Leptopilos butleri, Haddad & Booysen, 2022

Haddad, Charles R. & Booysen, Ruan, 2022, The ground spider genera Leptodrassex Murphy, 2007 and Leptopilos Levy, 2009 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in southern Africa, including the description of a new genus and seven new species, Zootaxa 5194 (1), pp. 1-32 : 23-26

Leptopilos butleri sp. nov.

Figs 87, 88 , 121–126

Type material. Holotype ♀: BOTSWANA: Ngamiland : Okavango Delta, Shakawe, 18°21.960’S, 21°50.829’E, 28.XI.2006, leg. C. Haddad (leaf litter, dry savanna) (NCA 2007/1030).

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Free State: Amanzi Private Game Reserve , 28°35.980’S, 26°24.935’E, 1– 30.IX.2012, leg. V. Butler (pitfall traps, Digitaria eriantha grazing), 7♂ 1♀ (NCA 2013/3295); Same locality, 28°35.506’S, 26°25.340’E, 1–30.IX.2012, leg. V. Butler (pitfall traps, Searsia burchellii woodland), 8♂ 4♀ (NCA 2013/3163) .

Etymology. The species is named for Vivian Butler, who collected most of the known material during a yearlong pitfall study in grassland biotopes ( Haddad & Butler 2018).

Diagnosis. The females of L. butleri sp. nov. can be easily recognized by the broad hemispherical anterior hood that is as wide as the lateral margins of the spermathecae (only as broad as the inner margins of the spermathecae in the type species, L. tenerrimus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) ; see Levy 2009: fig. 18), with a pair of dark n-shaped markings at their anterior margin ( Fig. 121 ). It differs from L. vasivulva sp. nov., which has a vase-shaped atrium and a single median curved marking on the anterior hood (compare Figs 121 and 131 ). Males of L. butleri sp. nov. have shorter apical and retrolateral tegular processes than L. vasivulva sp. nov., with the retrolateral tibial apophysis of the latter species also constricted at its distal end (compare Figs 124 and 125 with Figs 134 and 135 ).

Description. Female (holotype, Shakawe, NCA 2007/1030). Colouration ( Fig. 87 ): carapace and chelicerae yellow; endites creamy-yellow, labium slightly darker; sternum creamy-yellow, margins brown at coxae; femora creamy-yellow, remaining segments yellow; abdomen cream dorsally and ventrally.

Measurements: CL 1.16, CW 0.90, AL 1.79, AW 1.11, TL 2.98. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.09, PME 0.10, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.01, PME–PME 0.05, PME–PLE 0.04, ALE–PLE 0.01. Leg measurements: I 0.91, 0.38, 0.67, 0.62, 0.46 = 3.04; II 0.81, 0.38, 0.61, 0.59, 0.43 = 2.82; III 0.71, 0.35, 0.52, 0.51, 0.31 = 2.40; IV 1.27, 0.46, 0.92, 1.05, 0.33 = 4.03.

Leg spination: femora: I do 2, II do 2, III pl 1 do 3 rl 1, IV pl 1 do 3 rl 1; patellae spineless; tibiae: I plv 1 rlv 1, II rlv 1, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 1, IV pl 2 rl 2 plv 1 vt 2; metatarsi: I plv 1 rlv 1, II plv 1 rlv 1, III pl 2 rl 1 plv 1 vt 3, IV pl 3 rl 2 plv 1 vt 3; palp: femur pl 1 do 2, patella spineless, tibia pl 1 plv 1, tarsus pl 1 rl 1 plv 3 rlv 3.

Epigyne with broad hemispherical hood anteriorly, with paired n-shaped markings on either side of midline ( Fig. 121 ); copulatory openings small, beneath posterior margin of hood, separated by distance equal to spermatheca width; copulatory ducts narrow, U-shaped initially, curving laterally, then looping anteriorly before entering almost globose spermathecae along their anterior margin ( Fig. 122 ); fertilization ducts on posterior margin of spermathecae, directed posteriomedially.

Male (paratype, Amanzi, NCA 2013/3163). Colouration ( Fig. 88 ): similar to female, carapace slightly paler, abdomen slightly darker.

Measurements: CL 0.92, CW 0.72, AL 1.06, AW 0.76, TL 2.08. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.07, PME 0.08, PLE 0.07, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.01, PME–PME 0.03, PME–PLE 0.03, ALE–PLE 0.01. Leg measurements: I 0.81, 0.32, 0.60, 0.53, 0.41 = 2.67; II 0.71, 0.30, 0.54, 0.46, 0.38 = 2.39; III 0.62, 0.27, 0.42, 0.41, 0.28 = 2.00; IV 1.04, 0.37, 0.76, 0.87, 0.30 = 3.34.

Leg spination: femora: I do 1, II do 1, III do 3 rl 1, IV pl 1 do 3 rl 1; patellae spineless; tibiae: I and II spineless, III pl 2 rl 1 plv 1, IV pl 2 rl 2 plv 1 vt 2; metatarsi: I spineless, II rlv 0-1, III pl 2 rl 1 plv 1 vt 3, IV pl 3 rl 2 plv 1 vt 3; palp: femur pl 1 do 2, patella spineless, tibia rlv 2, tarsus plv 1 with several modified distal setae ventrally.

Palpal tibia slightly longer than broad, with single triangular retrolateral apophysis ( Fig. 125 ); tegulum ovoid, with slender straight median apophysis with curved tip ( Fig. 124 ); embolus very slender, originating proximally and entering groove in subtegulum, continuing along prolateral margin in S-shaped groove ( Fig. 123 ), before entering groove in apical tegular process, partly hidden behind retrolateral tegular apophysis.

