Anansi Benavides and Hormiga new genus

Figures 1 A, 9-17, 18A – B

Type species

Anansi luki Benavides and Hormiga new species .

Etymology. The genus is named after Anansi, a West African folktale character, originally from the Ashanti people (present day Ghana). Anansi takes the shape of a spider and is considered to be the keeper of stories and knowledge. Anansi is masculine in gender.

Diagnosis. Anansi differs from the rest of mimetids in having four abdominal dorsal humps with macrosetae on its tip (Figs. 9 A – B, 12A – B, 14A – B, 16A – B), chelicerae twice as long as the clypeus width (Figs 9 D, 12D, 14D, 16C), conductor with a flagellum (Figs. 10 A – C, 11A – B, 15G – H), and epigynum projected posteriorly (Figs. 12 B – C, 13A – C, 16B, 17A).

Composition. Anansi insidiator (Thorell, 1899) new combination, Anansi natalensis (Lawrence, 1938) new combination, Anansi luki Benavides and Hormiga new species and an undescribed Anansi species from Congo. Here we describe the type species, A. luki n. sp., and re-describe A. insidiator n. comb. Additional species will be described or re-described in a forthcoming paper.

Phylogenetics. The monophyly of Anansi is supported by the following putative morphological synapomorphies: piriform cephalothorax (Figs. 9 A, 12A, 14A, 16A), chelicerae longer than clypeus width (Figs 9 D, 12D, 14D, 16C), four abdominal dorsal humps that carry macrosetae on its tip (Figs. 9 A – B, 12A – B, 14A – B, 16A – B), palpal tibiae with two long macrosetae (Figs. 9 D, 1 0B, 11B, 14G); conductor with a flagellum that can be up to 1.5 times the maximum width of the cymbium (Figs. 10 A – C, 11A – B, 1 5G – H), paracymbium spoon shaped (Figs. 10 E – F, 11B, 15B – C), and epigynum projected posteriorly, as long as wide ( A. natalensis n. comb.) or twice as long as wide ( A. luki n. sp. and A. insidiator n. comb.). As documented in this paper, nucleotide sequence data also provide robust support to the monophyly of this new genus.

Description. Total length 5.34 – 6.68 in males and 4.74 – 5.26 in females. Carapace longer than wide, 2.49 – 3.41 long in males and 2.18 – 2.49 in females; cephalothorax piriform; pars cephalica as long as pars thoracica ( A. natalensis) or longer ( A. luki and A. insidiator); fovea as two longitudinal slits whose ends meet posteriorly (Fig. 17 A). Carapace light yellow with dark medial longitudinal band, wide and forming a triangular shape from top of fovea to ocular area (Figs. 9 A, 12A, 14A, 16A). Sternum longer than wide, prolonged between coxae IV light yellow to brownish (Figs. 9 C, 12C, 14C); AME larger, in a tubercle; lateral eyes juxtaposed (Figs. 9 D, 12D, 14D, 16C). Clypeus height 0.16 – 0.24; paturon straight (Figs. 9 D, 12D, 14D, 16C), 0.97 – 1.57 long, with peg teeth, yellowish to dark brown, longer than clypeus width, ca. 1.4 times longer in A. natalensis, ca. 2.1 times longer in A. luki and A. insidiator . Legs slender, yellowish with dark spots, with macrosetae; retrolateral side of femur I and prolateral side of femur II with a longitudinal row of short setae. Abdomen light yellow, longer than wide ( A. luki and A. insidiator) or dark brown and approximately as longer as wide ( A. natalensis); dorsal abdomen with four humps, two anterior located about one third of the anterior abdominal margin and two larger humps about one half of the anterior abdominal margin. ALS with ca. 65 piriform spigots and several tartipores (Figs. 1 0E, 14E, 16I, 17F). PMS with 4 – 5 aciniform spigots (Figs. 9 F, 13F, 15J, 17G). A single and peripheral PLS cylindrical spigot present ( A. natalensis) or absent ( A. luki and A. insidiator); when present, cylindrical spigot base and shaft longer than wide. Epiandrous fusules in two clusters, each of ca. 10 fusules (Fig. 10 G). Male pedipalpal patellae with two dorsal macrosetae, projecting toward the cymbium (Fig. 9 D). In A. luki and A. insidiator one of these macrosetae 1.5 times longer than the cymbium, the other half the size of the cymbium. In A. natalensis both macrosetae are approximately half the size of the cymbium. Cymbium twice as long as wide (Fig. 10 B, E, 14G, 15E); ectobasal margin of the cymbium with ( A. luki, Fig. 10 E; A. insidiator, Fig. 15 C) or without an apophysis that is longer than wide, right above the concave paracymbium. Subtegulum displaced ectally, tegulum discoid (Figs. 10 F, 15F). Embolus inserting basally relative to tegulum (in ventral view), flagelliform and running parallel to tegulum (Figs. 10 C, 14H, 15G). Conductor projecting ventrally and with a flagelliform apophysis that runs parallel to embolus (Figs. 10 C, D, F; 15B, D, G – H). Epigynum projecting posteriorly (Figs. 12 B – C, 13A – C, 16B, 17B), as long as wide ( A. natalensis) or twice as long as wide ( A. luki and A. insidiator). Copulatory ducts parallel to fertilization ducts (Fig. 12 F); spermathecae spherical ( A. natalensis) or oval ( A. luki and A. insidiator).

Distribution. Known from Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, and South Africa.