May gen. n. (Araneae: Sparassidae): a unique lineage from southern Africa supported by morphological and molecular features Author Jäger, Peter Author Krehenwinkel, Henrik text African Invertebrates 2015 2015-08-12 56 2 365 365 http://www.bioone.org/doi/10.5733/afin.056.0209 journal article 10.5733/afin.056.0209 2305-2562 7914093 May bruno sp. n. Figs 1–49 , 120 Etymology: This new species is named for Bruno May , for supporting biodiversity research through BIOPAT e.V. (Patrons for Biodiversity; www-biopat.de); noun (name) in apposition. Diagnosis: Medium-sized Sparassidae of the African clade with a body length of 18 mm in males and 16.8 to 19. 8 in females. Males recognisable by cymbium a bit wider than tibia, with blunt tip, i.e. widest part close to tip ( Fig. 1 ); embolus with long distal part, narrowing continuously to filiform tip ( Fig. 3 ). Females may be recognised by a V- to U-shaped posterior margin of the atrium ( Figs 11, 14, 17–18 ) and two pairs of spherical structures in the internal duct system ( Figs 12–13, 15 , 19 ). Description: Male ( holotype , PJ 3523). DS length 9.0, width 7.4, anterior width 4.3, OS length 9.0, width 5.9. Eyes ( Figs 5–6 ): AME 0.54, ALE 0.51, PME 0.36, PLE 0.56, AME–AME 0.20, AME–ALE 0.05, PME– PME 0.75, PME–PLE 0.52, AME–PME 0.46, ALE–PLE 0.45, clypeus height at AME 0.80, at ALE 0.95. Spination: palp: 131, 101, 2111, 2000; legs: femur I 3(4)23, II 323, III 32(3)3, IV 322; patella I–IV 101; tibia I–IV 2226 ; metatarsus I–III 3034, IV 3037.All metatarsi with dense scopula ventrally, metatarsus IV with few bristles mainly proximally in scopula. Tarsus I ventrally with 9 claw slit sensilla ( sensu RamÍrez 2014 ) in distal transverse suture (cf. Fig. 20 ). Leg formula: 2431. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 11.6 (4.0, 1.8, 2.1, -, 3.7), leg I 37.9 (10.0, 4.3, 9.8, 9.3, 4.5), leg II 42.1 (11.3, 4.6, 11.0, 10.3, 4.9), leg III 38.3 (11.0, 4.2, 9.9, 9.0, 4.2), leg IV 41.3 (12.0, 4.2, 10.5, 10.1, 4.5). Cheliceral furrow without denticles; promargin of chelicerae with 2 teeth, retromargin with 3 teeth, the proximal teeth fused at their base; with 5–6 bristles at fang base ( Fig. 10 ). Gnathocoxae without serrula. Metatarsal stopper with very weak median hook and lateral projections [cf. Fig. 30 ; similar to that in Cerbalus pulcherrimus (Simon, 1880) ]. Palp as in diagnosis ( Figs 1–4 , 41–42 ): Cymbium distally with dense brush of strong bristles, with weakly concave retrolateral side. Embolus arising at 2 to 2.30 o’clock from tegulum, proximal part sickle-shaped, transversal to distal part, distal tip of embolus with spermophor opening distally. Conductor arising at 1.30 o’clock from tegulum, distad. Spermophor running distinctly S-shaped across tegulum. Haematodochae visible in proximo-retrolateral part of alveolus. RTA short, extending barely beyond the cymbial “shoulder”, with three distal tips, distad. Prolateral tibial spines forming with additional long setae on tibia one conspicuous row, another row formed by long setae on ventral tibia. Coloration ( Figs 34–36, 43 ): Yellowish brown without distinct pattern. DS with longitudinal fovea. White hairs present around eyes, along DS margins, on parts of chelicerae and legs, on parts of OS. Spinnerets and ventral area anterior of spinnerets with brown hairs. Female ( paratype , PJ 3524). DS length 9.8, width 8.1, anterior width 5.1, OS length 10.0, width 6.5. Eyes ( Fig. 31 ): AME 0.58, ALE 0.55, PME 0.38, PLE 0.60, AME–AME 0.25, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 0.86, PME–PLE 0.55, AME–PME 0.68, ALE–PLE 0.55, clypeus height at AME 0.90, at ALE 0.98. Spination: palp: 131, 101, 2121, 1014; legs: femur I 323, II 323(4), III 322, IV 322; patella I–IV 101; tibia I–IV 2226 ; metatarsus I–III 3034, IV 3037. All metatarsi with dense scopula, metatarsus IV ventrally with double row of bristles, hidden in scopula. Tarsus I ventrally with 13 claw slit sensilla ( sensu Ramírez 2014 ) in distal transverse suture ( Fig. 20 ). Leg formula: 2431. