Lepthercus, Purcell, 1902Lepthercus, Purcell, 1902

Ríos-Tamayo, Duniesky & Lyle, Robin, 2020, The South African genus Lepthercus Purcell, 1902 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) phylogeny and taxonomy, Zootaxa 4766 (2), pp. 261-305 : 266-267

Key for identification of Lepthercus spp

Males (males of Lepthercus lawrencei sp. nov. and Lepthercus filmeri sp. nov. are unknown)

1 Tibia I swollen (Group haddadi, Fig. 1 ).................................................................... 2

— Tibia I not swollen (Group dregei, Fig. 1 ).................................................................. 6

2 Tibia I spur with an associated strong spine ( Figs. 17J ; 19K ; 23J ); retroventral side of palpal tibia developed ( Fig. 17D, E ; 19E, F ; 23D, E )........................................................................................... 3

— Tibia I spur without an associated strong spine; retroventral side of palpal tibia normal.............................. 5

3 Metatarsus I without protuberance, only short setae ( Fig. 23I ), copulatory bulb with two keels ( Fig. 23G, H )............................................................................................ .. Lepthercus sofiae sp. nov.

– Metatarsus I with a protuberance covered by blunt spinules ( Fig. 17I , 19J ), copulatory bulb without keels ( Figs. 17G, H ; 19H, I ).................................................................................................. 4

4 Tibia I moderately swollen, with a prolateral megaspine near the spur ( Fig. 17J )........... Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov.

– Tibia I very swollen ( Fig. 19J, K ); without a prolateral megaspine near the spur.............. Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov.

5 Copulatory bulb with a developed lateral keel delimiting a concave area ( Fig. 14 F-H)...... Lepthercus dippenaarae sp. nov.

– Copulatory bulb with a long lateral keel, not delimiting a concave area ( Fig. 21F, G )..... .. Lepthercus rattrayi Hewitt, 1917 .

6 Cuticular spur long ( Figs. 5I, J ; 6C, D ; 9I, J ; 12I, J )...........................................................7

– Cuticular spur small ( Fig. 3I )...................................................... Lepthercus confusus sp. nov.

7 Embolus with many longitudinal keels ( Fig. 5F, H ); maxillary cuspules normal (as in Fig. 2B ).................................................................................................... Lepthercus dregei Purcell, 1902 .

– Embolus with one keel; maxillary cuspules minute (as in Fig. 2C )............................................... 8

8 Embolus with a small apical keel (12G).............................................. Lepthercus mandelai sp. nov.

– Embolus with a long lateral keel ( Fig. 9G, H )..................................... Lepthercus kwazuluensis sp. nov.

Females (female of Lepthercus sofiae sp. nov. is unknown)

1 Spermathecae tubular; without stalk ( Fig. 18D , 20D )......................................................... 2

– Spermathecae not tubular; with a stalk ( Fig. 4E , 7C , 8E , 10D , 11D, 13D, 15E, 22D)................................ 3

2 Spermathecae with a short duct ( Fig. 18D ), no labial cuspules......................... Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov.

— Spermathecae with a long duct ( Fig. 20D ), one labial cuspule............................. Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov.

3 Labial cuspules present................................................................................. 4

– Labial cuspules absent.................................................................................. 8

4 Few maxillary cuspules (until 60)..........................................................................5

— Many maxillary cuspules (over 80)....................................................................... 6

5 Few cheliceral denticles (15); spermathecae with a wide base ( Fig. 8E )....................... Lepthercus filmeri sp. nov.

– Many cheliceral denticles (28); spermathecae with a narrow base ( Fig. 22D )........... .. Lepthercus rattrayi Hewitt, 1917 .

6 Spermathecal base with an apical projection ( Fig. 10D ); stalks curved outward with oval receptacles, maxillary cuspules (100)..................................................................... Lepthercus kwazuluensis sp. nov.

— Spermathecal base without an apical projection..............................................................7

7 Many chelicerae denticles (45), spermathecae with stalk twisted inward twice, circulars receptacles ( Fig. 11D )........................................................................................ Lepthercus lawrencei sp. nov.

— Few chelicerae denticles (12), spermathecae with straight stalks, base domed ( Fig. 13D )...... Lepthercus mandelai sp. nov.

8 Spermathecal stalk attached to the posterior side of the spermathecae base, stalks straigth, curved outward with truncate receptacles ( Fig. 7C ), few maxillary cuspules (54)...................................... .. Lepthercus dregei Purcell, 1902 .

— Spermathecal stalk not attached to the posterior side of the spermathecae base (with a transition to the stalk), stalk twisted.. 8

9 Spermathecal receptacles irregular, stalk twisted twice ( Fig. 4E ), chelicerae denticles (18)...... Lepthercus confusus sp. nov.

