Austrachelas pondoensis n. sp.

(Figs 9, 10, 16–35, 42–49, 68–71)

Diagnosis. This is the largest species in the genus, and females can be easily distinguished by the shape of the anterior epigynal hood and the widely separated spermathecae (Figs 31, 68, 69); males can be recognised by the large partially hidden triangular lobe distally on the embolus and the denticulate retrolateral tibial apophysis (Figs 29, 70, 71).

Etymology. This species is named after the Pondoland region in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

Female. Measurements: CL 5.18–6.05, CW 3.70–4.28, FL 0.40–0.48, AL 6.50–9.20, AW 3.10–5.13, SL 2.88–3.05, SW 2.00–2.27, TL 11.80–15.30, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.04, ALE–ALE 0.60, PME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.22, PLE–PLE 0.89.

Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 3.95 + 2.38 + 2.95 + 2.12 + 1.38 = 12.78; II 3.50 + 2.10 + 2.58 + 2.05 + 1.28 = 11.51; III 2.78 + 1.65 + 1.70 + 2.32 + 1.05 = 9.50; IV 4.07 + 2.10 + 3.08 + 3.72 + 1.20 = 14.17.

Carapace deep red-brown, slightly paler medially (Fig. 9); AER strongly procurved, laterals larger than medians; AME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to ¼ AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 1½ AME diameter at AME, equal to 1¼ ALE diameter at ALE; PER straight, laterals larger than medians; PME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1¼ PME diameter. Chelicerae deep orange; promargin with three teeth, proximal tooth smallest, median tooth largest; proximal and median teeth closer to each other than to distal tooth; retromargin with two small denticles, situated either side of distal promarginal tooth. Legs all deep orange in colour, 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 2 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, strongly scopulate, III & IV scopulate in distal half, III pl 6 rl 5 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 6 rl 6 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2; palp: femora do 2, patellae spineless, with prominent pl 1 seta, tibiae pl 3 do 2, tarsus pl 3 do 2 rl 3 plv 1 rlv 1. Abdomen dark grey dorsally, with mottled pale grey chevron (Fig. 9), paler grey laterally and ventrally; dorsum and venter lacking scutum or other sclerites. Female epigyne with short narrow anterior hood and small lateral hoods (Figs 31, 68); copulatory openings laterally situated, entering ST 2 via narrow entrance ducts; ST 2 small, globose, connected broadly to widely separated elongate oval posterior ST 1 (Fig. 69).

Male. Measurements: CL 4.78, CW 3.58, FL 0.32, AL 5.30, AW 2.55, SL 2.60, SW 1.92, TL 10.32, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.43, PME–PME 0.07, PME–PLE 0.14, PLE–PLE 0.63.

Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 3.30 + 1.88 + 2.65 + 2.15 + 1.25 = 11.23; II 2.95 + 1.88 + 2.28 + 1.90 + 1.28 = 10.29; III 2.48 + 1.38 + 1.50 + 2.05 + 1.08 = 8.49; IV 3.40 + 1.70 + 2.55 + 3.30 + 1.25 = 12.20.

Carapace deep wine-red (Fig. 10); AER strongly procurved, laterals slightly larger than medians; AME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter, separated from ALE by distance slightly smaller than ¼ AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 1½ AME diameter at AME, equal to ALE diameter at ALE; PER straight, laterals larger than medians; PME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to PME diameter. Chelicerae deep red-brown, anterior margin with coarse ridges; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest and proximal tooth smallest; median and proximal teeth closest together; retromargin with two small teeth, situated either side of distal promarginal tooth. Legs all deep red, slightly paler orange-red 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 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, strongly scopulate, III & IV scopulate in distal half, III pl 6 rl 6 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 6 rl 6 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2. Abdomen dark grey with pale grey chevron dorsally (Fig. 10), cream laterally and ventrally; dorsum with small anterior scutum, venter without sclerites. Male palpal tibia with curved retrolateral apophysis with three distinctive tooth-like apophyses along inner margin; median tegular apophysis broad, hook-like with blunt tip; embolus arc-shaped, with large triangular lobe partially hidden behind distal margin of embolus (Figs 70, 71); palpal spination: femora do 2.

Type material: Holotype Ƥ, deposited together with 13 and 7Ƥ paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province, Lusikisiki district, Mzimhlava River mouth, 31°20'S, 29°40'E, II.1980, M.E. Baddeley (coastal evergreen forest) (MRAC 163974).

Additional material examined: Same data as types, I.1980, 12 Ƥ 13 (MRAC 159047, SEM preparations MJR- 1031-1038, 1063-1065, temporary mount CJG-00154); I.1980, 13 (MRAC 166821, SEM preparations MJR-01039, MJR-01040, temporary mounts CJG-00155, CJG-00156).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in Pondoland, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa (Fig. 82).