Patelloceto secutor, 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 : 373-376

Patelloceto secutor sp. n.

Figs 118, 119 , 123–137

Etymology: From Latin secutor (a class of gladiator). The sharp dorsally pointed tibial apophysis that appears sword­like and is shielded by the palpal cymbium, is reminiscent of a gladiator armed with a sword and a shield.

Diagnosis: The male can easily be recognised by the dorsal palpal tibial apophysis that is more than half the dorsal cymbium length, and the presence of a small finger-like retrolateral palpal tibial apophysis ( Fig. 134 ). The female can be recognised by the two widely separated copulatory openings that are shielded by two oblique epigynal hoods that are bent and extended medially along their anterior margin ( Fig. 136 ).

Description:

Male.

Measurements: CL 1.75–2.10, CW 1.52–1.83, AL 1.76–2.40, AW 1.28–1.53, TL 3.44– 4.25, FL 0.13–0.28, SL 0.94–1.20, SW 0.90–1.08, AME–AME 0.09, AME–ALE 0.23, ALE–ALE 0.38, PME–PME 0.18, PME–PLE 0.40, PLE–PLE 0.60. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 1.58+0.73+1.20+1.08+0.73=5.32; II 1.53+0.70+1.08+0.98+0.65=4.94; III 1.10+0.58+0.75+1.00+0.43=3.86; IV 1.58+0.68+ 1.18+1.43+0.53=5.40.

Carapace dark brown ( Fig. 118 ); carapace evenly high in first three quarters with relatively steep decline in last quarter; surface finely granular, covered in short fine setae; fovea short, thick, distinct, at two thirds CL. Ocular region dark brown with black rings around eyes; AER slightly recurved, AME larger than ALE; clypeus height equal to 1.5 AME diameter; AME separated by distance equal to 0.7 their diameter; AME separated from ALE by 0.2AME diameter; PER slightly recurved, PME and PLE subequal in size; PME separated by distance equal to 1.2 their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance slightly less than PME diameter. Chelicerae dark brown, darker towards fang base; anterior surface of chelicerae with scattered black setae, setae longer towards fang base; fangs dark orange; two promarginal teeth, distal tooth largest; two retromarginal teeth, proximal tooth largest. Sternum dark orange, brown towards border; surface granular, rough, with dark setae. Abdomen dark orange dorsally, darkening to brown laterally and posteriorly; abdomen broader anteriorly, tapering posteriorly; scutum almost covering entire abdomen length; surface smooth, with short, fine setae throughout; venter pale brown. Legs I to IV yellow to orange, femora dark brown; metatarsi and tarsi with relatively dense scopulae ventrally; remaining leg segments covered in short, fine setae; anterior legs more robust; leg spines and cusps present. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1, II pl 1, III pl 1; patellae spineless; tibiae: I plv 9 rlv 4 cusps, II plv 2 rlv 0–4 cusps; metatarsi: I plv 9–13 rlv 7–8 vt 2 cusps, II plv 10–11 rlv 2–8 vt 2 cusps; tarsi: I plv 5–6 rlv 2–6 cusps, II plv 3–4 rlv 0–3 cusps ( Figs 123–129 , 132 ). Palp brown, without spines; femur with lobed distal retrolateral apophysis, without denticles; patella with large, elongate, slightly twisted retrolateral apophysis, extending beyond base of cymbium; tibia with short, finger-like distal retrolateral apophysis and very large sword-like dorsal apophysis, anterior length nearly twice as long as tibial width ( Figs 130 , 133–135 ); tegulum elongate; embolus short, slightly curved, directed distally; cymbium with two short distal ventral spines, situated prolaterally and medially ( Fig. 134 ).

Female.

