An integrative taxonomy of the genus Stasimopus Simon 1892 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) of the Karoo with the description of nine new species and a Stasimopus maraisi Hewitt 1914 male Author Brandt, Shannon 0000-0002-6435-9333 Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa shannon. brandt @ tuks. co. za; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 6435 - 9333 https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 1578 - 0973 shannon.brandt@tuks.co.za Author Sole, Catherine 0000-0002-6435-9333 Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa shannon. brandt @ tuks. co. za; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 6435 - 9333 https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 1578 - 0973 shannon.brandt@tuks.co.za Author Lyle, Robin 0000-0002-5279-5306 Agricultural Research Council - Plant Health and Protection, Biosystematics, Roodeplaat, Pretoria, South Africa LyleR @ arc. agric. za; https: // orcid. org / 0000 - 0002 - 5279 - 5306 * Corresponding authors text Zootaxa 2023 2023-09-05 5341 1 1 60 http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5341.1.1 journal article 265960 10.11646/zootaxa.5341.1.1 94a062b7-8464-4568-ac3b-5a259cb5fa50 1175-5334 8323744 8EFAFE67-8C74-46D4-A4F7-966822C8DEBC Genus Stasimopus Simon 1892 Simon 1892: 82 ; Pocock 1897: 726–728 ; Hewitt 1915b: 75–85 ; Roewer 1942: 159 ; Raven 1985: 143–144 ; Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002: 31–38 ; Engelbrecht and Prendini 2012: 8 . Type species: Stasimopus caffrus ( Koch 1842 ) . Diagnosis: The family Stasimopidae is monogeneric ( Opatova et al. 2020 . The characters for distinguishing this genus thus applies to the family. The family differs from other Ctenizid-like taxa based on the following suite of characteristics based on Raven (1985) : The tibia of leg III lacking a saddle-like excavation, the ocelli is twice as wide as it is long and the anterior lobe of the maxillae is anteriorly produced ( Engelbrecht & Prendini 2012 ; Opatova et al. 2020 ). Description: General: Medium to large bodied spiders ( 22–42 mm ) ( Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002 ). Carapace: Cephalic region dome shaped with procurved fovea ( Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002 ). In S. filmeri , the fovea forms into horn-like protrusion ( Engelbrecht & Prendini 2012 ). Ocelli: The eyes occur in single cluster on forefront of cephalic region and eyes arranged in two transverse rows ( Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002 ; Pocock 1897 ). Posterior row wider than anterior row ( Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002 ; Raven 1985 ). Chelicerae: Distinct rastellum with thick spines, as well as cheliceral furrow with two rows of teeth ( Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002 ). Sternum, labium and maxillae: The sternum has single pair of sigilla present. Sigilla are situated opposite III coxa ( Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002 ; Pocock 1897 ). In some male species sigilla are fused at anterior end, forming an arrow-like shape. Labium cuspules present in females and bare in males ( Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002 ). Maxilla has longer process only at distal end forming a long cone ( Pocock 1897 ; Raven 1985 ). Maxilla has few basal teeth present ( Pocock 1897 ). Abdomen: Varies in colour. Four spinnerets. Posterior spinnerets have domed apical segments ( Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002 ). Pedipalps: Male bulb is simple pyriform ( Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002 ). Legs: Female legs are short and stocky. Three tarsal claws present, the paired claw with one large tooth and two smaller teeth below, third claw is untoothed ( Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002 ). Distal segments of leg I and II densely spined ( Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002 ). Males have long slender legs. Spermathecae: Multilobular ( Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002 ). Distribution: The genus is currently recorded from Lesotho and South Africa , in all provinces except Limpopo . It is an endemic to the Afrotropical region. Included taxa: In this paper, nine new species are described and a description of a S. maraisi male. This increases the number of species in the genus to 56, with 23 of them found in the Karoo region. Key to adult females of five Stasimopus species in the Karoo region 1. Tuft of spines present ventrally on metatarsus III ( Fig 20E ).................................................... 2 - Tuft of spines not present ventrally on metatarsus III......................................................... 3 2. Patch of spinules on metatarsus I extends ½ the segment length ( Fig 20A )........................ S. hamartia sp. nov. - Patch of spinules on metatarsus I extends ¼ the segment length ( Fig 38A ).................... S. venterstadensis sp. nov. 3. Chelicera with extremely dense denticles (>45) ( Fig 34C )........................................ S. theaei sp. nov. - Chelicera with few denticles (<15) ( Fig 23C )............................................................... 4 4. Metatarsus III with>26 spines in each row dorsally ( Fig 24C )...................................... S. ignis sp. nov. - Metatarsus III with <21 spines in each row dorsally ( Fig 31E )...................................... S. teras sp. nov. FIGURE 5. Three Stasimopus species in habitus view. (A) Male of Stasimopus dylani sp. nov. (NCA 2019/663). (B) Male of Stasimopus finni sp. nov. (NCA 2019/605). (C) Female of Stasimopus hamartia sp. nov. (NCA 2017/1852). (D) Male of Stasimopus hamartia sp. nov. (NCA 2017/1891). Scale: 1cm. FIGURE 6. Three Stasimopus species in habitus view. (A) Female of Stasimopus ignis sp. nov. (NCA 2019/653). (B) Male of Stasimopus ignis sp. nov. (NCA 2019/642). (C) Male of Stasimopus karooensis sp. nov. (SAM- ENW-C007293). (D) Male of Stasimopus malesociatus sp. nov . (AMGS-5367). Scale: 1cm. FIGURE 7. Four Stasimopus species in habitus view. (A) Female of Stasimopus teras sp. nov. (NCA 2019/643). (B) Female of Stasimopus theaei sp. nov. (NCA 2019/606). (C) Female of Stasimopus venterstadensis sp. nov. (NCA 2019/610). (D). Male of Stasimopus maraisi (NCA 2019/630). Scale: 1cm. Key to adult males of six Stasimopus species in the Karoo region* * S. hamartia not included due to damaged state. 1. The largest eye is the AME ( Fig 11D )..................................................................... 2 - The largest eye is the ALE ( Fig 11B )...................................................................... 3 2. Embolus extends posteriorly in relation to pedipalp tibia ( Fig 29B )............................ S. malesociatus sp. nov. - Embolus extends perpendicularly in relation to pedipalp tibia ( Fig 27A ).......................... S. karooensis sp. nov. 3. Pedipalp reaches <1/5 of tibia I length..................................................................... 4 - Pedipalp reaches>1/3 of tibia I length..................................................................... 5 4. The carapace is smooth in texture ( Fig 7D )................................................... S. maraisi sp. nov. - The carapace is rugose in texture ( Fig 5B )...................................................... S. finni sp. nov. 5. Embolus extends almost parallel in relation to pedipalp tibia ( Fig 10B ).............................. S. dylani sp. nov. - Embolus extends distally in relation to pedipalp tibia ( Fig 25B )..................................... S. ignis sp. nov.