Smeringopus bujongolo, Huber, 2012

HUBER, BERNHARD A., 2012, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Afrotropical endemic genus Smeringopus Simon, 1890 (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 3461 (1), pp. 1-138 : 30-31

Smeringopus bujongolo new species

Figs. 117–118, 121–122, 127–130 , 137

Type. Male holotype from Uganda, Kasese District, Ruwenzori Mts. , between Nyabitaba Hut and Guy Yeoman Hut (~0°20.6–21.5’N, 29°55.6–58.7’E), 2660–3450 m a.s.l., 2.xii.2010 (B.A. Huber), in ZFMK (Ar 8483) .

Etymology. The name is a noun in apposition, derived from Bujongolo Shelter, the highest African locality at which pholcids have been found so far.

Diagnosis. Easily distinguished from most known congeners by long process near male palpal tarsal organ (as in S. chogoria ; cf. Figs. 131, 132 ); also by shapes of procursus and embolus (very similar S. chogoria ; cf. Figs. 131–134 ); from very similar S. chogoria only by minor details of procursus tip (membranous part transparent rather than whitish; distal apophysis slightly shorter), semitransparent bulbal process (curved rather than straight), and female genitalia (shorter anterior epigynal plate; border of anterior plate with whitish area separating pair of black structures at rim: Fig. 128 ; pore plates much narrower: Fig. 137 ).

Male (holotype). Total body length 7.7, carapace width 2.7. Leg 1: 58.1 (14.3 + 1.2 + 14.7 + 23.2 + 4.7), tibia 2: 11.2, tibia 3: 8.5, tibia 4: 11.7; tibia 1 L/d: 50. Habitus as in Fig. 117 . Carapace with wide median and lateral brown bands with indistinct borders, clypeus with pair of wide brown bands, sternum dark brown, legs ochre-brown, femora and tibiae with darker subdistal rings, abdomen with distinct pattern dorsally and ventrally. Distance PME-PME 250 µm, diameter PME 220 µm, distance PME-ALE 175 µm, distance AME-AME 90 µm, diameter AME 150 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with small ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae very similar S. chogoria ( Fig. 127 ; apophyses slightly shorter). Palps as in Figs. 121 and 122 , very similar S. chogoria (differences of procursus shapes between Figs. 120 and 122 result from slightly different angles of view), coxa with indistinct bulge, trochanter barely modified, femur with retrolateral indentation but no furrow, without proximal rim and without apophysis, cymbium with long projection near tarsal organ, procursus with distinctive distal elements (cf. Figs. 131, 132 ; distal apophysis slightly shorter), bulb with complex embolus with two processes, one sclerotized, other mostly membranous (cf. Figs. 133, 134 ; membranous part more curved). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs ventrally and dorsally on all tibiae and metatarsi, also on femora 1 and 2 (ventrally), retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 2.5%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1.

Variation. Tibia 1 in 7 other males: 9.9–15.6 (mean 12.8). Some males with ‘normal’ (posteriorly not widened) abdomen ( Fig. 118 ).

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 20 females: 8.7–14.8 (mean 12.0). Epigynum anterior plate roughly triangular, without pockets, posterior rim with distinctive pair of dark bulges ( Figs. 128, 129 ); arc-shaped posterior plate; internal genitalia as in Figs. 130 and 137 .

Distribution. Only known from higher elevations (mostly between 2000 and 3800 m a.s.l.) in the Ruwenzori Mountains ( Uganda, Congo D.R.) ( Fig. 58 ).

Material examined. UGANDA: Western Region: Kasese District, Ruwenzori Mts. , between Nyabitaba Hut and Guy Yeoman Hut: 1♂ holotype above ; same data, 2♂ 6♀ in ZFMK ( Ar 8484) ; same data, 1♂ 2 juvs. in pure ethanol in ZFMK ( Uga 143). Ruwenzori Mts. , between Guy Yeoman Hut and Bujongolo Shelter (~0°20.6–20.9’N, 29°55.0–55.6’E), 3450–3620 m a.s.l., 2.xii.2010 (B.A. Huber), 1♀ 3 juvs. in ZFMK (Ar 8485). Ruwenzori Mts. , Bujongolo Shelter (~ 0°20.9’N, 29°54.8’E), 3780 m a.s.l., 2.xii.2010 (B.A. Huber), 1♂ in ZFMK (Ar 8486). Ruwenzori Mts. , near Nyabitaba Hut (~ 0°21.5’N, 29°58.7’E), ~ 2600 m a.s.l., 1.xii.2010 (B.A. Huber), 1♂ 4♀ in ZFMK (Ar 8487) ; same data, 1♀ in pure ethanol in ZFMK (Uga 154). Ruwenzori Mts. , between National Park gate and Nyabitaba Hut (~0°21.3–21.8’N, 29°59.7–30°01.6’E), 1720–2260 m a.s.l., 1.xii.2010 (B.A. Huber), 3♂ 9♀ in ZFMK (Ar 8488-89) ; same data, 2♀ in pure ethanol in ZFMK (Uga 157) .

CONGO D.R.: Nord-Kivu Prov.: Face N du Ruwenzori, Kanzuiri camp [~ 0°29’N, 29°56’E?], “sur le Karibumba, dans mousses”, 3500 m a.s.l., vii.–viii.1974 (M. Lejeune), 1♂ in MRAC (155073) ; same data but “fauchage”, 1♂ in MRAC (155060). Face N du Ruwenzori, Kilindera camp [~ 0°31’N, 29°57’E?], Kilindera, in dead wood, 2750 m a.s.l., vii.–viii.1974 (M. Lejeune), 2♀ 2 juvs in MRAC (158551).

Figures

FIGURE 58. Known distributions of the rubrotinctus group, the chogoria group, and S. ngangao. Squares: further undescribed species.

FIGURES 115–130. Smeringopus chogoria group, habitus, left male palps (prolateral and retrolateral views), male prosomata (oblique frontal views), epigyna (ventral views), and cleared female genitalia (ventral and dorsal views). 115–116, 119–120, 123–126. S. chogoria. 117–118, 121–122, 127–130. S. bujongolo.

FIGURES 131–137. Smeringopus chogoria (131–136) and S. bujongolo (137). 131. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 132. Left procursus, dorsal view. 133–134. Left embolus, prolateral and dorsal views. 135. Male chelicerae, frontal view. 136–137. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal views. Scale lines: 0.3 mm (133–134), 0.5 mm (131–132, 135–137).