Additional material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Free State: Amanzi Private Game Reserve , 28°35.805’S, 26°25.190’E, 1–30.IX.2012, leg. V. Butler (pitfall traps, Digitaria eriantha grazing), 8♂ 2♀ (NCA 2013/3310); Same locality, 28°35.765’S, 26°25.455’E, 1–30.IX.2012, leg. V. Butler (pitfall traps, mesa, plateau), 1♂ (NCA 2013/3236); Same data but 1–31.X.2012, 1♀ (NCA 2014/1541); Same locality, 28°35.565’S, 26°25.550’E, 1– 31.X.2012, leg. V. Butler (pitfall traps, mesa, plateau), 18♂ 4♀ (NCA 2014/1562); Same locality, 28°35.506’S, 26°25.340’E, 1–30.IX.2012, leg. V. Butler (pitfall traps, Searsia burchellii woodland), 1♀ (NCA 2013/3162); Same data but 1–30.IV.2013, 1♀ (NCA 2013/3581); Same locality, 28°35.975’S, 26°25.435’E, 1–30.IX.2012, leg. V. Butler (pitfall traps, Tarchonanthus camphoratus woodland), 1♂ (NCA 2013/3321); Same locality, 28°35.785’S, 26°26.335’E, 1–30.IX.2012, leg. V. Butler (pitfall traps, Vachellia karroo woodland), 1♂ 1♀ (NCA 2013/3380) . Gauteng: Bronkhortspruit, Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, Farm Elandsfontein , 25°42’20.7’’S, 28°56’27.0’’E, 1403 m a.s.l., 8.III.2005, leg. R. Koko (pitfalls, koppie crest), 1♀ (NCA 2016/3183); Wonderboom , Tswaing Nature Reserve , Farm Tswaing , 25°24’15.1’’S, 28°03’34.9’’E, 1116 m a.s.l., 9.XI.2004, leg. R. Koko (baited pitfall, open woodland), 1♀ (NCA 2014/3235), 1♀ (NCA 2014/3252) . KwaZulu-Natal: Tembe Elephant Park, Viewing Tower, Open woodland/sand, 27°02.225’S, 32°24.905’E, 115 m a.s.l., 3.XII.2015, leg. C. Haddad, R. Booysen, V. & N. Butler (hand collecting), 1♀ (NCA 2016/2045) . Limpopo: Vyeboom, 23°18.534’S, 30°24.486’E, 24.I.2015, leg. E. Mauda (pitfalls), 1♂ (NCA 2016/245); Vhembi Biosphere Reserve, Mara Research Station , 23°02’S, 29°39’E, 7.XI.2012, leg. C. Schoeman (pitfalls, Makhado sweet bushveld), 1♂ (NCA 2015/1172) . Northern Cape: Prieska district, Green Valley Nuts , 29°34.924’S, 22°54.376’E, 28.I.2009, leg. C. Haddad (base of grass tussocks), 1♂ (NCA 2009/1474) . ZIMBABWE: Bulawayo, Hillside, 20°10’S, 28°35’E, III–IV.1999, leg. M. FitzPatrick (pitfall traps), 2♀ (NMZ/A14034); Mtshelele Dam, 20°35’S, 28°36’E, 1–3.XII.2004, leg. M. FitzPatrick, 1♀ (NMZ/ A15180 ); Pomongwe , 20°32’S, 28°30’E, XII.2004, leg. M. FitzPatrick, 1♂ (NMZ/A15250); Rowallan Park , 20°25’S, 28°31’E, VII.2005, leg. M. FitzPatrick, 1♀ (NMZ/ A15864 ) .

Variation. Total length: females 2.15–3.08 (average 2.51, n = 13); males 1.77–2.23 (average 2.03, n = 21).

Habitat and biology. The extent of epigyne plugging was not quantified for this species. It occupies Nama Karoo, grassland and savanna habitats, and was predominantly sampled from the ground by pitfalls, litter sifting, beneath rocks or from grass tussocks, and only rarely from woody vegetation by beating. It represented 1.11% of the ground-dwelling spider fauna in a pitfall survey in the grassland biome, but was almost exclusively sampled there from Searsia burchellii closed evergreen shrubland and cultivated Digitaria eriantha pastures ( Haddad & Butler 2018).

Distribution. Widely distributed in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana ( Fig. 136 ).

Figures

FIGURE 136. Distribution of Leptopilos butleri sp. nov. (circles), L. digitus sp. nov. (triangles) and L. vasivulva sp. nov. (stars) in southern Africa.

FIGURES 87–92. Dorsal habitus of Leptopilos species: 87, 88. L. butleri sp. nov. female (87) and male (88); 89, 90. L. digitus sp. nov. female (89) and male (90); 91, 92. L. vasivulva sp. nov. female (91) and male (92). Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 121–125. Leptopilos butleri sp. nov., female epigyne in ventral (121) and dorsal (122) views, and male palp in prolateral (123), ventral (124) and retrolateral (125) views. Abbreviations: ATP—anterior tegular process; E—embolus; MA— median apophysis; RTP—retrolateral tegular process. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 126–130. Leptopilos digitus sp. nov., female epigyne in ventral (126) and dorsal (127) views, and male palp in prolateral (128), ventral (129) and retrolateral (130) views. Abbreviations: ATP—anterior tegular process; E—embolus; MA— median apophysis; RTP—retrolateral tegular process; sRTP—secondary lobe of RTP. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 131–135. Leptopilos vasivulva sp. nov., female epigyne in ventral (131) and dorsal (132) views, and male palp in prolateral (133), ventral (134) and retrolateral (135) views. Abbreviations: ATP—anterior tegular process; E—embolus; MA—median apophysis; RTP—retrolateral tegular process. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.