Afroceto porrecta, Lyle & Haddad, 2010

Lyle, Robin & Haddad, Charles R., 2010, A revision of the tracheline sac spider genus Cetonana Strand, 1929 in the Afrotropical Region, with descriptions of two new genera (Araneae Corinnidae), African Invertebrates 51 (2), pp. 321-321 : 363-365

Afroceto porrecta sp. n.

Figs 18 , 102–104

Etymology: From Latin porrecta (stretched out, extended or long); refers to the very long embolus and cymbium of the male.

Diagnosis: This species can be recognised by the long, slender embolus that extends retrolaterally along the elongated, slender cymbium ( Fig. 103 ). The palpal tibia has two distinctly separate retrolateral apophyses, of which the dorsal apophysis is larger and more sharply pointed ( Fig. 104 ). Female unknown.

Description (only the type specimen was measured since the other specimen examined was severely damaged):

Male.

Measurements: CL 2.42, CW 1.92, AL 2.58, AW 1.62, TL 5.00, FL 0.38, SL 1.37, SW 1.20, AME–AME 0.01, AME–ALE 0.06,ALE–ALE 0.45, PME–PME 0.18, PME–PLE 0.16, PLE–PLE 0.71. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 2.35+1.00+1.94+1.63+1.08=8.00; II 2.08+0.90+1.67+1.45+0.92=7.02; III 1.57+ 0.73+1.06+1.37+0.53=5.26; IV 2.33+0.86+1.92+2.24+0.75=8.10.

Carapace reddish brown ( Fig. 19 ); first third with gradual rise to highest point of carapace, gradual decline of carapace till last quarter, last quarter with steep decline; surface smooth, covered in fine setae; fovea long, distinct, at two thirds CL. Ocular region reddish brown with black rings around eyes; AER recurved, AME slightly larger than ALE; clypeus height slightly more than AME diameter; AME separated by distance equal to 0.7 their diameter; AME separated from ALE by 0.29 AME diameter; PER procurved, PLE and PME are subequal in size; PME separated by 1.5 PME diameter; PME separated from PLE by slightly less than1.5 PME diameter. Chelicerae brown, slightly darker towards fang base; anterior surface with scattered black setae; three promarginal teeth, median tooth largest, proximal and distal tooth equal in size; two retromarginal tooth, largest situated distally. Sternum brown, border light brown; surface with scattered long setae. Abdomen pale grey; abdomen broader anteriorly, tapering posteriorly; brown scutum extends two thirds dorsum length, dark brown median line extending to half abdomen length; surface smooth with short, fine setae throughout; venter cream. Legs I to IV uniform pale yellow with incomplete band markings; anterior legs more robust than posteriors; legs with dense scopulae ventrally on metatarsi and tarsi; remaining segments covered in scattered setae; leg spines and cusps present. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1, II pl 1, III pl 1, IV pl 1; patellae spineless; tibiae: I plv 7 rlv 2 cusps, II plv 5 rlv 5 cusps, III pl 1 plv 2 rl 1 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 2 plv 3 rl 1 rlv 2 vt 1; metatarsi: I plv 15 rlv 9 cusps, II plv 11 rlv 4 vt 2 cusps, III pl 1 plv 2 rl 1 rlv 1, IV pl 2 plv 2 rl 1 rlv 1; tarsi: I plv 6 rlv 3 cusps, II plv 2 rlv 1 cusps ( Fig. 112 ). Palp yellow, elongated slender embolus with narrow point ( Fig. 103 ), curving retrolaterally on narrow, elongated cymbium; two retrolateral tibial apophysis, dorsal apophyses small, rounded, posterior apophyses large sharply pointed ( Fig. 104 ).

Holotype: ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: “Rosendal” Farm, near Prince Albert , 33°16.492'S: 22°14.461'E, 24–27.ix.2008, D. van Rensburg, R. Lyle, R. Fourie, J. Saaiman, R. du Preez & V. Swart, pitfall traps, southern slope ( NCA, 2008/2895).

Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: 1♂ Jansenville District, 28 km NWW of Jansenville, “Suurhaak” Farm, Trap 18­7 ( NCA, 2008/2896) .

Distribution:This species is only known from single localities in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces, South Africa ( Fig. 105 ).

Figures

Figs 1–22. General appearance of Afroceto gen. n. species: A. martini (Simon, 1897) comb. n. female (1) and male (2); A. arca sp. n. female (3) and male (4); A. bulla sp. n. female (5); A. bisulca male (6); A. capensis sp. n. female (7) and male (8); A. coenosa (Simon, 1897) comb. n. female (9); A. corcula sp. n. female (10); A. croeseri sp. n. female (11) and male (12); A. flabella sp. n. male (13) and female (14); A. gracilis sp. n. male (15); A. plana sp. n. male (16) and female (17); A. porrecta sp. n. male (18); A. rotunda sp. n. male (19) and female (20); A. spicula sp. n. male (21) and female (22).

Figs 102–104. Afroceto porrecta sp. n. male: (102) schematic representation of cusp arrangement on legs I and II; (103) left palp, ventral view; (104) left palp, retrolateral view. Scale bar (103, 104) = 0.1 mm.

Figs 111–116.Afroceto spicula sp.n.male (111–113) and female (114–116): (111) schematic representation of cusp arrangement on legs I and II; (112) left palp, ventral view; (113) left palp, retrolateral view; (114) undissected epigyne,ventral view; (115) dissected epigyne,ventral view; (116) vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars (112–116) = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 105. Distribution of Afroceto plana sp. n. and A. porrecta sp. n. in southern Africa.