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 13.3 (4.0, 1.9, 2.7, -, 4.7), leg I 33.7 (8.9, 4.5, 8.4, 8.0, 3.9), leg II 37.8 (10.7, 4.7, 9.6, 8.6, 4.2), leg III 34.6 (10.0, 4.2, 8.9, 8.5, 4.1), leg IV 37.2 (11.5, 4.2, 8.9, 8.5, 4.1). Cheliceral furrow without denticles; promargin of chelicerae with 2 teeth, retromargin with 3 teeth ( Fig. 32 ); with 7–9 bristles at fang base. Palpal claw with 10 teeth ( Fig. 23 ), claw of leg I with 10–12 teeth ( Fig. 21 ). Gnathocoxae without serrula. Metatarsal stopper ( sensu RamÍrez 2014 ) not developed as the usual trilobate membrane, known to be apomorphic for Sparassidae , but with only central area membranous and pale, lateral parts slightly sclerotised; median hook extending slightly beyond lateral projections [ Fig. 30 ; similar to that in Cerbalus pulcherrimus ]. Figs 1–10. May bruno gen. n. sp. n. from Witsand, South Africa, holotype ♂: (1–4) left ♂ palp (1) ventral, (2) retrolateral, (3) distal tegulum, prolateral, (4) RTA, dorsal; (5–6) eye arrangement (5) frontal, (6) dorsal); (7) leg I, prolateral; (8) leg claw; (9) gnathocoxae and labium, ventral; (10) cheliceral dentition, ventral. Abbreviations: C – conductor; E – embolus; S – “shoulder” of basal cymbium. Figs 11–17. May bruno gen. n. sp. n. from South Africa, ♀ paratypes from Witsand, South Africa (11–13) PJ 3524, (14–16) PJ 3525, (17) PJ 3526): (11, 14, 17) epigyne, ventral; (12, 15) vulva, dorsal; (13) vulva, posterior; (16) schematic course of internal duct system, dorsal. Abbreviations: FB – fusion bubbles; FD – fertilisation ducts; G – glands; GP – guiding pockets; SS – slit sensilla. Figs 18–19. May bruno gen. n. sp. n., ♀ from Twee Riviere, South Africa (PJ 3536): (18) epigyne, ventral; (19) vulva, dorsal. Copulatory organ as in diagnosis ( Figs 11–19 ): Epigynal field longer than wide, anteriorly converging, with one pair of slit sensilla. Posterior margin with median bulge ( Figs 11 , 18 ). Anterior margins of atrium with lateral guiding pockets leading to copulatory openings. Copulatory ducts with glandular parts in latero-posterior spherical structures, leading to medio-anterior spherical parts, then to fertilisation ducts. Coloration ( Figs 37–39 ):As in male, but DS with indistinct median patch around fovea. Live spiders with slight pink shimmer ( Figs 48–49 ). Variation: Males (n = 3): DS length 7.9–9.8. OS length 8.8–9.3 (OS of PJ 3526 shrivelled). Spination: Palpal patella 001(2), tarsus 1004/1003; femur I 3(4)23, III 324/3(4)23, IV 32(3)2[distal dorsal spine doubled]/3(4)22; tibia III 2126 . Palpal claw with 8–9 teeth. Tarsus I ventrally with 10, tarsus III with 11, tarsus IV with 9–12 claw slit sensilla in distal transverse suture. Gnathocoxae with reduced serrula of 6 (right) and 2 (left) (PJ 3526) or with 10 (right) and no (left) (PJ 3525) denticles ( Fig. 33 ). Chelicerae with 3/2 posterior teeth and 4–6 bristles at fang base (PJ 3536). DS with broad slightly darker median band rather than patch. Epigynal field without slit sensilla ( Fig. 14 ), in specimens from Twee Riviere longer and more distinctly V-shaped ( Fig. 18 ). Posterior margin without bulge ( Figs 14, 17 ). Epigyne with fusion bubbles in posterior part ( Figs 14, 17–18 ). Holotype ♂ (PJ 3523): SOUTH AFRICA : Northern Cape : Kalahari , Witsand Nat. Res., white dunes, 28°33.606'S 22°28.972'E , 1198 m , D. Kunz leg., 13.xii.2004 , DK 212 ( SMF ). Paratypes : 1♀ (PJ 3524), same data as holotype but 28°33.517'S 22°29.043'E , J. Jessnitz leg., 11.xii.2004 , DK 209 ( SMF ) . 