— Spermathecae receptacles oval, stalk twisted inward once ( Fig. 15E ), chelicerae denticles (12)................................................................................................... Lepthercus dippenaarae sp. nov. Genus Lepthercus

Figures

FIGURE. 1. Most parsimonious trees obtained under implied weight (k = 6) by TNT. Numbers inside of circles are positive nozero support values/combined Bremer support.Above each branch are the character numbers and below are the states of characters defining each branch. Black circles indicate synapomorphies, white circles homoplasious changes.

FIGURE. 17. Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov. (male holotype, NCA 2018/384). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view, arrow indicates the intercheliceral tumesence; D right pedipalp, arrows indicates the palpal tibia base dorsally very convex and a development of the anterior part of the retrolateral side of ventral excavation; E right pedipalp, arrow indicates the development of the anterior part of the retrolateral side of ventral excavation, prolateral view; F–H copulatory bulb, F retrolateral view, G ventral view, H prolateral view; I tibia-metatarsus I, arrow indicates the curved metatarsus and the apical patch of numerous black blunt spinules, prolateral view; J tibia I, arrow indicates the strong curved spine near of the base of the megaspine and the prolateral strong spine, ventral view.

FIGURE. 19. Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov. (male holotype, NCA 2007/1486). A cephalothorax, dorsal view; B abdomen, dorsal view; C sternum, ventral view; D chelicerae, arrow indicates the intercheliceral tumescence with setae, prolateral view; E right pedipalp, arrows indicates the palpal tibia base dorsally very convex and the development of the anterior side of the retrolateral side of the ventral excavation, retrolateral view, F right pedipalp, arrows indicates the few proventral setae and the development of the anterior side of the retrolateral side of the ventral excavation, prolateral view; G–I copulatory bulb, G retrolateral view, H ventral view, I prolateral view; J tibia-metatarsus I, showing the very robust tibia with a robust spur, arrow indicates the patch of numerous black blunt spinules, prolateral view; K tibia I, arrow indicates the strong curved spine near of the base of the megaspine, ventral view.

FIGURE. 23. Lepthercus sofiae sp. nov. (male holotype, NCA 97/395). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, arrow indicates the pallid intercheliceral tumesence, prolateral view; D right pedipalp, arrow indicates the palpal tibia base dorsally very convex and the development of the anterior side of the retrolateral side of the ventral excavation, retrolateral view; E right pedipalp, arrows indicates the few proventral setae and the development of the anterior side of the retrolateral side of the ventral excavation, prolateral view; F–H copulatory bulb, F retrolateral view, G ventral view, H prolateral view, arrows indicate the two keels in the embolus; I tibia-metatarsus I, showing the curved metatarsus, arrow indicate the numerous ventral short and strong setae, prolateral view; J tibia I, arrow indicates the strong curved spine near of the base of the megaspine, ventral view.

FIGURE. 14. Lepthercus dippenaarae sp. nov. (male holotype, NMBA 09339B). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view, arrow indicates the intercheliceral tumesence; D right pedipalp, black arrow indicates the long dorsal setae and a normal anterior part of the retrolateral side of ventral excavation, red arrow indicates the palpal tibia base dorsally very convex, retrolateral view; E right pedipalp, arrow indicates the abundant proventral rigid setae, prolateral view; F–H copulatory bulb, F retrolateral view, G ventral view, H prolateral view, arrows indicates the developed lateral keel delimiting a concave area; I, J tibia–metatarsus I, arrows indicates the ventral protuberance covered by blunt spinules.

FIGURE. 21. Lepthercus rattrayi Hewitt, 1917. (male holotype, NM 1317). A cephalothorax, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view, arrow indicate the intercheliceral tumesence; D right pedipalp, black arrow indicates the long dorsal setae, the normal anterior side of the retrolateral side of the ventral excavation, red arrow indicate the palpal tibia base dorsally very convex, retrolateral view; E right pedipalp, arrow indicates the abundant proventral setae, prolateral view; F–H copulatory bulb, F retrolateral view, G ventral view, H prolateral view, arrows indicate the long lateral keel; I tibia–metatarsus I, arrow indicates the metatarsus with a protuberance covered by blunt spines.

