Namundra, Platnick & Bird, 2007

Platnick, Norman I. & Bird, Tharina L., 2007, On the First African Spiders of the Subfamily Molycriinae (Araneae, Prodidomidae), American Museum Novitates 3552 (1), pp. 1-8 : 2-6

NAMUNDRA , NEW GENUS

TYPE SPECIES: Namundra griffinae , new species .

ETYMOLOGY: The generic name is a contraction of Namibian Wydundra , considered feminine in gender.

DIAGNOSIS: Specimens of this genus will run to Wydundra in the generic key of Platnick and Baehr (2006), because of their widely separated anterior lateral spinnerets ( figs. 2, 3 ). They do not fit that couplet completely, though, as the lateral margins of the carapace are smooth rather than denticulate. Although Wydundra is a diverse genus, containing several species groups with disparate genitalic morphology, members of all those groups lack the elongate median apophysis ( fig. 5 ) found in the males, and the elongate, narrow median epigynal septum ( fig. 7 ) found in the females, of Namundra .

DESCRIPTION: Medium-size spiders, total length ca. 2–5. Carapace rounded, narrowed in front to less than half its maximum width, with rebordered lateral margins, reflexed posterior margin; surface coated with long, recumbent setae, without tubercles; few long, dark, erect setae present on clypeus and along anterior edge of posterior declivity; thoracic groove long, longitudinal, deeply depressed, cephalic grooves shallow. Eight subequal eyes in two rows, anterior medians circular, dark, lateral eyes oval, light, posterior medians irregularly rectangular, flat; from above, both eye rows strongly recurved, from front, anterior row strongly recurved, posterior row slightly procurved; anterior medians separated by less than their diameter, by less than their radius from anterior laterals; posterior medians separated by less than their width, by about their width from posterior laterals; anterior and posterior laterals separated by about their radius; median ocular quadrangle slightly wider in back than in front, longer than wide in back. Chelicerae vertical, paturon with low boss and row of strong, erect setae near midline, promargin with row of short, curved setae, most basal seta greatly elongat- ed, widened, distinctly bent toward midline at about one-fifth its length; promargin and retromargin bare; chilum tiny, unipartite, triangular. Labium wider than long, posteriorly depressed, evenly narrowed toward rebordered, medially shortened anterior margin. Endites rectangular, convergent, with oblique depression; serrula present, straight; anteromedian edges bearing wide patch of long, stiff, dark setae. Sternum shield-shaped, not deeply depressed opposite intercoxal spaces, with strongly rebordered, slightly depressed lateral margins, not expanded anteriorly, with only indistinct extensions between coxae but with large, triangular extensions to coxae, posterior pairs largest, coxae III, IV with deep invaginations accommodating sternal extensions; surface smooth, with long, thick setae around margins; posterior margin prolonged, widely separating coxae IV. Weakly sclerotized epimeric sclerites on each side, extended slightly between coxae, not fused to carapace. Pedicel composed of two dorsal sclerites (anterior sclerite without posterior invagination) and wide ventral sclerite with distinct sclerotization opposite posterior tip of sternum, only narrowly separated from sternal tip. Abdominal dorsum without anterior scutum in males; cuticle with long, recumbent setae; epigastric scutum weakly sclerotized, without postepigastric sclerites, booklung covers not ridged; colulus apparently absent, posterior spiracle not obvious. Six spinnerets, anterior laterals greatly elongated, equal to roughly half of total abdominal length, greatly advanced anteriorly, originating at position about one-half of distance between epigastric furrow and anal tubercle ( fig. 2 ); anterior laterals with one elongated major ampullate gland spigot and about eight greatly elongated piriform gland spigots ( fig. 3 ), piriform gland spigots apparently not surrounded by circle of setae at their base; posterior medians small, only narrowly separated, situated anterior of posterior laterals; posterior laterals bisegmented, about twice as long as posterior medians, those of females with at least three large spigots near tip. Legs elongate, leg formula 4312, coated with recumbent, dark setae; coxae and trochanters IV elongated; coxae and trochanters without dorsal tubercles, anterior coxae without pro- tuberant posterolateral corners; trochanters not notched, with ventral, subdistal rows of erect setae; femora I, II incrassate, much higher than femora III, IV; metatarsi and tarsi I, II with strong ventral scopulae composed of short, straight setae; posterior metatarsi without distal preening brushes; tarsi elongated, with two long claws on onychium, bearing no ventral teeth, weak claw tufts composed of few pairs of distally widened setae; tarsi I, II without, III, IV with few weak cuticular cracks, tarsi not bent at cracks; dorsal surface of tarsi with modified proximal margin consisting of patch of unsclerotized cuticle followed by strong cuticular ridge, that ridge opposing distinct distal extensions situated at distal edge of metatarsi; trichobothria present, in two rows on tarsi and metatarsi, one on tibiae. Female palp long, narrow, femur, patella, tibia, tarsus each with strong spines; female palpal tarsus with long claw bearing few or no ventral teeth, without ventral scopula or dorsal pad of setae, with cluster of short, thick setae near claw. Typical leg spination pattern (counts refer to morphological surfaces, only surfaces bearing spines listed): femora: I d1-1-0, p1-1-0; II d1-1-0, p1- 0-0; III d1-1-1, p0-1-1, r0-1-0; IV d1-1-1, p0-1- 1, r0-0-1; tibiae: I, II v0-1p-0; III v1p-1p-2; IV d0-1-0, p0-1-1, v1p-1p-2, r0-1-1; metatarsi: III v0-0-1p; IV p1-0-1, v1p-1p-2, r1-0-1. Male palpal cymbium short, tip conical; palpal tibia short, with distal, bent retrolateral apophysis; tegulum rounded, embolus originating retrobasally, accompanied by triangular terminal apophysis and membranous conductor; medi- an apophysis long, narrowed distally. Epigynum with anterior atrium and posteromedian septum, spermathecae small to large, with long, anterior ducts.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from Namibia and Angola; see below for natural history information.