1♀ (PJ 3525), same data as holotype but 28°32.710'S 22°29.759'E , 1222 m , DK 214 ( NCA ) . 1♀ (PJ 3526), same data as holotype but 28°32.961'S 22°29.558'E , 1220 m , DK 213, SD 356 ( SMN ) . Other material examined : SOUTH AFRICA : Northern Cape : 1♀ (PJ 3536), Kalahari , Twee Rivieren [Rest Camp][ 26°28'20.55"S 20°36'42.31"E , 883 m ], W.Haacke leg. 4.i.1967 ,sub Nisueta kolosvaryi , SD1204 ( NMSA 20250 ) . 1 juvenile (PJ 3527), same data as holotype but 28°33.518'S 22°29.019'E , 1195 m , hiding in burrow under tussock, dug out from 20–30 cm depth, at night, J. Jessnitz leg., 11.xii.2004 , DK 208, SD 361 ( SMF ) . Figs 20–33. May bruno gen. n. sp. n. from South Africa (♀ paratypes from Witsand, ♀ from Twee Rivieren): (20–22) tarsus tip: (20) ventral, (21) lateral, (22) dorsal); (23) ♀ palpal claw, lateral; (24–25) Lawrence setae; (26–29) prosoma of ♀♀, showing positions of dorsal marks (white arrows in Fig. 26); (30) metatarsal stopper, dorsal; (31) eye arrangement, dorsal; (32) cheliceral dentition, ventral; (33) gnathocoxae, ventro-distal, showing reduced serrula (black arrow). Abbreviations: AP – plate of Lawrence setae; DP – dorsal plate of elongated setae; IP – plate of indented claw tuft setae; TS – transverse suture with slit sensilla. Figs 34–45. May bruno gen. n. sp. n. from Witsand, South Africa (34–36, 41–43) holotype ♂; (37–40, 44–45) ♀ paratype, PJ 3524. (34–39, 43) habitus of preserved spiders: (34, 37) dorsal; (35, 38) ventral; (36, 39, 43) frontal; (40) palp of ♀, lateral, showing rows of elongated setae; (41–42) palp of ♂: (41) ventral, (42) retrolateral; (44–45) tarsal tips, showing light-coloured indented claw tuft setae (white arrow), additional dark claw tufts with Lawrence setae (black arrow), and scopula hairs (grey arrow): (44) ventral, (45) lateral. Figs 46–49. May bruno gen. n. sp. n. from Witsand, South Africa: (46) habitat; (47) burrow with opened lid; (48–49) habitus of live spider. (Figs 46–47, 49) by Jon Leroy; (48) by Dirk Kunz. Distribution: Only known from the Witsand Nature Reserve ( type locality) and the Twee Rivieren Rest Camp, Northern Cape , South Africa ( Fig. 120 ). Biology: Spiders live in sand dunes ( Fig. 46 ). According to one label, spiders of this species dig burrows, leading 20–30 cm in the ground. The burrow is closed with a lid ( Fig. 47 ). The specialised elongated hairs situated in a row on the palps are most likely functionally connected to this digging behaviour, as is also known for species of Cebrennus Simon, 1880 (Jäger 2000, 2014 b ) or Leuorchestris ( Henschel 1990 ). An interesting observation concerns the prosoma: at the dorsal side of all female specimens at least two small sclerotised areas could be found ( Figs 26–29 , 39 : arrows). From their irregular shapes and their arrangement they seem to be healed injuries. In three females there was one scar on each side, in the fourth female there were two such pairs of scars. The male lacked such marks. Although no evidence is given from observations on live spiders, it may be the case — considering the distance of the scars and the span of the opened male fangs — that the scars could be part of a pre-copulatory courtship behaviour. Such behaviour is known from the genus Eusparassus , where it was observed that the male bit the female in the petiolus ( Moradmand 2013 ).