Hexophthalma hahni ( Karsch, 1878 )

Lotz, Leon N., 2018, An update on the spider genus Hexophthalma (Araneae: Sicariidae) in the Afrotropical region, with descriptions of new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 424, pp. 1-18 : 11-14

Hexophthalma hahni ( Karsch, 1878)

Figs 11–15 , 21 , 26

Hexomma hahnii Karsch, 1878: 325 .

Sicarius testaceus Purcell, 1908: 224 . Syn. nov.

Hexophthalma hahni – Karsch, 1879: 109. — Magalhaes et al. 2017: 850, figs 13B, 14B–C, 16G, 18G, 19C, 23A–C, 24A, 61A–D.

Sicarius hahni – Simon, 1893: 269. — Purcell 1908: 225. — Newlands 1986: 51. — Lotz 2012: 8.

Sicarius testaceus – Newlands 1986: 57. — Lotz 2012: 12.

Hexophthalma testacea – Magalhaes et al. 2017: 852.

Note: Sicarius oweni Newlands, 1986: 53 is an unpublished synonym.

Diagnosis

Female inner spermathecae consist of finger-like sacs that branch close to the copulatory tube end, similar to in H. albospinosa except that the finger-like tubes are shorter and more bulbous ( Figs 11–15 ). Male embolus consisting of a thin pointed apical part and a straight-sided thicker basal section ( Fig. 21 ), similar to in H. albospinosa except that the thin apical part is shorter in relation to the thicker basal part. Material examined

COUNTRY UNKNOWN: 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 4 imm. ( SAMC B7732 , B8870 ).

NAMIBIA: 1 ♂ [no locality or date], G. Brown leg. ( SAMC B5704 ); 1 ♂, Ganab , 23°04′ S, 15°10′ E, 13– 16 Sep. 1971, P.G. Olivier leg. ( NMNW 35311 ); 1 ♀, same data as for preceding ( NMNW 35313 ); 1 ♀, Grootfontein, Nosib Cave , 1917Bd, 8 Feb. 1995, SEGL leg. ( NMNW 43454 ); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Keetmanshoop, Khabus 146 , 2618Ac, 7 Dec. 1987 – 17 Jan. 1988, Mar. 1992, N. and G. Olivier leg. ( NMNW 40752 ); 2 ♂♂, same data as for preceding but 23 Jul.–1 Dec. 1988 ( NMNW 42120 , 42788 ); 1 ♀, Naukluft Park, Gifgat 2 , 2215Da, 11 Jul. 1995, E. Marais leg. ( NMNW 43673 ); 1 ♀, 1 imm., Naukluft Park, Gobabeb , 23°33′28.2″ S, 15°02′14.32″ E, 25 Oct. 1968, R.F. Lawrence leg. (AMSA); 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, same data as for preceding but 21 Aug. 2005, G. Binford leg. ( NMNW 45835 ); 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, Naukluft Park, Kuiseb River, near Gobabeb [23°34′ S, 15°03′ E], 18 Feb.–20 Mar. 1983, Kuiseb survey leg. ( PPRI 83/341 ); 1 ♂, same data as for preceding but 27 Aug. 1985, C.S. Crawford leg. ( NMNW 41116 ); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Otjiwarongo, Waterberg Plateau Park , 20°30′17.94″ S, 17°14′32.16″ E, 14 Aug. 2005, G. Binford leg. ( NMNW 45838 ); 1 ♂, Sossusvlei , 24.7° S, 15.42° E, Dec. 1988, B. Grobbelaar leg. ( PPRI 92/54 ); 1 ♂, Valencia , 96 km SW of Windhoek, 2316Ab, 23 Jun. 1969, A. Kemp leg. (AMSA); 1 ♂, 1 imm., Windhoek, Daan Viljoen Game Reserve , 22°32′16.14″ S, 16°54′44.16″ E, 12 Aug. 2005, G. Binford leg. ( NMNW 45845 ); 1 ♂, Windhoek, Verloren Cave , 23°09′ S, 16°20′ E, 28 Jun. 1993, J. Irish leg. ( NMBA 7361 ); 1 ♂, 1 imm., Messum Crater, 21°20.430′ S, 14°13.218′ E, 4–10 Apr. 2000, E. Griffin leg. ( NMNW 44724 ); 1 ♀, 10 miles W of Okombahe [ca 21°24′ S, 15°14′ E], 10 May 1958, E.S. Ross and R.E. Leech leg. (CAS).