Namundra griffinae , new species figures 4–8

TYPE: Male holotype taken in pitfall trap in Crusher Dust Area , Rössíng Mine Survey, 22 ° 28 9 S, 15 ° 02 9 E, Swakopmund Distr., Namibia (Aug. 3–28, 1984; J. Irish, H. Rust), deposited in NMNW ( SMN 38266) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a patronym in honor of Eryn Griffin, who sorted the first known specimens.

DIAGNOSIS: This is the only species for which males are known, and the palpal conformation ( figs. 4–6 ) is presumably diagnostic. Females can be distinguished from those of the other species by their much smaller spermathecae ( figs. 7, 8 ).

MALE: Total length 2.38. Carapace 1.28 long, 1.18 wide. Femur II 1.21 long. Carapace pale orange, darkest anteriorly; abdomen pale yellow; legs pale orange, unmarked. Leg spination typical for genus except metatarsi IV p1-0-0, r1-0-0. Retrolateral tibial apophysis strongly bent, embolus narrow, originating basally, extending to near tip of cymbium ( figs. 4–6 ).

FEMALE: Total length 3.94. Carapace 1.76 long, 1.58 wide. Femur II 2.31 long. Coloration as in male. Leg spination typical for genus except femora III, IV p0-1-0, r0-0-0. Epigynal ducts occupying as much space as relatively small spermathecae ( figs. 7, 8 ).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: NAMIBIA: Swakopmund Distr. : Crusher Dust Area, Rössing Mine Survey, 22 ° 28 9 S, 15 ° 02 9 E, Oct. 23–Nov. 19, 1984, pitfall (J. Irish, H. Rust, NMNW SMN38436), 1„, Nov. 20–Dec. 18, 1984, pitfall (J. Irish, H. Rust, NMNW SMN38507), 1”; Dome Gorge, Rössing Mine Survey, 22 ° 28 9 S, 15 ° 04 9 E, July 3–30, 1984, pitfall (J. Irish, H. Rust, NMNW SMN38203), 1„ .

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the

Rössing Mine area, Namibia.

Figures

Figs. 1–3. Namundra brandberg, new species, female. 1. Cephalothorax and abdomen, dorsal view. 2. Same, ventral view. 3. Spinnerets, ventral view.

Figs. 4–8. Namundra griffinae, new species. 4. Left male palp, prolateral view. 5. Same, ventral view. 6. Same, retrolateral view. 7. Epigynum, ventral view. 8. Same, dorsal view.