Orthobula radiata Simon, 1897

Figs 11–53, 96–100

Orthobula radiata Simon, 1897b: 499 (Holotype ♂: SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng: Hammanskraal [25°24’S, 28°17’E], deposited in MNHN—examined).

Remark. The locality indicated on the label of the holotype is Hammanskraal, as indicated in the bibliography above, but in the publication (Simon 1897b) it is indicated as Pretoria (25°42’S, 28°13’E), with about 50 km separating the localities.

Diagnosis. Females of O. radiata have a similar general epigyne structure to O. calceata, but lack the anterior ridges seen in the latter species (Fig. 65), with these being replaced by shallow depressions (Figs 45, 96), and also by the short CD. Males of O. radiata most closely resemble those of O. milloti, particularly in the short, straight spike-like embolus, but can be distinguished by presence of a bifid (Fig. 100) as opposed to a simple finger-like RFA (Fig. 95).

Female (Pretoria, NCA 2008/1981). Measurements: CL 1.09, CW 0.83, AL 1.35, AW 1.08, TL 2.55 (1.60– 2.55), PERW 0.36, MOQAW 0.15, MOQPW 0.18, MOQL 0.16. Length of leg segments: I 0.73 + 0.27 + 0.65 + 0.57 + 0.29 = 2.51; II 0.63 + 0.25 + 0.51 + 0.49 + 0.26 = 2.14; III 0.52 + 0.24 + 0.40 + 0.44 + 0.25 = 1.85; IV 0.66 + 0.25 + 0.60 + 0.67 + 0.33 = 2.51.

Colour: carapace deep orange-brown, with black mottling around margins, faint on sides; chelicerae orangebrown; endites orange-brown, labium darker brown, both cream distally; sternum orange, margins orange-brown; palps yellow-brown; legs with femora, patellae and tibiae orange-brown, with dense black mottling laterally; distal ends of femora and tibiae, and basal end of patellae, with yellow rings; metatarsi and tarsi yellow, metatarsi with faint black mottling; abdomen black dorsally, with pair of oval cream anterolateral patches and transverse cream band at midpoint, merging centrally to form X; posterior half with six slender transverse chevrons, last four merging centrally; venter creamy-grey; spinnerets cream.

Leg spination: femora and patellae: spineless; tibiae: I plv 6 rlv 5, II plv 5 rlv 4; metatarsi: I plv 4 rlv 4, II plv 4 rlv 4; tarsi: I plv 3 rlv 3, II plv 3 rlv 2.

Epigyne with lateral CO in shallow depressions (Figs 45, 96); CD curving posteromesally, entering slightly ovoid SBB at centre of epigyne; SBB almost touching along their mesal surfaces; CD similar in length to width of SBB; BU broad, ovoid, with boomerang-shaped accessory gland on their anteromesal surface; SBB connected to ST I by short looping ducts, entering obliquely-orientated oval ST I on their posteromesal surface (Fig. 97).

Male (Pretoria, NCA 2008/1980). Measurements: CL 0.86, CW 0.70, AL 0.95, AW 0.73, TL 1.85 (1.48–2.05), PERW 0.30, MOQAW 0.12, MOQPW 0.16, MOQL 0.15. Length of leg segments: I 0.59 + 0.22 + 0.52 + 0.46 + 0.26 = 2.09; II 0.53 + 0.21 + 0.41 + 0.39 + 0.24 = 1.78; III 0.43 + 0.19 + 0.30 + 0.38 + 0.22 = 1.52; IV 0.57 + 0.20 + 0.49 + 0.56 + 0.29 = 2.11.

Colour: carapace deep orange-brown, mottled around margins, with black mottled marking centrally; chelicerae orange-brown; endites and labium orange-brown, cream distally; sternum orange, margins orange-brown; palps orange-brown, with faint black mottling; legs with femora, patellae and tibiae I and II orange-brown, metatarsi and tarsi yellow-brown, patellae and tibiae with black mottling dorsally and laterally; femora, patellae and tibiae III and IV yellow-brown, metatarsi and tarsi yellow, patellae and tibiae with black retrolateral stripe; abdomen black dorsally, with pair of oblique cream anterolateral markings, converging and merging centrally with transverse cream band; venter and spinnerets cream.