SOUTH AFRICA – Limpopo Province: 1 ♂, Kruger National Park, Pafuri area , 22.46° S, 31.3° E, 14 Oct. 1995, A. Leroy leg. ( PPRI 98/405 ); 1 ♀, Limpopo Valley National Park , 22.22° S, 29.13° E, 29 Apr. 1997, J. Leroy leg. ( PPRI 97/816 ); 4 ♂♂, Makgabeng area, W of Senwabawana , 23.24° S, 28.85° E, 22 Dec. 2006, M. Burger and R. Hawkins leg. ( PPRI 2008/3788, 2008/3807 ); 1 ♂, Rochdale, near Waterpoort , 22.54° S, 29.41° E, 4 Apr. 1993, A. Leroy leg. ( PPRI 2007/1626 ); 1 ♂, Vhembi Biosphere, Gondeni , 22.914° S, 30.050° E, 4 Dec. 2012, C. Schoeman leg. ( PPRI 2015/632 ). – Mpumalanga: 1 ♀, 2 imm., Bango Poort, Cave Poort , 24.58° S, 31.1° E, Mar. 1984, L. Braak leg. ( PPRI 85/174 ). – Northern Cape Province: 1 ♂, Blackridge, E of Langberge, E-NE of Groblershoop , 28°49′ S, 22°32′ E, 22 Dec. 2005, M. Burger leg. ( PPRI 2009/3835 ); 1 ♂, Bo-Seekoebaard, SE of Groblershoop [29°05′ S, 22°17′ E], 13 Dec. 2005, M. Burger leg. ( PPRI 2009/3834 ); 1 ♂, Bushmanland, Krapohl Island [28°50′30″ S, 18°43′30″ E], 1909 ( SAMC 14708 ); 2 ♀♀, 4 imm., Calvinia, Klein Arendskraal , 31°24′ S, 19°03′ E, 19 Feb. 2004, L.N. Lotz leg. ( NMBA 9259 , 9269 ); 1 ♂, Douglas [29°04′ S, 23°47′ E], R. Broom leg. (AMSA); 3 ♂♂, Eselsfontein, south of Grootdrink , 28.62° S, 21.68° E, 13 Nov. 2005, M. Burger, P. Braad and A. Hill leg. ( PPRI 2009/3830–32 ); 1 ♂, same data as for precedings but 22 Nov. 2005, M. Burger leg. ( PPRI 2009/3833 ); 1♂, 1 imm., Little Namaqualand, Kamies [Kamieskroon?] [ca 30°13′ S, 17°56′ E] ( SAMC B7442 ); 1♂, 1 imm., Namaqualand, Kap Kap 382 , 30°16′ S, 18°22′ E, 20 Oct. 1990, L.N. Lotz leg. ( NMBA 5122 ); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Nieuwoudtville, Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve , 31.45° S, 19.1° E, 27 Apr. 2000, A. Leroy leg. ( PPRI 2010/187 ); 1 ♀, 2 imm., NW Gordonia , C.A. Anderson leg. ( AMSA 1967 ); 1 ♂, Port Nolloth, 2916Bd, 13 Mar. 1973, M.-L. Penrith leg. ( NMNW 35722 ); 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Quaggafontein 476 , 15 km S-SW of Soebatsfontein , 30°11′14.6″ S, 17°32′58.6″ E, 29 Sept. 2002, BIOTA leg. ( PPRI 2009/5561, 2009/5562 ). – North West Province: 1 ♀, Groot Marico, 25.6° S, 26.43° E, 21 Jan. 1991, M. Filmer leg. ( PPRI 91/1323 ). – Western Cape Province: 1 ♀, 10 km N of Bitterfontein [ca 30°59′ S, 18°14′ E], 15 Sept. 1983, J.V. leg. ( SAMC C1981 ); 1 ♀, Clanwilliam District ( SAMC 3548 ); 1 ♀, Clanwilliam, Sanddrif (Dwarsrivier 330) , 32.16° S, 18.89° E, Feb. 1993, G. Müller leg. ( PPRI 93/261 ); 1 ♀, Donkins Bay, 3118Cd, 14 Mar. 1973, M.J. and M.-L. Penrith leg. ( NMNW 35729 ); 1 ♀, Doringbaai [31°49′ S, 18°14′ E], Nov. 1956, SAMC Expedition leg. ( SAMC C1235 ); 3 ♀♀, Swartberg Nature Reserve, Gamkaskloof , 33.36° S, 21.69° E, Dec. 1995, M. de Jager leg. ( PPRI 96/399 ); 1 ♀, 12 imm., same data as for preceding but 1 Jul. 2000, Z. van der Walt leg. ( PPRI 2002/44 ); 1 ♀, Hans Strydom Dam Nature Reserve, Mogol , 33.95° S, 22.46° E, 19 Jan. 1983, M. Mansell leg. ( PPRI 83/198 ); 1 ♂, The Island, S of Herbertsdale , 34.08° S, 21.77° E, 3 Jan. 2006, M. Burger leg. ( PPRI 2009/3828 ); 1 ♂, same data as for preceding but 30 Jan. 2006 ( PPRI 2009/3829 ); 1 ♀, 19 km SE of Klawer [ca 31°54′ S, 18°39′ E], 1 May 1958 (CAS); 1 ♀, Lutzville, Vlêrmuisklip, near Vredendal , 31.39° S, 18.32° E, 2 Oct. 1986, M.W. Mansell and J. Hoffman leg. ( PPRI 86/650 ); 1 ♀, Papendorp, near Olifants River Estuary [ca 31°42′ S, 18°13′ E], 12 Nov. 1949, B. Malkin leg. (CAS); 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 1 imm., Prince Albert, Swartberg Nature Reserve, Gamkaskloof , Die Hel , 33°20′ S, 21°40′ E, Sep. 1998, Z. van der Walt leg. ( NMBA 8695 , 8860 ); 1 ♀, 3 imm., Vanrhynsdorp, Van Rhyn’s Pass , 31.6° S, 18.75° E, 3 Oct. 1986, M.W. Mansell and J. Hoffman leg. ( PPRI 86/648 ).