FIGURE. 5. Lepthercus dregei Purcell, 1902. (male, NCA 2012/3206). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view, arrow indicates the intercheliceral tumesence; D left pedipalp, arrow indicates the small dorsal setae, and a normal anterior part of the retrolateral side of ventral excavation, retrolateral view; E right pedipalp, arrow indicates the abundant proventral rigid setae, prolateral view; F–H copulatory bulb, F retrolateral view, arrow indicates the ridges along the embolus, G ventral view, H prolateral view, arrow indicates the ridges along the embolus; I, J tibia–metatarsus I, arrow indicates the base of the metatarsus slightly swollen with small dark setae,

FIGURE. 6. Lepthercus dregei Purcell, 1902. (male holotype: SAM-ENW-X005692). A left pedipalp, prolateral view; B left pedipalp, retrolateral view, arrow indicates the copulatory bulb with the embolus broken; C left leg I, prolateral view; D left leg I, showing the curved spur with an apical megaespine.

FIGURE. 9. Lepthercus kwazuluensis sp. nov. (male holotype, NCA 2010/3732). A cephalothorax, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view, arrow indicates the intercheliceral tumesence; D right pedipalp, arrow indicates the small dorsal setae, and a normal anterior part of the retrolateral side of ventral excavation, retrolateral view; E right pedipalp, arrow indicates the abundant proventral rigid setae, prolateral view; F–H copulatory bulb, F retrolateral view, G ventral view, H prolateral view, arrow indicates the lateral keel; I, J tibia–metatarsus I, arrow indicates the metatarsus swollen in the middprolateral part, with small setae.

FIGURE. 12. Lepthercus mandelai sp. nov. (male holotype, NCA 2014/415B). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view, arrow indicates the intercheliceral tumesence; D right pedipalp, arrow indicates the small dorsal setae, and a normal anterior part of the retrolateral side of ventral excavation, retrolateral view; E right pedipalp, arrow indicates the abundant proventral rigid setae, prolateral view; F–H copulatory bulb, F retrolateral view, G ventral view, H prolateral view, arrow indicates the small apical keel; I, J tibia–metatarsus I, arrow indicate the metatarsus base swollen with small dark setae, I ventral view, J prolateral view.

FIGURE. 3. Lepthercus confusus sp. nov. (male holotype, NCA 2011/318). A cephalothorax and abdomen, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view, arrow indicates the intercheliceral tumesence; D right pedipalp, arrow indicates the small dorsal setae, and a normal anterior part of the retrolateral side of ventral excavation, retrolateral view; E right pedipalp, prolateral view, arrow indicates the abundant proventral rigid setae; F–H copulatory bulb; F retrolateral view, G ventral view, H prolateral view; F, H arrow indicates the longitudinal keels along the embolus, G arrow indicates the small lateral keel; I Tibia I, arrow indicates the small cuticular spur.

FIGURE. 2. Preening comb. A Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov. (female paratype, NCA 2007/3847). Maxillary cuspules (males). B L. dippenaarae. C L. kwazuluensis. Serrula. D L. mandelai sp. nov. (female, NCA 2014/415A); E L. filmeri sp. nov. (female, NCA 91/1437); F L. haddadi sp. nov. (male, NCA 2007/1486); G L. haddadi sp. nov. (female, NCA 2007/3847); H L. engelbrechti sp. nov. (female, NCA 2018/385); I L. engelbrechti sp. nov. (male, NCA 2018/384); J L. dregei Purcell, 1902 (female, NCA 2012/2333); K L. sofiae sp. nov. (male, NCA 97/395).

FIGURE. 18. Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov. (female paratype, NCA 2018/385). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view; D spermathecae

FIGURE. 20. Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov. (female paratype, NCA 2007/3847). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view; D spermathecae

FIGURE. 4. Lepthercus confusus sp. nov. (female paratype, NM 8787). A cephalothorax, dorsal view; B sternum, arrow indicates the anterior maxillary edge slightly concave, ventral view; C abdomen, dorsal view; D spermathecae.

FIGURE. 7. Lepthercus dregei Purcell, 1902. (female, NCA 2012/2333). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C spermathecae.

FIGURE. 8. Lepthercus filmeri sp. nov. (female holotype, NCA 91/1437). A cephalothorax, dorsal view; B abdomen, lateral view; C sternum, ventral view; D chelicerae, prolateral view; E spermathecae.

FIGURE. 10. Lepthercus kwazuluensis sp. nov. (female paratype, NM 9807). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view; D spermathecae, arrows indicate the base with an apical projection.

FIGURE. 22. Lepthercus rattrayi Hewitt, 1917. (female paratype, NM 16647). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view; D spermathecae.

FIGURE. 11. Lepthercus lawrencei sp. nov. (female holotype, NCA 2016/1710). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view; D spermathecae.

FIGURE. 13. Lepthercus mandelai sp. nov. (female paratype, NCA 2014/415A). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view; D spermathecae.

FIGURE. 15. Lepthercus dippenaarae sp. nov. (female paratype, NMBA 09339A). A cephalothorax, dorsal view; B abdomen, dorsal view; C sternum, ventral view; D chelicerae, prolateral view; E spermathecae.