Leg spination: femora and patellae: spineless; tibiae: I plv 6 rlv 5, II plv 4 rlv 4; metatarsi: I plv 4 rlv 4, II plv 4 rlv 4; tarsi: I plv 3 rlv 3, II plv 3 rlv 2.

Palpal femur with small bifid RFA, proximal branch sharply hook-shaped, distal branch small, tooth-like (Fig. 100); tibia with small, simple triangular apophysis; retrodistal tegular ridge strongly developed, curving around ventrally, ending close to base of embolus (Fig. 99) embolus narrow, straight, spike-like, with slightly constricted tip (Figs 98–100).

Other material examined. BOTSWANA: Ngamiland: Maxwee, 19°30’S, 23°40’E, 28.VIII.1975, leg. A. Russell-Smith (grassland), 16♂ 7♀ (MRAC 154603); Near Maun, Manxunyane Lagoon [19°54’S, 23°28’E], 1.IV.1976, leg. F. Wanless & A. Russell-Smith (grassland, ground layer), 1♀ (BMNH) ; Okavango, Maun, Island Safari Lodge [19°55’S, 23°30’E], 21.IX.1975, leg. A. Russell-Smith (riverine forest), 1♀ (BMNH) ; Okavango, Maun, Thamalakane River [19°59’S, 23°30’E], 11.IX.1976, leg. A. Russell-Smith ( Setaria grassland), 1♂ 4♀ (BMNH); Okavango, Maxwee [19°30’S, 23°40’E], V–VI.1976, leg. A. Russell-Smith (Mopane woodland grass litter), 1♀ (BMNH) ; Okavango, Moremi Game Reserve, Mboma Lagoon [19°11’S, 23°16’E], 19.XI.1977, leg. A. Russell- Smith (moist Hyparrhenia grassland), 1♀ (BMNH) ; Okavango, Moremi Game Reserve, Mboma Island, P. Smith’s Camp [19°11’S, 23°16’E], 20.VI.1977, leg. A. Russell-Smith (wet Setaria grassland), 2♀ (BMNH) ; Okavango, Pom Pom, 19°35’S, 22°50’E, 15.VIII.2001, leg. M. Dangerfield (riparian pitfall), 1♂ 1♀ (NCA 2001 /418) . MOZAMBIQUE: Gaza: Bilene, Praia do Bilene, 27 m a.s.l., 25°15.649’S, 33°17.659’E, 20.XII.2007, leg. C. Haddad, R. Lyle & R. Fourie (leaf litter, coastal forest), 1♂ 2♀ (NCA 2008 /213) . Inhambane: Morrungulo, Morrungulo Resort, 12 m a.s.l., 23°13.983’S, 35°29.587’E, 6.XII.2007, leg. C. Haddad, R. Lyle & R. Fourie (leaf litter, dune forest), 4♂ (NCA 2008 /187) . Maputo: Near Marrucuene, Blue Anchor Inn, 50 m a.s.l., 25°35.124’S, 32°39.568’E, 28.XI.2007, leg. C. Haddad & R. Fourie (sifting leaf litter, savanna), 1♂ 2♀ (NCA 2008 /166) . NAMIBIA: Kavango East: Popa Falls, 18°07’S, 21°35’E, 24.X.1987, leg. R. Jocqué (densely vegetated banks of rapids), 1♀ (MRAC 168515) . Kunene: Nimmerrus, 19°28’S, 15°48’E, 17.IV.1984, leg. C. Schultz, 1♀ (NCA 85 /53) . SOUTH AFRICA: Gauteng: Johannesburg, Roodepoort, Poortview, 26°05.240’S, 27°51.449’E, 9.VII.2005, leg. A. Leroy (on kitchen shelf), 1♂ (NCA 2011 /871); Pretoria National Botanical Garden, 29°44’S, 28°16’E, 6.X–24.XI.2007, leg. E. Kassimatis (pitfall traps), 2♂ 3♀ (NCA 2008 /1979); Same