Poachelas montanus, Haddad & Lyle, 2008

Haddad, Charles R. & Lyle, Robin, 2008, Three new genera of tracheline sac spiders from southern Africa (Araneae: Corinnidae), African Invertebrates 49 (2), pp. 37-37 : 73

Poachelas montanus sp. n.

Figs 98–100

Etymology: The species name reflects the montane grassland habitats, where it was collected.

Diagnosis: This species can be recognised by its small size, absence of leg spines, and the morphology of the female genitalia. Male unknown.

Description:

Female.

Measurements: CL 0.97–0.99, CW 0.71–0.73, AL 1.60–1.80, AW 0.90–0.97, TL 2.63– 2.90, FL 0.06–0.07, SL 0.63–0.65, SW 0.46–0.48, AME–AME 0.03, AME–ALE 0.015, ALE–ALE 0.14, PME–PME 0.04, PME–PLE 0.04, PLE–PLE 0.23. Length of leg segments: I 0.67+0.36+0.49+0.40+0.29=2.21; II 0.53+0.32+0.38+0.33+0.27=1.83; III 0.38+0.23+0.25+0.32+0.17=1.35; IV 0.65+0.30+0.57+0.53+0.23=2.28.

Carapace, including eye region, bright yellow with pale grey stripe from PER to midpoint, forming rectangular grey marking medially ( Fig. 75 ); carapace flattened with highest point at posterior eye row, sloping gently to posterior; surface smooth with scattered short and long fine setae; fovea indistinct, lying in shallow median depression, at 2/3 carapace length. Eyes surrounded by black rings;AER procurved, lateral eyes larger than medians; clypeus height equal to0.5×AME diameter;AME separated by 0.25× their diameter;AME separated from ALE by approx. 1/8× AME diameter; PER slightly recurved, lateral eyes slightly larger than medians; PME separated by approx. 0.75× their diameter; PME separated from PLE by approx. 0.75× PME diameter. Chelicerae orange; anterior surface smooth, with scattered short and long fine setae; promargin with three small teeth, median tooth largest, proximal and distal teeth subequal; retromargin with three teeth sharing single base, proximal tooth largest, distal tooth smallest. Sternum yellow with grey mottling, dark yellow-brown along border; surface smooth, covered in fine setae.Abdomen cream, with very faint grey median stripe dorsally running along abdomen, expanding laterally in posterior third ( Fig. 75 ); abdomen elongate, nearly twice as long as wide, broadest at half its length; dorsal scutum absent; surface covered in short fine setae; two pairs of oval sigilla present, first pair indistinct, at 1/4 abdomen length, second pair distinct, close to midpoint of abdomen; venter without sclerites. Legs I to IV yellow; tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi I and II yellowbrown, with long dense erect setae ventrally; metatarsi and tarsi with weak scopulae, remaining leg segments covered in short fine setae; metatarsi III and IV with terminal preening comb; leg spines and cusps absent. Epigyne with copulatory openings situated posteriorly in short semi-circular ridges; entrance ducts entering oval anteromedian ST I, with broad ducts leading from ST I to lateral oval ST II.

Holotype: ♀SOUTH AFRICA: “R.S.A., Free State Prov. / Harrismith district / Platberg Nat. Res. / 28°16.839'S, 29°12.062'E / 14.xii.2005 / C. Haddad / Under rocks, montane grassland // HOLOTYPE ♀/ Poachelas montanus / NCA 2008/579 //” ( NCA, 2008/579).

Paratype: ♀same data as holotype ( NCA, 2008/580) .

Figures

Figs 96–99.(96, 97) Poachelas solitarius sp. n., male palp, ventral and retrolateral views; (98, 99) P. montanus sp. n., female epigyne, ventral and dorsal views. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 100. Distribution of Poachelas gen. n. species.

Figs 72–75. General habitus of Poachelas gen. n. species: (72, 73) P. striatus sp. n., male, Erfenis Dam Nat. Res., and female, Bloemfontein; (74) P. solitarius sp. n., male, Maleme Rest Camp; (75) P. montanus sp. n., female, Platberg Nat. Res. Scale bars = 1.0 mm.