A revision of the endemic South African spider genus Austrachelas, with its transfer to the Gallieniellidae (Arachnida: Araneae) Author Haddad, Charles R. Author Lyle, Robin Author Bosselaers, Jan Author Ramirez, Martin J. text Zootaxa 2009 2296 1 38 journal article 10.5281/zenodo.191594 6f65b06c-5600-4172-9ee2-854f09ef4455 1175-5326 191594 Austrachelas pondoensis n. sp. ( Figs 9, 10 , 16–35 , 42–49 , 68–71 ) Diagnosis . This is the largest species in the genus, and females can be easily distinguished by the shape of the anterior epigynal hood and the widely separated spermathecae ( Figs 31 , 68, 69 ); males can be recognised by the large partially hidden triangular lobe distally on the embolus and the denticulate retrolateral tibial apophysis ( Figs 29 , 70, 71 ). Etymology . This species is named after the Pondoland region in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa . Female . Measurements: CL 5.18–6.05, CW 3.70–4.28, FL 0.40–0.48, AL 6.50–9.20, AW 3.10–5.13, SL 2.88–3.05, SW 2.00–2.27, TL 11.80–15.30, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.04, ALE–ALE 0.60, PME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.22, PLE–PLE 0.89. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 3.95 + 2.38 + 2.95 + 2.12 + 1.38 = 12.78; II 3.50 + 2.10 + 2.58 + 2.05 + 1.28 = 11.51; III 2.78 + 1.65 + 1.70 + 2.32 + 1.05 = 9.50; IV 4.07 + 2.10 + 3.08 + 3.72 + 1.20 = 14.17. Carapace deep red-brown, slightly paler medially ( Fig. 9 ); AER strongly procurved, laterals larger than medians; AME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to ¼ AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 1½ AME diameter at AME, equal to 1¼ ALE diameter at ALE; PER straight, laterals larger than medians; PME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1¼ PME diameter. Chelicerae deep orange; promargin with three teeth, proximal tooth smallest, median tooth largest; proximal and median teeth closer to each other than to distal tooth; retromargin with two small denticles, situated either side of distal promarginal tooth. Legs all deep orange in colour, slightly paler distally. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1 do 1, II pl 1 do 1, III pl 1 do 2 rl 1, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 2 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, strongly scopulate, III & IV scopulate in distal half, III pl 6 rl 5 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 6 rl 6 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2; palp: femora do 2, patellae spineless, with prominent pl 1 seta, tibiae pl 3 do 2, tarsus pl 3 do 2 rl 3 plv 1 rlv 1. Abdomen dark grey dorsally, with mottled pale grey chevron ( Fig. 9 ), paler grey laterally and ventrally; dorsum and venter lacking scutum or other sclerites. Female epigyne with short narrow anterior hood and small lateral hoods ( Figs 31 , 68 ); copulatory openings laterally situated, entering ST 2 via narrow entrance ducts; ST 2 small, globose, connected broadly to widely separated elongate oval posterior ST 1 ( Fig. 69 ). Male. Measurements: CL 4.78, CW 3.58, FL 0.32, AL 5.30, AW 2.55, SL 2.60, SW 1.92, TL 10.32, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.43, PME–PME 0.07, PME–PLE 0.14, PLE–PLE 0.63. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 3.30 + 1.88 + 2.65 + 2.15 + 1.25 = 11.23; II 2.95 + 1.88 + 2.28 + 1.90 + 1.28 = 10.29; III 2.48 + 1.38 + 1.50 + 2.05 + 1.08 = 8.49; IV 3.40 + 1.70 + 2.55 + 3.30 + 1.25 = 12.20. Carapace deep wine-red ( Fig. 10 ); AER strongly procurved, laterals slightly larger than medians; AME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter, separated from ALE by distance slightly smaller than ¼ AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 1½ AME diameter at AME, equal to ALE diameter at ALE; PER straight, laterals larger than medians; PME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to PME diameter. Chelicerae deep red-brown, anterior margin with coarse ridges; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest and proximal tooth smallest; median and proximal teeth closest together; retromargin with two small teeth, situated either side of distal promarginal tooth. Legs all deep red, slightly paler orange-red distally. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1 do 1, II pl 1 do 1, III pl 1 do 2 rl 1, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, strongly scopulate, III & IV scopulate in distal half, III pl 6 rl 6 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 6 rl 6 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2. Abdomen dark grey with pale grey chevron dorsally ( Fig. 10 ), cream laterally and ventrally; dorsum with small anterior scutum, venter without sclerites. Male palpal tibia with curved retrolateral apophysis with three distinctive tooth-like apophyses along inner margin; median tegular apophysis broad, hook-like with blunt tip; embolus arc-shaped, with large triangular lobe partially hidden behind distal margin of embolus ( Figs 70, 71 ); palpal spination: femora do 2. Type material : Holotype Ƥ, deposited together with 13 and 7Ƥ paratypes : SOUTH AFRICA : Eastern Cape Province , Lusikisiki district, Mzimhlava River mouth, 31°20'S , 29°40'E , II.1980 , M.E. Baddeley (coastal evergreen forest) ( MRAC 163974). Additional material examined : Same data as types , I.1980, 12 Ƥ 13 ( MRAC 159047, SEM preparations MJR- 1031-1038 , 1063-1065 , temporary mount CJG-00154); I.1980, 13 ( MRAC 166821, SEM preparations MJR-01039, MJR-01040, temporary mounts CJG-00155, CJG-00156). Distribution . Known only from the type locality in Pondoland, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa ( Fig. 82 ).