268): TL = 4.8; CL = 2.2; CW = 1.85; CLL = 0.3. AME-LE 0.05; Eye diameter 0.15.
Leg measurements:
| I |
II |
III |
IV |
Palp |
| Femur |
5.6 |
6.0 |
5.1 |
5.8 |
0.8 |
| Patella |
0.9 |
0.9 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
0.4 |
| Tibia |
6.7 |
6.7 |
4.6 |
5.5 |
0.4 |
| Metatarsus |
6.6 |
7.0 |
6.2 |
7.3 |
– |
| Tarsus |
1.2 |
1.3 |
1.0 |
1.4 |
0.6 |
| Total |
21.0 |
21.9 |
17.7 |
20.8 |
2.2 |
|
Distribution:
Loxosceles simillima
has a wide distributed from northern Namibia, through Botswana and Zimbabwe to north-eastern and central South Africa (Fig. 15B).
|
|
Loxosceles smithi
Simon, 1897
(Figs. 9J, 16A)
|
|
Loxosceles smithii
Simon, 1897
f: 386
.
|
| Types: ♂ Lectotype (here designated) from Ethiopia: Gallarum region [specific locality unknown], Sheikh Husein, [BMNH] [examined]. |
|
Diagnosis: Male palp cymbium and tibia short, similar to
L. bergeri
,
L. pilosa
,
L. simillima
and
L. spinulosa
; differing from
L. bergeri
,
L. pilosa
and
L. simillima
in the palp femur length being shorter than the patella+tibia length; differing from
L. spinulosa
in the structure of the embolus (Fig. 9J). Female unknown.
Female
: unknown.
|
|
Male
: (BMNH 511): TL = 6.0; CL = 2.7; CW = 2.3; CLL = 0.4. AME-LE 0.10; Eye diameter 0.15. Leg measurements:
|
| I |
II |
III |
IV |
Palp |
| Femur |
7.0 |
7.0 |
6.1 |
7.0 |
0.80 |
| Patella |
1.1 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0.50 |
| Tibia |
8.5 |
8.6 |
6.3 |
7.5 |
0.55 |
| Metatarsus |
8.4 |
8.6 |
6.7 |
9.0 |
– |
| Tarsus |
1.6 |
1.6 |
1.3 |
1.6 |
0.70 |
| Total |
26.6 |
26.8 |
21.4 |
26.1 |
2.55 |
Distribution:
Loxosceles smithi
is distributed in
Ethiopia
(
Fig. 16A
).