ZIMBABWE: 1 ♀, Pande Mine, 2230Ad, 9 Feb. 1994, F. Nyathi leg. ( NMZB A/11518 ); 1 ♀, 1 imm., Sentinel Ranch, Hunters Camp , 2229Ab, 16 Apr. 1990, Falcon Collage-NHMZ leg. ( NMZB A/9940 ).

Natural history

Hexophthalma hahni have been collected in the Fynbos, Grassland, Karoo, Desert and Savanna biomes, by pitfall traps and by hand, in caves and from under rocks and logs.

Distribution

Hexophthalma hahni is distributed in Namibia, South Africa and southern Zimbabwe ( Fig. 26 ).

Figures

Fig. 26. Distribution map for Hexophthalma hahni (Karsch, 1878).

Figs 9–16. Female internal genitalia. 9. Hexophthalma damarensis (Lawrence, 1928). 10. H. dolichocephala (Lawrence, 1928). 11–15. H. hahni (Karsch, 1878). 16. H. spatulata (Pocock, 1900). Scale bar =1mm.

Figs 17–23. 17–22. Male palps (right side prolateral). 17. Hexophthalma albospinosa (Purcell, 1908). 18. H. goanikontesensis sp. nov. 19. H. damarensis (Lawrence, 1928). 20. H. dolichocephala (Lawrence, 1928). 21. H. hahni (Karsch, 1878). 22. H. spatulata (Pocock, 1900). 23. H. spatulata, enlarged femoral seta (not to scale). Scale bars=1 mm.