Measurements: CL 1.80–2.15, CW 1.60–1.80, AL 2.25–3.00, AW 1.75–2.24, TL 4.20–4.50, FL 0.10–0.15, SL 1.10–1.23, SW 0.98–1.03, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.02, ALE–ALE 0.39, PME–PME 0.14, PME–PLE 0.12, PLE–PLE 0.57. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 1.65+0.78+1.25+1.14+0.78=5.60; II 1.57+0.71+1.41+1.06+0.70=5.45; III 0.90+0.63+0.82+1.02+0.47=3.84; IV 1.45+0.67+ 1.22+1.57+0.59=5.50.

Carapace reddish brown to brown ( Fig. 119 ); first two thirds of carapace slightly raised, with steep decline in last third; surface granular, covered in short, fine setae; fovea short, thickened, distinct, at two thirds CL. Ocular region reddish brown to brown with dark brown to black rings around eyes; AER slightly recurved, AME slightly larger than ALE; clypeus height subequal to AME diameter; AME separated by distance 0.8 their diameter; AME separated from ALE by 0.4 AME diameter; PER slightly recurved, PLE larger than PME; PME separated by distance equal to 1.25 times their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to PLE diameter. Chelicerae dark orange to brown, almost black laterally, slightly paler near fang base; anterior surface with scattered black setae, setae longer towards fang base; fangs orange in colour; two promarginal teeth, subequal in size, both situated distally; two retromarginal teeth, subequal in size, situated proximally. Sternum orange, brown towards border; surface with scattered long brown setae. Abdomen cream to grey dorsally; abdomen broader anteriorly, tapering posteriorly; orange to brown scutum extending to one fifth of abdomen length; abdomen with two pairs of sigilla, first pair just posterior to scutum, second pair at two fifths of abdomen length; venter cream. Legs I to IV uniform orange to brown, femora dark brown; tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi with relatively dense scopulae ventrally; remaining segments covered in less dense setae; ventral cusps absent. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1; patellae and tibiae spineless; metatarsi: III vt 1. Palpal spination: tibiae pl 1. Epigyne with broad membranous median septum separating laterally placed spermathecae ( Fig. 131 ); copulatory openings situated laterally, in same plane as ST II, flanked laterally by oblique epigynal hoods, anteriorly extending transversely to level of median margin of spermathecae ( Fig. 136 ); copulatory ducts directed anteriomedially, bending sharply before running posteriorly to small bilobed ST II, connected by narrow duct to small oval ST I, not reaching epigastric fold ( Fig. 137 ).

Holotype: ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Greater St Lucia (iSimangaliso) Wetlands Park, Hell’s Gate [28.03°S: 32.42°E], 31.vii.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps, Block C ( NCA 2006 /233).

Allotype: ♀ same data as holotype, 9.ii.2004 ( NCA, 2004/819).

Paratypes: MOZAMBIQUE: 1♂ Marracuene Lodge, near Marracuene , 12 m, 25°46.379'S: 32°41.430'E, 1 xii.2007, R. Lyle & R. Fourie,beating shrubs, riverine forest ( NCA, 2008/177) . SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: 2♂ Ndumo Game Reserve, E shore of Shokwe Pan , 26°52.516'S: 32°12.407'E, 21.vi.2006, C. Haddad, under logs ( NCA, 2006/1239) . 1♂ same locality, Crocodile Farm , 26°54.426'S: 32°19.185'E, 5.vii.2002, C. Haddad, fever tree bark ( NCA, 2004/300) ; 1♀ same locality, W shore of Nyamiti Pan , 26°53.767'S: 32°16.557'E, 24.vi.2006, C. Haddad & F. Jordaan, under bark, fever tree ( NCA, 2006/1245) .

Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: 1♀ False Bay Park, 12.i.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps ( NCA, 2004/784) ; 1♂ 1♀ Greater St. Lucia (iSimangaliso) Wetlands Park, Hell’s Gate , 26.i.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps ( NCA, 2004/817) ; 1♀ same locality, 5.iv.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps, block A ( NCA, 2005/226) ; 1♂ 1♀ same locality, 12.iv.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps, block A ( NCA, 2005/234) ; 2♀ same locality, 26.iv.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps, block A ( NCA, 2005/228) ; 1♂ same locality, 20.ix.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps, block A ( NCA, 2005/390) ; 1♀ same locality, 12.i.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps, block B ( NCA, 2004/796) ; 1♀ same locality, 12.iv.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps, block B ( NCA, 2005/227) ; 1♀ same locality, 3.v.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps, block B ( NCA, 2005/229) ; 1♂ same locality, 31.v.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps, block B ( NCA, 2005/230) ; 1♀ 1♂ 1 juv. same locality, 12.vii.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps, block B ( NCA, 2005/231) ; 1♀ same locality, 26.vii.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps, block B ( NCA, 2005/232) ; 1♀ same locality, 13.ix.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps, block B ( NCA, 2005/235) ; 1♀ same locality, 15 xi.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps, block B ( NCA, 2005/239) ; 1♂ same locality, 20.ix.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps, block C ( NCA, 2005/237) ; 1♀ same locality, 1 xi.2004, J. Esterhuizen, tsetse fly traps, block C ( NCA, 2005/238) ; 1♀ Ndumo Game Reserve, Start of game count transect 8, 26°50.183'S: 32°13.135'E, 2.vii.2003, C. Haddad, under fever tree bark ( NCA, 2006/1482) ; 3♂ same data ( NCA, 2006/1483) ; 3♂ 3♀ same data ( NCA, 2006/1496) ; 1♂ same locality, Crocodile Farm , 26°54.426'S: 32°19.185'E, 19.i.2002, C. Haddad, fever tree bark ( NCA, 2002/389) ; 2♂ same locality, E shore of Shokwe Pan , 26°52.516'S: 32°12.407'E, 21.vi.2006, C. Haddad, under logs ( NCA, 2006/1239) ; 1♂ Ndumo Game Reserve, Banzi Pan , fish ladder, 26°52.010'S: 32°18.141'E, 27.vi.2009, C. Haddad, Acacia xanthophloea bark ( TMSA 23588 ) ; 1♀ Tembe Elephant Park , open woodland/sand, near offices, 27°02.556'S: 32°25.465'E, 7.vii.2007, C. Haddad, beats, short shrubs ( NCA, 2008/2827) ; 1♀ 3 juv. same locality, 15.iii.2003, A. Honiball ( NCA, 2004/260). Limpopo : 1♂ 2♀ Pafuri, Wallers Camp , 22°25'S: 31°02'E, 16.ii.2008, D. de Bakker, R. Jocqué, W. Fannes & A. Henrard, canopy fogging 14, Kigelia africana / Colophospermum mopane , wooded savannah ( MRAC) . ZIMBABWE: 1♂ Sengwa Wildlife Research Area , 18°10'S: 28°14'E, 900 m, 15.i.2007, M.S. Cumming ( NCA, 2008/2859) .

Distribution: Widely but sporadically distributed from Maputaland in South Africa and southern Mozambique, and collected at a single locality in Zimbabwe ( Fig. 146 ).

Figures

Figs 118–122. General appearance of Patelloceto gen. n. species: P. secutor sp. n. male (118) and female (119); P. denticulata sp. n. male (120); P. media sp. n. male (121) and female (122).

Figs 123–131. Scanning electron micrographs of Patelloceto secutor sp. n. male (123–130) and female (131): (123) tibia I, cusp arrangement; (124) metatarsus I, cusp arrangement; (125) tarsus I, cusp arrangement;(126) tibia II, cusp arrangement; (127) metatarsus II, cusp arrangement; (128) tarsus II, cusp arrangement;(129) individual leg cusp on tibia II; (130) right palp, prolateral view; (131) epigyne, ventral view.

Figs 132–137. Patelloceto secutor sp. n. male (132–135) and female (136–137): (132) schematic representation on cusp arrangement on legs I and II; (133) left palp, prolateral view; (134) left palp, ventral view; (135) left palp, retrolateral view; (136) epigyne, ventral view; (137) vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars (133–137) = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 146. Distribution of Patelloceto gen. n. species in the continental Afrotropical Region.