Micarialata, Booysen & Haddad, 2021

Booysen, Ruan & Haddad, Charles R., 2021, Revision and molecular phylogeny of the spider genus Micaria Westring, 1851 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in the Afrotropical Region, Zootaxa 4940 (1), pp. 1-82 : 53-55

Micarialata sp. nov.

Figs 24 , 143 – 144

Type material. Holotype ♀, SOUTHAFRICA: Northern Cape: Tswalu Kalahari Reserve , 27°18’S, 22°26’E, Bl 33, handcollecting, leg. R. Jocqué, 12.II.2006 (NCA 2013/2466).

Paratypes: NAMIBIA: Kunene Region: Brandberg, Konigstein Pan , 22-day pitfall row, pitfall traps, 2340 m a.s.l., 21°08.8’S, 14°34.283’E, leg. K. Meaking / Raleigh International, 7.V.2000, 4 ♀ (SMN 45027); same data but 29.V.2000, 15 ♀ (SMN 45014) .

Etymology. The species name is Latin for wide, which refers to the widely separated copulatory ducts and spermathecae.

Diagnosis. The females of this species can be distinguished from Micaria beaufortia by having globular spermathecae (dorsal view), elongate fertilisation ducts and widely spaced copulatory ducts. Male unknown.

Remarks. The female holotype has a few legs missing; however, the genital structure is well intact and can be used for species identification.

Description. Female (holotype from Tswala Kalahari Game Reserve, NCA 2013/2466): Measurements: TL 3.40, CL 1.55, CW 0.95, CL:CW 1.63, CLH 0.14, CLH:AME 2.54. Eyes: ALE 0.08, AME 0.06, PLE 0.04, PME 0.06, AME–AME 0.04, PME–PME 0.05, MOQAW 0.16, MOQPW 0.21, MOQL 0.22. SL 0.80, SW 0.59, AL 1.85, AW 1.16. Leg measurements: Palpal segment lengths: 0.48, 0.25, 0.32, 0.48. Leg I:?. II: 1.10, 0.51, 0.92, 0.79, 0.73. III: 1.10, 0.51, 0.87, 0.92, 0.71. IV: 1.75, 0.57, 1.42, 1.51, 0.71. TLof legs (I–IV):?, 4.05, 4.11, 5.96; leg formula: very likely 4123.

Colouration: carapace light brown (colour faded); abdomen dark brown; sternum, endites, labium and chelicerae appear darker than carapace; femora slightly darker, other legs uniform in colour ( Fig. 24 ). Carapace: decorated with squamose setae; smooth in texture; pattern not visible due to preservation; posterior margin indented medially; fovea absent; anterior margin narrowing moderately from coxa I; PER procurved in dorsal view; AER recurved in anterior view. Chelicerae: decorated with plumose setae. Labium: triangular in shape, cluster of setae present on tip. Endites: oblique; constricted just above halfway; anterior margin rounded; cluster of setae present on inner–apical margin. Sternum: shield-like; broadest between coxa Iand II; posterior margin tapered to point between coxa IV. Legs: femora of all legs laterally flattened, highest at base, leg Imore pronounced in this fashion; rest of legs normal, thin; all tarsi pseudosegmented. Leg macrosetae: Palpal segment length: 1do, 1pl, 1do, 1pl, 1rl, 2plv, 1rlv, 4vt. II: 1do, 2plv, 1vt. III: 1do, 1pl, 1rl, 2pl, 1rl, 1plv, 1rlv, 2vt, 1pl, 1rl, 2plv, 2rlv, 4vt. IV: 1do, 2pl, 2rl, 2plv, 1rl, 2vt, 1pl, 1rl, 2plv, 2rlv, 4vt. Legs I–IV with two rows of scopulate setae on metatarsi and four rows on tarsi. Abdomen: cylindrical in shape; decorated with squamose setae; dorsal pattern appears broken, white transverse band medially, longitudinal stripe perpendicular to transverse stripe; venter similar in colour to dorsum; two white stripes present latero-ventrally; sigilla not visible. Epigyne: in ventral view, anterior hood divided, flattened; posterior pockets present medially, diagonal; copulatory openings bifurcated. In dorsal view, copulatory ducts thick, short, curved, bifurcated apically, obliquely attached to inner anterior margin of spermathecae; fertilisation ducts projecting basally from interior margin of spermathecae, curved; spermathecae globular ( Figs 143, 144 ).

Distribution. Micaria lata sp. nov. is only known from northern part of South Africa and central Namibia ( Map 5 ).

Figures

MAP 5. The distribution of 13 Micaria species in the Afrotropical Region .

FIGURES 18–26. Stereomicroscope photographs of the dorsal habitus of Afrotropical Micaria species: 18 M. durbana sp. nov. female and 19 male; 20 M. felix sp. nov. male; 21 M. gagnoa sp. nov. female and 22 male; 23 M. koingnaas sp. nov. male; 24 M. lata sp. nov. female; 25 M. laxa sp. nov. male; 26 M. mediospina sp. nov. male. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 141–144. Genital morphology of Micaria koingnaas sp. nov. (141, 142) and M. lata sp. nov. (143, 144): 141 male palp, ventral view; 142 same, retrolateral view; 143 female epigyne, ventral view; 144 same, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.