Austrachelas incertus Lawrence, 1938

(Figs 2, 3, 54–57)

Austrachelas incertus Lawrence, 1938: 504, fig. 28. (Ƥ) Diagnosis. The female of A. incertus can be recognised by the very broad distinctive semi-circular anterior hood (Fig. 54); males closely resemble A. kalaharinus n. sp., but can be distinguished by the size and position of the denticles on the distal margin of the embolus (Fig. 56), and by the simple retrolateral tibial apophysis (with two denticles in A. kalaharinus n. sp.).

Female. Measurements: CL 4.20–4.62, CW 2.98–3.22, FL 0.40–0.42, AL 4.65–7.50, AW 2.30–4.20, SL 2.33–2.55, SW 1.60–1.70, TL 8.85–12.25, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.40, PME–PME 0.09, PME–PLE 0.16, PLE–PLE 0.68.

Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 2.65 + 1.73 + 2.20 + 1.65 + 1.08 = 9.31; II 2.48 + 1.62 + 2.03 + 1.63 + 1.00 = 8.76; III 2.30 + 1.30 + 1.38 + 1.87 + 1.00 = 7.85; IV 2.98 + 1.63 + 2.30 + 2.70 + 1.20 = 10.81.

Carapace deep red-brown, dark orange-red along midline (Fig. 2); AER strongly procurved, laterals larger than medians; AME separated by distance equal to their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to ½ AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 1½ times AME diameter at AME, equal to ¾ ALE diameter at ALE; PER straight, laterals larger than medians; PME separated by distance equal to their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1½ times PME diameter. Chelicerae deep red-brown; promargin with three teeth, proximal tooth smallest, median tooth largest; median and distal teeth closest together; retromargin with two small subequal teeth, situated close to fang base. Legs all yellow-orange, slightly darker distally. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1 do 1, II pl 1 do 1, III pl 1 do 2–3 rl 1, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2–3 do 0–1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, strongly scopulate, III & IV scopulate in distal half, III pl 6 do 2 rl 5 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 6 rl 5 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2; palp: femora pl 1 do 2, patellae spineless, tibiae pl 3 r1 2, tarsus pl 3 do 1 rl 1 plv 1 rlv 1. Abdomen dark grey dorsally, with cream chevron markings (Fig. 2), cream laterally and ventrally; dorsum and venter lacking scutum or other sclerites. Female epigyne with broad semi-circular anterior hood (Fig. 54); copulatory openings anterolaterally situated, entering median ST 2; ST 1 oval, posteriorly situated, distinctly separated (Fig. 55).

Male. Measurements: CL 4.23, CW 2.98, FL 0.42, AL 4.35, AW 2.25, SL 2.33, SW 1.57, TL 8.98, AME–AME 0.12, AME–ALE 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.35, PME–PME 0.09, PME–PLE 0.16, PLE–PLE 0.65.

Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 3.18 + 1.78 + 2.45 + 1.95 + 1.18 = 10.54; II 3.00 + 1.68 + 2.25 + 1.90 + 1.20 = 10.03; III 2.58 + 1.30 + 1.53 + 2.01 + 1.08 = 8.50; IV 3.45 + 1.68 + 2.53 + 3.08 + 1.20 = 11.94.

Carapace deep orange-brown, paler along midline (Fig. 3); AER strongly procurved, laterals larger than medians; AME separated by distance equal to 1½ times their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to ¾ AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 2¼ AME diameter at AME, equal to ALE diameter at ALE; PER straight, laterals larger than medians; PME separated by distance equal to ¾ their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1½ times PME diameter. Chelicerae pale yellow-orange; promargin and retromargin with single small tooth; promarginal tooth larger, retromarginal tooth closer to fang base. Legs all yellow-orange, slightly paler distally. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1 do 1, II pl 1 do 1, III pl 1 do 2 rl 1, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, strongly scopulate, III & IV scopulate in distal half, III pl 6 rl 4 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 6 rl 5 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2. Abdomen grey with cream chevron dorsally (Fig. 3), cream laterally and ventrally; small anterior dorsal scutum present, venter without any sclerites. Male palp with broad rounded prolateral tibial apophysis and simple triangular retrolateral tibial apophysis; median tegular apophysis hook-shaped; embolus curved in broad arc, with curved tooth-like prolateral and hook-like retrolateral projection on distal margin of embolus (Figs 56, 57); palpal spination: femora do 2, tarsi pl 1.

Type material: Holotype Ƥ, deposited in NMSA (examined): SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal Province, Bulwer [29°48'S, 29°45'E], V.1936, R.F. Lawrence (NMSA 120).

Additional material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal Province, Cathkin Peak [29°04'S, 29°21'E], 5800ft a.s.l., no further information, 1 sa 3, 1 sa Ƥ (NMSA 2161) [leg spination corresponds with other specimens]; Hilton, near Pietermaritzburg [29°33'S, 30°18'E], Grounds of St Anne’s Diocesan School, 6.V.1991, P. Croeser & Members of Wildlife Club, 1Ƥ (NMSA 21892); Karkloof, 50km NNW of Pietermaritzburg, 29°26'S, 30°19'E, 4600ft a.s.l., 20.X.1985, C. Griswold, T. Griswold & J. Doyen (forest), 2Ƥ (NMSA 21893); Ndumeni forest, Cathedral Peak, 4800 ft a.s.l., 28°57'S, 29°12'E, 21-24.II.1984, C. Griswold & T. Meikle-Griswold, 13 (NMSA 21894); Pietermaritzburg [29°37'S, 30°22'E], Chase Valley, III. 1937, R.F. Lawrence, 1 sa Ƥ (NMSA 1712) [leg spination corresponds with holotype].

Distribution. Known from the KwaZulu-Natal midlands and uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Mountains (Fig. 82).