Coronarachne setosa, Haddad & Lyle, 2024

Haddad, Charles R. & Lyle, Robin, 2024, Three new genera of arboreal dark sac spiders from southern Africa (Araneae: Trachelidae), Zootaxa 5399 (5), pp. 451-504 : 468-470

Coronarachne setosa sp. nov.

Figs 70, 71 , 86–89

Etymology. This species name is the Latin setosus/-a/-um, meaning bristly, and refers to the tuft of modified spatulate setae situated ventrally on the cymbium behind the embolus; adjective.

Diagnosis. The male of this species shares with C. neethlingi sp. nov. and C. unigena sp. nov. the dense tuft of flattened setae distally on the tegulum cavity behind the embolus, but can be easily distinguished from congeners by the large subtriangular prolateral tegular apophysis ( Fig. 86 ). The female is easily recognised by the small size of the ST I and ST II, and their wide separation, by approximately double the length of the ST II ( Figs 88, 89 ).

Male (holotype, Umlazi Nature Reserve, NMSA 12330). Measurements: CL 1.40, CW 1.12, AL 1.55, AW 0.97, TL 2.89, FL 0.20, SL 0.85, SW 0.63, AME-AME 0.02, AME-ALE 0.03, ALE-ALE 0.21, PME-PME 0.08, PME-PLE 0.11, PLE-PLE 0.39. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 0.87 + 0.46 + 0.62 + 0.55 + 0.31 = 2.81; II 0.71 + 0.37 + 0.50 + 0.48 + 0.28 = 2.34; III 0.60 + 0.30 + 0.36 + 0.48 + 0.20 = 1.94; IV 0.78 + 0.31 + 0.59 + 0.60 + 0.21 = 2.49.

Carapace brown ( Fig. 70 ); carapace finely granulate; fovea short, narrow, relatively indistinct, at two thirds CL. AER slightly procurved; clypeus height equal to ½ AME diameter; ALE slightly larger than AME; AME separated by distance equal to their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance equal to ½ AME diameter; PER recurved, PLE slightly larger than PME; PME separated by distance equal to 1½ times their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to twice PME diameter. Chelicerae brown, anterior surface covered with scattered long, fine setae; two promarginal teeth, both teeth equal in size, one tooth distal and other proximal situated; two retromarginal teeth, distal tooth largest. Sternum brown, darker at borders. Abdomen oval, mottled grey dorsally, with paired creamy-yellow markings anteriorly merged with transverse band at midpoint, forming U-shaped marking; two pairs of brown to grey sigilla, first pair anterior to midpoint, second pair posterior to midpoint of abdomen; abdomen slightly elongated, broad anteriorly, tapering posteriorly. Legs I to IV brown, anterior legs darker than posteriors. Palp brown, cymbium with cluster of flattened setae distally on the tegulum cavity behind embolus tip; embolus coiled with rounded tip, two RTA, ventral apophysis finger-like and dorsal apophysis rounded with small denticles ( Figs 86, 87 ).

Female (paratype, Sodwana Bay, MACN). Measurements: CL 1.00, CW 0.85, AL 1.45, AW 0.85, TL 2.60, FL 0.05, SL 0.65, SW 0.50, AME-AME 0.03, AME-ALE 0.03, ALE-ALE 0.18, PME-PME 0.60, PME-PLE 0.08, PLE-PLE 0.36. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 0.65 + 0.35 + 0.43 + 0.38 + 0.25 = 2.06; II 0.55 + 0.30 +0.40 + 0.38 + 0.23 = 1.86; III 0.55 + 0.25 + 0.38 + 0.40 + 0.23 = 1.81; IV 0.70 + 0.20 + 0.28 + 0.58 + 0.23 = 1.99.

Carapace brown ( Fig. 71 ); carapace texture granular, covered with short, fine setae; fovea short, indistinct, at ⅔ CL. AER slightly procurved; clypeus height equal to slightly more than ½ AME diameter; ALE slightly larger than AME; AME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance equal to ½ AME diameter; PER recurved, PLE larger than PME; PME separated by distance equal to twice their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 2½ times PME diameter. Chelicerae brown, anterior surface with scattered long, fine setae; two promarginal teeth, proximal tooth largest; three retromarginal teeth, distal tooth largest, proximal tooth smallest. Sternum brown, darker towards border; elongated shield-shaped; surface smooth with short, fine setae scattered throughout sternum. Abdomen oval, pale grey dorsally, with large cream marking covering anterior half, bisected by narrow grey stripe anteriorly; posterior of marking oblique, diverging posteriorly ( Fig. 71 ); two pairs of grey sigilla, first pair anterior to midpoint, second pair posterior to midpoint of abdomen. Legs I to IV uniform brown; anterior legs slightly more robust, darker than posteriors; short, fine setae scattered on all leg segment; moderately dense ventral scopulae found on metatarsi and tarsi of all legs, more prominent on leg III and IV; regular leg spines, cusps absent. Epigyne with ST II anterior to midpoint, with heart-shaped connecting ducts of spermathecae ducts running peripherally, leading from ST II to bilobed posterior median ST I ( Figs 88, 89 ).

Type material. Holotype: ♁: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: 1.5 km E of Mtunzini, Umlazi Nature Reserve , 28°58'S, 31°48'E, XII.1978, leg. R. Miller (indigenous forest) ( NMSA 12330 ).

