Micariamediospina, 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 : 57

Micariamediospina sp. nov.

Figs 26 , 147 – 148

Type material. Holotype ♂, SOUTHAFRICA: Eastern Cape: Fort Brown, Kwandwe Private Game Reserve, Farm Hermanuskraal , on soil, M.B. 316, pitfall traps, 33°08.75’S, 26°31.505’E, leg. M. Burger, 3.XII.1993 (NCA 96/71).

Etymology. The species name is a combination of the Latin words media (middle) and spina (spine) that refer to the retrolateral tibial apophysis that is located in the middle of the palpal tibia in males.

Diagnosis. Males of Micaria mediospina sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Afrotropical Micaria by possessing an RTA that is located in the middle of the palpal tibia on the dorsal surface. The embolus of this species is enlarged and slanted retrolaterally. Female unknown.

Remarks. Holotype damaged, with abdomen severed from the prosoma. However, the palp structure is intact and could still be used for identification.

Description. Male (holotype from Fort Brown, NCA 96/71): Measurements: TL 2.40, CL 1.13, CW 0.65, CL:CW 1.74, CLH 0.07, CLH:AME 1.92. Eyes: ALE 0.05, AME 0.04, PLE 0.06, PME 0.05, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.05, MOQAW 0.13, MOQPW 0.14, MOQL 0.16. SL 0.64, SW 0.38, AL 1.10, AW 0.42. Leg measurements: Palpal segment lengths: 0.35, 0.13, 0.16, 0.33. Leg I: 0.79, 0.32, 0.60, 0.49, 0.57. II: 0.71, 0.30, 0.57, 0.50, 0.56. III: 0.62, 0.30, 0.54, 0.49, 0.46. IV: 0.91, 0.33, 0.81, 0.88, 0.56. TLoflegs (I–IV): 2.77, 2.64, 2.41, 3.49; leg formula: 4123.

Colouration: presumably dark brown or black (holotype’s colouration faded); chelicerae similar to carapace; abdomen black, no pattern visible; leg Iand II femora darkened ( Fig. 26 ). Carapace: darkened ridges; smooth in texture; decorated with squamose setae; fovea absent.; median dark pattern radiating outwards; anterior margin narrowing moderately from coxa I; PER very slightly procurved in dorsal view; AER recurved in anterior view. Chelicerae: decorated with plumose setae. Labium: triangular in shape, tuft of setae present at tip. Endites: oblique; slightly constricted medially; cluster of setae present on inner–apical margin; darkened in colour. Sternum: slightly lighter in colour than carapace, shield-like, broadest between coxa Iand II; posterior margin narrowly truncated between coxa IV. Legs: femora laterally flattened, highest at base; leg Imore pronounced in this fashion; rest of legs normal, thin. Leg macrosetae: Palps: 1do, 1do, 1pl, 1pl. Leg I: I 1do, 1pl. II: 1do, 1pl. III: 1do, 1pl, 2vt. IV: 1do, 2vt. Scopulate setae not visible. Abdomen: cylindrical in shape; decorated with squamose setae; dorsal pattern not visible; venter similar in colour to dorsum; sigilla not visible. Palp: retrolateral tibial apophysis present medially on dorsal surface; median apophysis present medially, curved ventrally, broad; sperm duct present on retrolateral surface of tegulum, curved; embolus broad, tapered; embolus slanted retrolaterally; cymbium broad at tip, widest at basal third ( Figs 147, 148 ).

Distribution. Micaria mediospina sp. nov. is only known from the type locality ( 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 145–150. Genital morphology of Micaria laxa sp. nov. (145, 146), M. mediospina sp. nov. (147, 148) and M. parvotibialis sp. nov. (149, 150): 145, 147, 149 male palp, ventral view; 146, 148, 150 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.