Ballomma, a new Afrotropical genus in the Cryptothelinae (Araneae, Zodariidae): eyes on the run Author Jocqué, Rudy Author Henrard, Arnaud text European Journal of Taxonomy 2015 2015-12-15 163 163 1 24 journal article 31878 10.5852/ejt.2015.163 5a9f4750-4b2a-47f1-b2ea-ce2550eaec80 1406672 69DE247F-A00E-48B1-845F-191C0FC03F8B Ballomma haddadi gen. et sp. nov . urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:20DEADCF-E2D1-47AA-AC36-29DF62B1A304 Figs 6 A–F, 7A–C, 8A–D, 14 Diagnosis The male of B. haddadi gen. et sp. nov. is easily recognized by the peculiar palp with the long, thin, sinuous embolus provided at its base with a large, sharp process pointing forward. The female has a characteristic epigyne with dark central area from where procurved cul-de-sac tubes originate, followed by well-separated spermathecae. Etymology The species name is a patronym in honor of Charles Haddad for his many contributions on African arachnology. Type material Holotype SOUTH AFRICA : ♂ , Transvaal (now Limpopo Province ), Pietersburg District , Woodbush Forest , 23°54’ S 29°27’ E , Sep. 1960 , Leleup N. ( MRAC 132646 ) Other material examined SOUTH AFRICA : 2 ♀♀ , Transvaal, Lydenburg District , Ohrigstad , 24°50’ S 30°20’ E , 27 Mar. 1962 , in forest litter , Leleup N. ( MRAC 132641 ) . Description Male ( holotype ) MEASUREMENTS. Total length 5.47; carapace 2.84 long, 1.78 wide, narrowed to 0.92 in eye region. COLOUR. Carapace ( Fig. 6 A) medium brown without silvery setae; chelicerae, sternum and posterior leg pairs brownish orange ( Fig. 6 B); anterior leg pairs yellowish orange; abdomen ( Fig. 6 A–B): dorsum and sides grey with complex pale pattern; venter pale with faint grey pattern, yellow in front of epigastric furrow; spinnerets yellow. CARAPACE. Reticulated; flat, profile without dip. Chilum double, each sclerite 0.07 high, 0.07 wide; no setae. Sternum shield-shaped, 0.92 long, 0.71 wide. Fig. 6. Ballomma haddadi gen. et sp. nov. A–B . Holotype, ♂. C–F . ♀ (MRAC 132641). A . Habitus, dorsal view. B . As preceding, ventral view. C . Habitus, dorsal view. D . As preceding, ventral view. E . Prosoma, frontal view. F . Prosoma, dorsolateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm. EYES. AME: 0.07; ALE: 0.13; ALE–ALE: 0.00; AME–ALE: 0.05; PME: 0.12; PLE: 0.13; PME– PME: 0.05; PME–PLE: 0.18. Clypeus 0.38 or 2.9 times width of ALE. LEGS. Without hinged hairs. SPINATION. F P T Mt I d1 - v2-1 v1-2 - 1 II d1 - v1-1 -2 v2-2 - 2 III d1 rl1 pl2d3rl2 v2-2 -2 10ispdw 6 IV d2 d1rl1 pl3d3rl3 v2-2 -2 14dispdw6 LEG MEASUREMENTS. F P T Mt t total I 1.68 0.70 1.40 1.19 0.91 5.88 II 1.40 0.63 0.91 0.91 0.63 4.48 III 1.26 0.77 0.63 0.91 0.56 4.13 IV 2.10 0.84 1.12 1.40 0.77 6.23 ABDOMEN. Epiandrum well developed with oval membranous patch with two comma shaped marks along posterior margin and two tiny darker spots along frontal margin. Fig. 7. Ballomma haddadi gen. et sp. nov. A–B . Holotype, ♂. C . ♀ (MRAC 132641). A . Male palp, retrolateral view. B . As preceding, ventral view. C . Epigyne, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. MALE PALP ( Figs 7 A–B, 8A–B). Patella with pro- and retrolateral hair tufts. tibia with dorsolateral apophysis, roughly triangular and pointed, retrolaterally concave; cymbium with basolateral slightly indented protrusion, seven distolateral spines; tegulum high, in the middle with retrolateral protrusion with rounded tip; distally with membranous part ending in long, sickle-shaped apophysis (could be homologous to MA); embolus originating on posterior part of tegulum, thin, slender, curved over central part of tegulum, with large sickle-shaped sclerite at base. Fig. 8. Ballomma haddadi gen. et sp. nov. A–B . Holotype, ♂. C–D . ♀♀ (MRAC 132641). A . Male palp, retrolateral view. B . As preceding, ventral view. C . Epigyne, ventral view. D . As preceding, other specimen. Scale bars: 0.5 mm. Female (largest of additional material) MESUREMENTS. Total length 7.46; carapace 3.34 long, 2.13 wide, narrowed to 0.92 in eye region. COLOUR. Carapace ( Fig. 6 C–F) pale orange brown; chelicerae, sternum and legs yellowish; abdomen ( Fig. 6 C–D): dorsum and sides grey with complex dark pattern; venter pale with faint grey pattern, spinnerets pale yellow. CARAPACE. Smooth. Clypeus with dispersed setae. Chilum double, each sclerite 0.07 high, 0.10 wide; no setae. Sternum shield-shaped, 1.28 long, 1.14 wide. EYES. AME: 0.09; ALE: 0.13; ALE–ALE: 0; AME–ALE: 0.02; PME: 0.11; PLE: 0.12; PME–PME: 0.07; PME–PLE: 0.26. Clypeus 0.33 or 3.6 times width of ALE. LEGS. Hinged hairs absent. SPINATION. F P T Mt I d2 - - - II d2 - v1-1 -1 2-2- 2 III d2 d1rl1 pl3d3rl3 v1-2 -2 8disp dw 6 IV d2 d1rl1 pl3d3rl3 v2-3 -2 9disp dw6 LEG MEASUREMENTS. F P T Mt t total I 1.89 0.84 1.47 1.26 0.91 6.37 II 1.40 0.77 0.98 0.98 0.70 4.83 III 1.40 0.70 0.77 0.84 0.77 4.48 IV 1.96 0.91 1.40 1.54 0.91 6.72 PALP ( Fig. 6 E). Claw with three small teeth; turned inward over <30°. Tarsus triangular with ventral side flat, provided with 10 prolateral, four retrolateral spines. EPIGYNE ( Figs 7 C, 8C–D). Flat, poorly sclerotized area, with internal structure and cul-de-sac tubes visible in transparency. Distribution Known from the Limpopo Province in South Africa ( Fig. 14 ).