data but 8–22.IX.2007, 1♂ (NCA 2008 /1980); Same data but 23.IX–5.X.2007, 1♀ (NCA 2008 /1981); Pretoria, Rietondale Research Station, 25°43’S, 28°14’E, 16.V.1998, leg. J. Nkwana (pitfall traps), 1♂ (NCA 2007 /1151); Roodeplaat Dam Nature Reserve, 25°38’S, 28°21’E, 28.IV.1983, leg. A. van den Berg (sweepnet, long grass), 1♂ (NCA 84 /190); Same locality, 10.V.2000, leg. A. Leroy (in house), 1♀ (NCA 2007 /3834). KwaZulu-Natal: 15km N of Richard’s Bay, 28°46.842’S, 32°02.298’E, 27.XI.1995, leg. T. Wassenaar (sweeps, rehabilitated coastal forest), 1♂ (NCA 96 /504); Drakensberg Mountains, Monk’s Cowl, 29°02.790’S, 29°24.235’E, 1465 m a.s.l., 3.XI.2012, leg. J. Neethling (sifting leaf litter, Afromontane forest), 1♂ (NCA 2019 /1000); Durban, Kloof, Kranzkloof Nature Reserve, 29°46.182’S, 30°49.744’E, 440 m a.s.l., 24.VII.2002, leg. C. Haddad (leaf litter on hillside), 1♂ 1♀ (NCA 2021 /1244); eThekwini [Durban], Buffelsdraai township, 29°38’S, 30°58’E, 5.II.2019, leg. S.P. Mntambo (pitfalls, Chromolaena odorata project), 1♂ (NCA 2019 /956); iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Eastern Shores Nature Reserve, 28°21.341’S, 32°25.062’E, 20 m a.s.l., 30.XI.2015, leg. C. Haddad (hand collecting), 1♂ (NCA 2015 /2557); Same locality, Gwala-Gwala Forest, 28°23.042’S, 32°24.436’E, 21.IV.2006, leg. C. Haddad (leaf litter, coastal forest), 1♂ (NCA 2006 /724); Same locality, Mission Rocks picnic site, 28°15.811’S, 32°28.953’E , 90 m a.s.l., 29.XI.2015, leg. R. Booysen, V. & N. Butler (sifting leaf litter, coastal forest), 1♂ 1♀ (NCA 2015 /2281); Same locality, near Mission Rocks, 28°14.118’S, 32°29.332’E, 14.V.2012, leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes (leaf litter, wetland bush patch), 1♀ (NCA 2012 /3954); Ithala Game Reserve, Ntshodwe Camp, 27°32.699’S, 31°16.911’E, 27.I.2014, leg. C. Haddad & Z. Mbo (sifting leaf litter, short forest), 2♀ (NCA 2013 /4937); Same data but 29.I.2014, leg. C. Haddad, 4♀ (NCA 2013 /5004); Same locality, 29.I.2014, leg. C. Haddad (base of grass tussocks), 1♂ 1♀ (NCA 2013 /5015); Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, 26°57.767’S, 32°48.981’E, 15.IV.2006, leg. C. Haddad (leaf litter, coastal forest), 2♀ (NCA 2006 /758); Lake Sibaya, east side, 27°22’S, 32°43’E, 25.VI.1967, leg. B.H. Lamoral (forest floor litter), 2♀ (NMSA 22040); Luneburg, road to Paulpietersburg, 27°20.322’S, 30°29.563’E, 23.V.2012, leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes (leaf litter, bush patch), 2♀ (NCA 2012 /3953); Mtunzini, Twin Streams farm (I.F. Garland), 28°57’S, 31°46’E, 19–20.I.1984, leg. T. & C. Griswold, P. Croeser & P. Reavell (sifting leaf litter), 1♂ 1♀ (NMSA 18876); Ndumo Game Reserve, Broadleaf woodland, near Croc Farm, 26°54.431’S, 32°19.045’E, 25.VI.2006, leg. C. Haddad & F. Jordaan (under rocks), 1♀ (NCA 2006 /1263); Same locality, Pongola River floodplain, 26°53.384’S, 32°19.097’E, 16.I.2006, leg. C. Haddad (riverine forest leaf litter), 1♀ (NCA 2006 /790); Same locality, Pongola River floodplain, 26°53.362’S, 32°18.892’E, 6.II.2005, leg. C. Haddad (leaf litter, floodplain), 2♂ 1♀ (NCA 2005 /41); Same locality, Shokwe Pan, 26°52.340’S, 32°12.745’E, 45 m a.s.l., 2.XII.2018, leg. J. Neethling (leaf litter, Ficus sycomorus forest), 1♀ (NCA 2019 /196); Same locality, Start of game count transect 8, 26°50.182’S, 32°13.138’E, 11.VII.2004, leg. C. Haddad (leaf litter, floodplain reeds), 1♂ 2♀ (MHBU) ; Newcastle district, Moorfield farm, 27°52.552’S, 29°42.495’E , 1780 m a.s.l., 29.VI.2015, leg. R. Booysen (leaf litter, lowland grassland), 1♀ (NCA 2017 /647); Newcastle district, Normandien Farms, 27°55.363’S, 29°49.767’E, 1300 m a.s.l., 12–16.VII.2015, leg. R. Booysen & R. Vlok (pitfalls, Eucalyptus plantation), 1♀ (NCA 2017 /692); Same locality, 13.VII.2015, leg. R. Booysen & A. Booysen (leaf litter, Eucalyptus plantation), 1♂ (NCA 2017 /708); Same locality, 23.I.2016, leg. R. Booysen et al. (day active search, Eucalyptus plantation), 3♀ (NCA 2017 /851); Ngome State Forest, 27°49’S, 31°26’E, I.1993, leg. M. van der Merwe (pitfall traps, grassland), 2♂ (NCA 94 /439); Ophathe Game Reserve, Rocky mountainside, 28°23.202’S, 31°24.077’E, 505 m a.s.l., 1.X.2008, leg. C. Haddad (sifting leaf litter), 1 imm. 2♂ 3♀ (NCA 2008 /4040); Same locality, Ombesanoni River Bed, 28°23.727’S, 31°23.643’E, 455 m a.s.l., 2.X.2008, leg. C. Haddad (sifting leaf litter), 4♀ (NCA 2008/4203); Pietermaritzburg [29°35’S, 30°25’E], IX.1951, leg. R.F. Lawrence, 9♀ (NMSA 5675); Same locality, Prestbury [29°36’S, 30°20’E], 11.V.1988, leg. W. Starega (in house at night), 1♂ (NMSA 18880); Same locality, Scottsville [29°37’S, 30°23’E], VII.1951, leg. R.F. Lawrence, 1♂ 4♀ (NMSA 5642); Pietermaritzburg, Clarendon Nature Reserve [29°36’S, 30°20’E], 15.IV.1976, leg. A. Russell-Smith (in garden), 1♂ 2♀ (BMNH); St Lucia Game Reserve, Makakatana Bay, 28°14.217’S, 32°24.633’E, 88 m a.s.l., 1–2.IV.2001, leg. M.J. Ramírez, 1♀ (MACN-Ar 42434); Tembe Elephant Park, Open woodland/sand, near offices, 27°03’S, 32°25’E, 12.I.2002, leg. C. Haddad (sweeps, grass and herbs), 1♀ (NCA 2007 /3578); Same locality, Open woodland/sand, near offices, 27°03’S, 32°25’E, 17.I.2002, leg. C. Haddad (active searching, under logs), 1♂ (NCA 2007 /3179); Same locality, 15.III.2003, leg. A. Honiball (sweeps, grass and herbs), 1 imm. 4♂ 6♀ (NCA 2004 /264); Same locality, 27°02.547’S, 32°25.407’E , 115 m a.s.l., 9–12.IV.2001, leg. M.J. Ramírez, 1♀ (MACN-Ar 39884), 1♀ (MACN-Ar 39894); Umgeni Valley Nature Reserve, near Howick, 29°28’S, 30°14’E, 11.V.2003, leg. C. Haddad (leaf litter, tree base), 2♂ 3♀ (NCA 2008 /577); Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve, near Umzinto, 30°16.085’S, 30°36.718’E, 458 m a.s.l., 26.XI.2012, leg. J. Neethling (leaf litter, Afromontane forest), 1♂ (NCA 2021 /1243); Same locality, 30°16.250’S, 30°36.402’E, 485 m a.s.l., 9–12.X.2020, leg. R. Booysen & R. Steenkamp (hand collecting), 1♂ (NCA 2021 /1202) . Limpopo: Blouberg Nature Reserve, 22°59.255’S, 29°07.950’E, 864 m a.s.l., 30.XI.2005, leg. E. Stam (leaf litter, Spirostachys africana), 1♀ (NCA 2008 /2767); Same locality, 23°00.110’S, 29°03.855’E, 903 m a.s.l., 25.III.2006, leg. F. Maanda (leaf litter, Philenoptera violaceae), 1♀ (NCA 2008 /2770); Lajuma Mountain Retreat, 23°02.414’S, 29°26.687’E, 6.II.2008, leg. C. Haddad (base of grass tussocks), 1♀ (NCA 2008 /507); Same locality, 3.V.1997, leg. M. van der Merwe (pitfall traps), 1♂ (NCA 98 /25); Same data but 29.VI.1997, 1♂ (NCA 98 /26); Same locality, woodland island 1a, 23°01.906’S, 29°26.141’E, 17.XI.2004, leg. M. Mafadza (pitfalls), 1♀ (NCA 2005 /2008); Same locality, woodland island 2, 23°01.921’S, 29°26.193’E, 23.XI.2004, leg. M. Mafadza (active searching), 1♂ 1♀ (NCA 2005 /2005); Same locality, woodland island 4, 23°01.894’S, 29°26.123’E, 28.XI.2004, leg. M. Mafadza (active searching), 1♀ (NCA 2005 /2006); Same locality, woodland island 4, 23°01.894’S, 29°26.123’E, 28.XI.2004, leg. M. Mafadza (sifting leaf litter, Ignota, sample 2), 2♂ 4♀ (NCA 2005 /2007); Little Leigh, 22°56.057’S, 29°53.610’E, 1086 m a.s.l., 23.XI.2005, leg. B. van der Waal (leaf litter, Burkea africana), 1♂ (NCA 2008 /2768); Same locality, 22°56.175’S, 29°53.155’E, 1086 m a.s.l., 22.III.2006, leg. S. Foord (leaf litter, Pterocarpus rotundifolius), 1♂ 1♀ (NCA 2008 /2769); Same locality, 22°56.175’S, 29°53.155’E, 1086 m a.s.l., 25.XI.2005, leg. E. Stam (leaf litter, P. rotundifolius), 2♀ (NCA 2008 /2771); Same locality, 22°56.175’S, 29°53.155’E, 1086 m a.s.l., 25.XI.2005, leg. S. Foord (leaf litter, P. rotundifolius), 2♀ (NCA 2008 /2772); Venetia Mines, V4, 22°26’S, 29°18’E, 25.III.2008, leg. S. Foord (leaf litter sifting), 1♀ (NCA 2008 /2871) . Mpumulanga: 11 km SE Pilgrim’s Rest [ca. 24°59’S, 30°48’E] , 1400 m a.s.l., 11–31.XII.1985, leg. S. & J. Peck (flight intercept-malaise, relict