Suffrica gen. nov.

Figs 1 – 96

Diagnosis. Members of the genus Suffrica resemble Suffasia and Asceua in having a pair of femoral organs without barbed setae on each leg (Figs 17–20), a similar eye disposition and teeth on both cheliceral margins. They are distinguished by the narrow, domed cephalothorax (Figs 2, 7), the cheliceral promargin with two well separated slanting teeth, the proximal one larger (Fig. 41), a dorsal abdominal gland (Figs 8, 9, 37, 47, 76–81) and the dorsum of the abdomen with a groove in males (Figs 6, 26, 65).

Etymology. Suffrica is a contraction of Suffasia and Africa. The gender is feminine.

Type species. Suffrica exotica sp. nov.

Description. Small spiders (1.9–2.9 mm). Carapace (Figs 3, 6, 7, 36, 38) narrow, oval (L/W = 1.5–1.7) and domed (L/H = 1.92–2.24), with smooth to slightly reticulated teguments, almost devoid of hairs; widest at level of coxae II–III, narrowed anteriorly to about 0.70 times maximum width in males and 0.75 times maximum width in females (cephalic width measured at level of PLE centers). Cervical grooves not marked.

Colour (Figs 1–3, 25–27, 64–66): carapace medium to dark brown; chelicerae and mouthparts dark brown; sternum medium brown; abdomen dorsum uniform dark in females, with two longitudinal lighter stripes in male, anteriorly with small, central lighter brown spot at level of abdominal gland, venter uniform grey, darker towards sides.

Eyes in two rows: anterior row straight, procurved as seen from in front (Figs 3, 36), posterior row strongly procurved. All eyes rounded and subequal. MOQ longer than wide, wider at the back than in front. Clypeus straight, height about 5 times diameter of ALE, with dispersed short setae.

Chilum single, superior margin wider than inferior one, slightly protruding in the center (Fig. 3). Chelicerae not fused (Fig. 36); intercheliceral triangle absent; promargin with two slanting teeth, the proximal one larger and retromargin with one small, sharp tooth (Fig. 41); fangs short and sharp, slightly curved. Labium roughly quadrangular with rounded distal margin, hardly narrowed at base (Fig. 39). Endites roughly triangular, strongly converging, distally with special asymmetric setae (Fig. 40); palps directed straight forward. Sternum slightly longer than wide, shield-shaped with slightly rounded sides, provided with triangular extensions corresponding with coxal concavities and with intercoxae.

Legs slender. Formula 4123 or 4132. Three-clawed (Fig. 83), median one smooth, lateral ones medially pectinated as in most Zodariids. Spination reduced but a few dorsal spines on femora and some small ventral spines on tibiae and metatarsi; distal ones on metatarsi ramified (Fig. 82). Preening brush with short chisel-shaped setae on metatarsi II and III (Fig. 82). Femoral organ double, on prolateral and retrolateral face of all legs, with smooth conical hairs and numerous small pores in a shallow circular depression (Figs 17–20). Tarsal organ simple hole on distal edge of elevated plate (Fig. 84), located on proximal part of tarsi.

Abdomen oval. Dorsum in both sexes anteriorly with oval gland outlet with coarsely granulated tegument, tiny gland openings and smooth setae (Figs 8, 9, 37, 47, 76 – 81); internal view shows perforated oval area, with numerous pits, larger ones corresponding to the base of smooth setae, smaller ones accommodating the outlets of flat, oval glands (Figs 80, 81); abdomen provided in males with scutum covering ¾ of surface, with central longitudinal groove delimited by shallow ridges (Figs 2, 6, 26, 35, 65, 75). Tracheal spiracle procurved, widened to rounded opening at extremities (Fig. 22); just in front of spinnerets; fairly wide, around 0.25 times maximum width of abdomen. Males with four spinnerets (Fig. 21), females with six (Fig. 49). ALS (Figs 22, 23, 51 – 53), conical, biarticulate, with two major ampullate gland spigots in the center and five (in males) or six (in females) aciniform gland spigots around the former. PLS small, with eight aciniform gland spigots in female (Fig. 50), two in male (Fig. 24). MS absent in males, reduced in females with one aciniform gland spigot (Fig. 50). Colulus represented by a few setae. Sperm pore a wide slightly procurved slit.

Female palp with some strong prolateral spines on conical tarsus, with pectinated claw turned inwards over nearly 45°, without patch of chemosensitive setae (Figs 48, 85).

Male palp with patella provided with rounded dorsal extension, tibia with both DTA and RTA: DTA short, conical and sturdy, RTA with two parts: one fairly long anterior lamellar extension pointing forwards and one rounded with transparent window, the two parts separated by plate-shaped concavity (Figs 16, 42, 86). Cymbium domed, with basal concavity accommodating lamellar extension of RTA; with patch of chemosensitive setae; embolus originating on posterior part of tegulum (Fig. 10), cylindrical and grooved, long, curved, flexible, with small tooth at some distance from tip (Figs 12, 88); extremity truncated and folded (Fig. 12); MA (Figs 11, 45, 87) complex with different appendages: one prolateral, long, sharp and curved forwards and two retrolateral, rounded and stout; distal tegular apophysis harpoon-shaped (Fig. 13); conductor with basal groove accommodating embolus and distal part provided with curved, flat apophysis (Figs 11, 14, 15, 44, 89).

Epigyne (Figs 30, 34, 54, 55, 60, 69, 72, 90, 91) anteriorly with two membranous funnels (Figs 58, 94) connected to sinuous sclerotized copulation ducts, leading to poorly defined spermathecae (Figs 31, 56, 57, 62, 73, 92, 93). Funnels internally with numerous biarticulate glands (Figs 59, 63, 95), here called “lollipops”, opening through small holes on the outside (Figs 55, 61, 91).

Distribution. Suffrica is found in the Eastern Arc Mountains and the adjacent Mkomazi Game Reserve (Fig. 96).