Parabomis pilosus, Dippenaar-Schoeman & Foord, 2020

Dippenaar-Schoeman, Anna S. & Foord, Stefan H., 2020, Revision of the Afrotropical crab-spider genus Parabomis Kulczyński, 1901 (Araneae: Thomisidae), Zootaxa 4899 (1), pp. 161-174 : 170-171

Parabomis pilosus sp. nov.

Figures 1, 2 , 21 – 25

Etymology. The name refers to the numerous setae on the carapace of the species.

Diagnosis. The male of this species differs from all the other congeners by the blunt RTA ( Fig. 23 ) vs. pointed in other species. In the female, the epigyne atrium is bell-shaped ( Fig. 24 ) and contrasts with that of P. martini , which is subtriangular. Carapace and abdomen bearing rows of flat-lying translucent club-shaped setae that are longer and denser than in other species, especially on the carapace declivity ( Fig. 22 ).

Description. Male (holotype). TL 1.7; CL 0.9; CW 1.0. Legs: I 1.43 (0.51, 0.13, 0.30, 0.27, 0.22); II 1.43 (0.63, 0.22, 0.28, 0.20, 0.10); III 1.09 (0.34, 0.12, 0.32, 0.21, 0.10); IV 1.32 (0.47, 0.15, 0.32, 0.19, 0.19). Carapace dark brown, granular, with numerous white club-shaped setae ( Fig. 21 ); carapace edge white; eyes circled with black; chelicerae dark brown; mouthparts yellowish brown; carapace wider than long. Sternum orange brown, granulose, bearing numerous strong flat-lying translucent setae. Legs with coxae, trochanters and tibiae brown, with white articulations. Abdomen broad, dorsum dark brown, shield-like, with pale patches; granular. Palp: RTA not pointed but with blunt broad apex ( Fig. 23 ); VTA absent.

Female. TL 2.6; CL 1.05; CW 1.3; CH 1.4; AW 2.1; AL 2.1. Legs: Legs: I 1.88 (0.65, 0.29, 0.42, 0.25, 0.27); II 1.81 (0.60, 0.26, 0.43, 0.24, 0.28); III 1.20 (0.42, 0.21, 0.26, 0.12, 0.19); IV 1.7 (0.55, 0.46, 0.26, 0.31, 0.12). Carapace fawn with clypeus and eye region infused with brown, lateral edges darker brown; chelicerae and mouthparts yellowish white; posterior declivity clothed with numerous white flat-lying club-shaped setae ( Figs 1-2 , 22 ). Sternum yellowish white. Legs fawn to brown infused with white; femora darker, especially legs II and III; articulate area of each leg segment with white rim. Abdomen fawn to white, with faint spots; depressions on abdomen darker, bearing two brownish triangular to round patches. Epigyne: atrium bell-shaped ( Fig. 24 ); spermathecae oval, spermathecal ducts short, glandular lobes anteriorly of spermathecae ( Fig. 25 ).

Type material. Holotype ³: BOTSWANA: Okavango Delta , Shakawe Fishing Camp, 18°26’S, 21°54’E, leg. J. van Niekerk, 1.XII.2001 (active searching) ( NCA 2006 /868).

Paratypes: BOTSWANA: Okavango Delta , Xugana Island , 130 km NNW of Maun, 19°04’S, 23°03’E, leg. B.H. Lamoral, 17–25.XI.1980, 1♀ ( NMSA 23719 ); Okavango Delta, 30 km N of Lechwee Camp, approx. between 18°40’S– 19°00’S and 23°00’E– 23°45’E, leg. B. Lamoral, 17-20.XI.1979, 1³ ( NMSA); Okavango Delta, N of Lechwee Camp and Khwai River Lodge, between 18°40’S– 19°00’S and 23°00’E– 23°45’E, leg. B. Lamoral, 18- 20.XI.1979, 2³ ( NMSA); Okavango Delta, near Shakawe, Lesideng Research Camp, 18°25’S, 21°53’E, leg. R. Lyle , 10-20.XII.2006 (beating shrubs in riverine forest), 1♀ ( NCA 2020 /550) .

Other material examined. BOTSWANA: Okavango Delta, Xugana Island , 130 km NNW of Maun, 19°04’S, 23°03’E, leg. F. Nyathi, 17-25.XI.1980, 1♀ ( NMZ / A 70941 ) . SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo Province: Tshipise, Farm Alicedale (citrus), 22°42’S, 30°14’E, leg. J. Wilkinson, 12.IV.2016 (on tree in silk retreat, see Figs 1-2 ), 1♀ ( SANSA Virtual Museum) .

Distribution. Known from Botswana and northern South Africa ( Fig. 32 ).

Biology/Habitat. Specimens were sampled by sweeping grass and herbs. In Tshipise, a female was sampled from a silk retreat made between leaves.

Figures

FIGURES 1–3. Habitus of live Parabomis spp. 1–2 P. pilosus sp. nov., female; 3 P. martini Lessert, 1919, female. 1–2 courtesy of J. Wilkinson; 3 courtesy of L. Wiese.

FIGURES 21–25. Parabomis pilosus sp. nov. 21 Male habitus, dorsal view; 22 Female habitus, dorsal view; 23 Left palp, ventral view; 24 Epigyne, ventral view; 25 Epigyne, dorsal view. Scales: 1 mm.

FIGURES 31–32. 31 Records of the previously known Parabomis species, P. levanderi Kulczyński, 1901 (red circles) and P. martini Lessert, 1919 (blue triangles); 32 Records of new Parabomis species in the Afrotropical Region.