native forest edge), 4♂ 2♀ (AMNH); Badplaas, 25°57’03’’S, 30°34’00’’E, 26–29.III.2001, 1100 m a.s.l., leg. D. & S. Ubick (at night, in litter under riparian trees), 1♀ (CAS, CAS 9068193); Carolina District, mile 52, road from Barberton to Carolina, 25°55’S, 30°30’E, X.1961, leg. N. Leleup (under rocks), 1♀ (MRAC 131880); Embuleni Nature Reserve, Badplaas, 25°57’12’’S, 30°33’15’’E, 28.III.2001, 1100 m a.s.l., leg. D. & S. Ubick (grassveld savannah, in wooded areas), 1♂ 1♀ (CAS, CASENT 9068194); Same locality, 28.III.2001, leg. M. Ramirez, 1♀ (NCA 2002 /124); Same locality, 28.III.2001, leg. A. Russell-Smith (in litter in woodland), 2 imm. 4♂ 6♀ (BMNH); Same locality, 25°56’S, 30°34’E, 28.III.2001, leg. M.J. Ramírez, 1♂ (MACN-Ar 39881), 1♀ (MACN-Ar 42067) ; Kruger National Park, Mopani, Tsendze, 23°41.100’S, 31°31.080’E, XI.2008, leg. B. Reynolds (litter sifting), 1♀ (NCA 2010 /2741); Marble Hall, 25°15’S, 29°15’E, 15.V.2002, leg. M. Mellett (pitfall traps, Bt cotton), 1♀ (NCA 2004 /1295) . North West: Brits district, Jacksonstuin, 25°44’S, 27°45’E, IX.1960, leg. N. Leleup (litter), 3♀ (MRAC 140372); Venterskroon district, Thabela Thabeng Mountain Retreat, 26°51.825’S, 28°17.819’E, 1.IX–1.X.2009, leg. R. Fourie & A. Grobler (pitfall traps, woodland grassland), 1♀ (NCA 2009 /3619); Same data but 1–29.X.2009, 5♂ 1♀ (NCA 2009 /3550); Same locality, 26°51.828’S, 28°17.805’E, 1–29.X.2009, leg. R. Fourie & A. Grobler (pitfalls, Vaal River bank), 2♀ (NCA 2009 /3560) . Northern Cape: Upington, Duine-in-die-Weg Guest Farm, 28°34’S, 21°45’E, 835 m a.s.l., 22.I.2018, leg. H. Badenhorst (hand collecting, sample 14 Ks), 2♂ 1♀ (NCA 2020 /68) . ZAMBIA: Southern: Wildlives Game Farm, near Choma, Hunter’s Camp, 16°58.957’S, 26°36.973’E, 3.XII.2006, leg. C. Haddad, J. Parau & F. Jordaan (leaf litter), 4♀ (NCA 2007 /482); Same locality, BFA study plot, 9–14.XII.1994, leg. F. Nyathi (small pitfall traps), 1♀ (NMZ A11815) . Muchinga: Mpika, thermal source of Kanyama, 11°50’S, 31°26’E, VII.1960, 1700 m a.s.l., leg. N. Leleup, 1♀ (MRAC 115299) . ZIMBABWE: Harare, Highlands, 19 Walmer drive, 17°48’S, 31°05’E, XII.2008, leg. M. Cumming (in garden), 1♀ (NCA 2010 /392); Same data but 15.III.2005, 1♂ (NCA 2010 /4649) .

Habitat and biology. A common ground-dwelling spider sampled from pitfalls and litter in various biomes in southern Africa, including arid Nama Karoo, grasslands, forests, thickets and savannas. Specimens were regularly sampled near ants’ nests (e.g. Monomorium and Tetramorium), particularly under logs and in leaf litter.

Distribution. Widespread in southern Africa (Fig. 101).