Micariabimaculata, 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 : 34-37

Micariabimaculata sp. nov.

Figs 13–14 , 117–120

Type material: Holotype: ♀, MAURITANIA: Nouakchott Region: Nouakchott, 31 km South of Nouachott , hand collecting, 18°04.862’N, 15°57.975’W, leg. F. Borgato, XI.1994 (CAS, CASENT 9078556).

Paratypes: 1 ♂, same data as holotype (CASENT 9078556).

Etymology. The name of this species is derived from the two Latin words bi (two) and maculata (spot), and refers to the two large white spots on the midline of the abdomen in both the males and females of this species.

Diagnosis. Micaria bimaculata sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Afrotropical Micaria in bearing two large white spots on the abdomen in both sexes. Furthermore, this species’ females can be distinguished from M. gomerae Strand, 1911 in having copulatory ducts that are thicker and separated by their width. The males of M. bimaculata sp. nov. differ from M. gomerae males in have a shorter embolus that curves retrolaterally, at a right angle, at half the length of the embolus. Furthermore, the median apophysis is shorter and thicker than that of M. gomerae (figs 63a-gin Wunderlich 1980).

Description. Female (holotype from Nouakchott, CASENT 9078556): Measurements: TL 3.75, CL 1.35, CW 0.95, CL:CW 1.42, CLH 0.10, CLH:AME 1.20. Eyes: ALE 0.06, AME 0.08, PLE 0.06, PME 0.06, AME–AME 0.04, PME–PME 0.07, MOQAW 0.18, MOQPW 0.19, MOQL 0.19. SL 0.78, SW 0.57, AL 2.15, AW 1.45. Leg measurements: Palpal segment lengths: 0.44, 0.19, 0.25, 0.43. Leg I: 0.97, 0.30, 0.49, 0.41, 0.64. II: 0.95, 0.29, 0.50, 0.40, 0.64. III: 0.87, 0.38, 0.65, 0.73, 0.59. IV: 1.40, 0.46, 0.98, 1.19, 0.87. TLoflegs (I–IV): 2.81, 2.78, 3.22, 4.90; leg formula: 4312.

Colouration: carapace brown; abdomen brown on anterior half and dark brown on posterior half; legs uniform in colour (femora may be darker in live specimens); sternum, endites, labium and chelicerae similar in colour to carapace ( Fig. 13 ). Carapace: smooth in texture; decorated with squamose setae; pattern faded but seems to be radiating from middle; posterior margin indented medially; anterior margin of carapace narrowing slightly from coxa I; PER procurved in dorsal view, AER recurved in anterior view; fovea absent. Chelicerae: decorated with plumose setae; apical margin slightly thickened. Labium: dark spots in posterior corners; triangular in shape; tuft of setae present at tip. Endites: slanting inwards, constricted just above halfway; cluster of setae present on inner–apical margin. Sternum: darkened ridges; shield-like; broadest between coxa Iand II; posterior margin 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, 1pl, 1do, 1pl, 1pl, 2plv, 4vt. Leg I: I 1do, 1pl, 2plv, 2vt. II: 2do, 1pl, 1rl, 2plv, 2vt. III: 2do, 1pl, 1rl, 2pl, 1rl, 2plv, 1rlv, 2vt, 2pl, 1rl, 2plv, 2rlv, 5vt. IV: 2do, 2pl, 2rl, 2plv, 4vt, 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 forming two large spots on transverse midline of abdomen ( Fig. 13 ); venter similar in colour to dorsum; sigilla not visible. Epigyne: in ventral view, anterior hood divided, curved; posterior pockets medially between spermathecae; copulatory openings globular. In dorsal view, copulatory ducts present medially on inner apical margin of spermathecae; fertilisation ducts present on basal interior margin of spermathecae, curved laterally; spermathecae globular ( Figs 117, 118 ).

Male. (paratype from Nouakchott, CASENT 9078556): Measurements: TL 3.25, CL 1.45, CW 1.05, CL: CW 1.38, CLH 0.13, CLH:AME 1.65. Eyes: ALE 0.06, AME 0.08, PLE 0.06, PME 0.06, AME–AME 0.02, PME– PME 0.10, MOQAW 0.19, MOQPW 0.21, MOQL 0.22. SL 0.74, SW 0.59, AL 1.60, AW 1.10. Leg measurements: Palpal segment lengths: 0.49, 0.29, 0.30, 0.38. Leg I: 1.48, 0.49, 0.95, 0.81, 0.78. II: 1.13, 0.48, 0.81, 0.73, 0.78. III: 0.94, 0.44, 0.83, 0.92, 0.76. IV: 1.46, 0.46, 1.16, 1.19, 0.94. TLoflegs (I–IV): 4.51, 3.93, 3.89, 5.21; leg formula: 4123 .

Colouration: carapace dark brown; abdomen brown on anterior half and dark brown on posterior half; femora darkened partially, rest of legs normal in colour; sternum, endites, labium and chelicerae similar in colour to carapace ( Fig. 14 ). Carapace: smooth in texture, decorated with squamose setae; pattern faded, but radiating from middle towards coxae, posterior margin similar to female; fovea absent; anterior margin of carapace narrowing slightly from coxa I; PER procurved in dorsal view, AER recurved in anterior view. Chelicerae: decorated with plumose setae; apical margin slightly thickened. Labium: dark spots in posterior corners; triangular in shape; tuft of setae present at tip. Endites: slanting inwards, constricted just above halfway; cluster of setae present on inner–apical margin; apical margin flattened; posterior margin bulbous. Sternum: darkened ridges; 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, 1pl, 1do, 1pl, 1pl, 1plv, 4vt. Leg I: 1do, 1pl. II: 2do, 2pl, 2plv, 2vt. III: 2do, 2plv, 1rl, 2pl, 2rl, 2plv, 2rlv, 2vt, 1pl, 1rl, 2l, 1rl, 4vt. IV: 2do, 1rl, 2pl, 2rl, 2plv, 2rlv, 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 forming two large spots on transverse midline of abdomen ( Fig. 14 ); venter similar in colour to dorsum; sigilla not visible. Palp: retrolateral tibial apophysis present dorsally; median apophysis present next to embolus; median apophysis broad, elongate, bending prolaterally, skewed diagonally; sperm duct present on retrolateral surface of tegulum, curved basally; sperm duct “S” shaped before ending at embolus; embolus broad at base, strongly curved retrolaterally, tip elongate; cymbium elongate, widest near middle; cymbial tip rounded, two small spines ventrally on tip; three ventralterminalspinesinfrontof embolus ( Figs 119, 120 ).

Distribution. Micaria bimaculata sp. nov. is only known from the type locality ( Map 2 ).

Figures

MAP 2. The distribution of Micariabimaculata sp. nov. (black circle) and M. bispicula sp. nov. (red stars) in the Afrotropical Region.

FIGURES 9–17. Stereomicroscope photographs of the dorsal habitus ofAfrotropical Micaria species: 9 M. basaliducta sp. nov. female and 10 male; 11 M. beaufortia (Tucker, 1923) female and 12 male; 13 M. bimaculata sp. nov. female and 14 male; 15 M. bispicula sp. nov. female and 16 male; 17 M. chrysis (Simon, 1910) female. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 117–120. Genital morphology of Micaria bimaculata sp. nov.: 117 female epigyne, ventral view; 118 female epigyne, dorsal view; 119 male palp, ventral view; 120 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.