Paratypes: MOZAMBIQUE: Near Marracuene, Marracuene Lodge , 25°46.379'S, 32°41.430'E, 12 m a.s.l., 1.XII.2007, leg. R. Lyle & R. Fourie (beating shrubs, riverine forest), 1♁ ( NCA 2008 /175) . SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Fanies Island , 28°06'36.8''S, 32°25'52.5''E, 25–30 m a.s.l., 31.III– 4.IV.2001, leg. M. Ramirez, 1♁ (MACN-Ar 30347) ; Kosi Bay Nature Reserve , 26°57'S, 32°50'E, 10.XII.2010, leg. A.H. Kirk-Spriggs (malaise trap, indigenous dune forest), 1♁ ( NMBA 16633 ) ; Ndumo Game Reserve, Southern boundary fence, 26°55.664'S, 32°19.038'E, 30.VI.2009, leg. C. Haddad (in rolled-up leaf of short shrub, sand forest), 1♀ ( TMSA 23555 ) ; Sodwana Bay National Park, Mgoboseleni trail, 27°32'34.9''S, 32°39'48.7''E, 50 m a.s.l., 6–8.IV.2001, leg. M. Ramirez, 1♀ (MACN-Ar 30348) ; Ubombo district, Phinda Forest Lodge, 27°46'S, 32°21'E, 8.XII.1994, leg. L. Lotz, 2♁ ( NMBA 6853 ) . Mpumalanga: Kruger National Park, Onder Sabie , Skukuza [25°07'S, 31°55'E], 13.VIII.1991, leg. S. Neser (on plant), 1♁ ( NCA 2002 /364) .

Other material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Crocodile Centre, 28°21'24.4''S, 32°25'11.0''E, 24 m a.s.l., 12.V.2012, leg. J.A. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 1, indigenous bush, Trichilia emetica ), 2♀ ( NCA 2012 /4258); Same locality, St Lucia, 28°23'02.3''S, 32°24'25.7''E, 21 m a.s.l., 13.V.2012, leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 4, coastal forest, Trichilia dregeana ), 1♁ 3♀ ( NCA 2013 /19), 1♁ ( NCA 2012 /3990); Same locality, St Lucia, 28°23'04.3''S, 32°24'24.0''E, 22 m a.s.l., 13.V.2012, leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 5, coastal forest, T. emetica ), 2♁ 5♀ ( NCA 2012 /3991); Same locality, 14.V.2012, leg. J.A. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 7, wetland, Breonadia salicina ), 2♀ ( NCA 2012 /4266); Same locality, Eastern Shores Nature Reserve , 28°21.383'S, 32°25.166'E, 3.VII.2007, leg. R. Fourie & C. Haddad (beats, short shrubs), 1♀ ( NCA 2007 /2909); Same locality, near Mission Rocks Beach, 28°15'53.1''S, 32°28'52.8''E, 83 m a.s.l., 12.V.2012, leg. J.A. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 2, indigenous bush, Albizia adianthifolia ), 2♁ 1♀ ( NCA 2012 /4267); Same locality, St Lucia, 28°23'03.9''S, 32°24'25.4''E, 24 m a.s.l., 13.V.2012, leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 3, coastal forest, T. dregeana ), 2♁ (MACN-Ar 31208); Ndumo Game Reserve , Pongola River , water pump, riverine forest, 26°54.309'S, 32°19.444'E, 36 m a.s.l., 2.VII.2009, leg. C. Haddad, R. Lyle & V. Butler (canopy fogging 3, B. salicina ), 1♁ 3♀ ( NCA 2012 /4276); Same data as previous but canopy fogging 5, B. salicina , 1♀ ( NCA 2013 /613); Same locality, Ezikebheni, 26°53.389'S, 32°18.878'E, 8.XII.2009, leg. C. Haddad, V. Swart & A. Kirk-Spriggs (pitfalls, Albizia-Euphorbia thicket), 1♀ ( NCA 2013 /488); Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve , Samango Waterfall trail, 30°42.612'S, 30°16.182'E, 200 m a.s.l., 13.I.2011, leg. C. Haddad (canopy fogging, mixed forest trees), 1♁ ( TMSA 23989 ) ; Vryheid, Vryheid Mountain Nature Reserve , 27°45'41.0''S, 30°46'24.0''E, 1185 m a.s.l., leg. J.A. Neethling & C. Luwes, 24.V.2012 (canopy fogging 14, Ziziphus mucronata ), 6♁ 2♀ ( NCA 2012 /4271), 3♁ 3♀ (MACN-Ar 31234) . Western Cape: Garden Route National Park, Witelsbos, Stormsrivier , 33°58'S, 24°06'E, leg. R. Swart, 22.II.2017 (canopy fogging), 1♁ ( NCA 2019 /965); Same locality, Woodville , Wilderness , 33°55'S, 22°37'E, leg. R. Swart, 15.II.2017 (canopy fogging), 2♁ 4♀ ( NCA 2019 /960), 2♁ ( NCA 2019 /967), 1♁ 2♀ ( NCA 2019 /984) .

Distribution. A disjunct range in the subtropical eastern and mesic southern parts of South Africa ( Fig. 94 ).

Figures

FIGURE 94. Distribution of Coronarachne setosa sp. nov. (red circles) and C. unigena sp. nov. (blue triangles) in southern Africa.

FIGURES 65–73. Digital microscope photographs of dorsal habitus of Coronarachne spp. 65, 66. C. denticulata sp. nov. male (65) and female (66); 67. C. neethlingi sp. nov., male; 68, 69. C. penicillus sp. nov., male (68) and female (69); 70, 71, C. setosa sp. nov., male (70) and female (71); 72, 73. C. unigena sp. nov., male (72) and female (73). Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURES 86–89. Coronarachne setosa sp. nov. male (86, 87) and female (88, 89). 86. Left palp, ventral view; 87. Same, retrolateral view; 88. Epigyne, ventral view; 89. Same, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.