Smeringopus arambourgi Fage, 1936

HUBER, BERNHARD A., 2012, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Afrotropical endemic genus Smeringopus Simon, 1890 (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 3461 (1), pp. 1-138 : 33-34

Smeringopus arambourgi Fage, 1936

Figs. 169–170, 179 , 184–185 , 194–195 , 205–218

Smeringopus arambourgi Fage in Fage & Simon 1936: 319–320, figs. 12a–b (male only; female see S. turkana ).

Note. This species might be a synonym of S. affinitatus Strand, 1906 (see below).

Types. 2♂ syntypes from Ethiopia, plaines de l’Omo, St. n o 28, Bourillé [~ 5°30’N, 36°12’E?], 600 m a.s.l., 2.ii.1933 [C. Alluaud, R. Jeannel, P.A. Chappuis], in MNHN ( AR 10362 ), mislabeled as “ Smeringopus fontisflorum … Bloemfontein …”. The actual type label was found in a vial containing S. lesserti from Gabon .

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners (other species of arambourgi species group and S. pallidus ) by distinctively curved tip of procursus ( Figs. 185 , 205 ), shapes of bulbal processes (hooked embolus and slender dorsal projection; Figs. 207 , 211 ), and epigynum shape ( Fig. 194 ; externally similar S. oromia and S. saruanle ).

Male (Nech Sar N.P., plains). Total body length 5.2, carapace width 1.7. Leg 1: 44.4 (11.3 + 0.7 + 11.5 + 18.8 + 2.1), tibia 2: 8.0, tibia 3: 5.9, tibia 4: 8.1; tibia 1 L/d: 63. Habitus as in Fig. 169 . Carapace with distinct median and lateral brown marks, sternum brown with light spots, leg femora and tibiae with subdistal dark rings and light tips, abdomen pale grey, dorsally with distinct dark pattern, ventrally with three lines in median part (median line broken), with transversal mark in posterior third (cf. female, Fig. 170 ). Distance PME-PME 150 µm, diameter PME 150 µm, distance PME-ALE 55 µm, distance AME-AME 30 µm, diameter AME 125 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with indistinct ‘pseudo-lenses’ ( Fig. 215 ); deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in Fig. 208 , with small distal apophyses, each provided with one modified hair at tip ( Figs. 212, 213 ). Palps as in Figs. 184 and 185 , coxa without retrolateral apophysis, trochanter barely modified, femur with retrolateral furrow, proximal rim slightly more distinct, cymbium without projection near tarsal organ, procursus with distinctively curved tip and large prolateral process ( Figs. 205, 206 , 210 ), bulb with sclerotized embolus and distinctive slender dorsal process ( Figs. 207 , 211 ). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs on metatarsi 1–2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 3.5%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1. ALS with eight spigots each ( Fig. 214 ).

Variation. Some males with considerably less dark pattern (e.g. without lateral marks on carapace, fewer ventral abdominal marks, median ventral line sometimes missing). Tibia 1 in syntypes: 15.2, 15.9; 2 males from Sof Omar: 13.7, 18.0; male from Somalia: 10.0. The syntypes are in fairly good condition; in one male both palps are detached and one of them is missing.

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 7 females: 10.4–16.2 (mean 13.8). Epigynum a simple flat plate without pockets, internal structures visible through cuticle ( Fig. 194 ); internal genitalia as in Figs. 195 , 209 , and 217. ALS as in male ( Fig. 216 ).

Distribution. Known from three localities in southern Ethiopia and from Somalia (locality unknown) ( Fig. 204 ).

Material examined. ETHIOPIA: “Plaines de l’Omo, St. n o 28, Bourillé”: 2♂ syntypes above. Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region: Arba Minch , Nech Sar National Park (6°00.0’N, 37°32.6’E), 1385 m a.s.l., in houses, 18.vi.2011 (M. Moradmand, V. Hula, J. Niedobová), 2♂ 2♀ in SMF ; same data but 19.vi.2011, 1♀ in SMF ; same data but plains, 19.vi.2011, 1♂ 1♀ in SMF. Oromia Region: Sof Omar village (6°54.2’N, 40°51.0’E), Acacia trees, under stones, on cliffs and along riverside, 1200 m a.s.l., 16.vi.2011 (M. Moradmand, V. Hula, J. Niedobová), 2♂ 2♀ in SMF ; same data but inside limestone caves, in crevices, 1♂ 1♀ in SMF. Grotte Sof Omar , 8./11./13./ 14.ii.1971 (T. Monod), 3♀ 7 juvs. (3 vials) in MNHN .

SOMALIA: locality not specified (“n. 339, 76”, “Mag. No. 866”), 1924 (Stefanini, Puccioni), 1♂ in MZF.

Figures

FIGURE 204. Known distribution of the arambourgi group. Note that two localities are not shown: the unspecified locality of S. arambourgi in Somalia, and “Massoua” (for S. lineiventris). Square: further undescribed species.

FIGURES 169–183. Smeringopus arambourgi group, habitus and male prosomata, oblique frontal views. 169–170. S. arambourgi, male, dorsal view and female, ventral view. 171–172. S. turkana, male, dorsal view and female, ventral view. 173–174. S. oromia, male, dorsal and ventral views. 175–176. S. saruanle, male, dorsal view and female, ventral view. 177–178. S. lineiventris, male, dorsal view and female, ventral view. 179. S. arambourgi. 180. S. turkana. 181. S. oromia. 182. S. saruanle. 183. S. lineiventris.

FIGURES 184–193. Smeringopus arambourgi group, left male palps, prolateral and retrolateral views. 184–185. S. arambourgi. 186–187. S. turkana. 188–189. S. oromia. 190–191. S. saruanle. 192–193. S. lineiventris.

FIGURES 194–203. Smeringopus arambourgi group, epigyna, ventral views and cleared female genitalia, dorsal views. 194–195. S. arambourgi. 196–197. S. turkana. 198–199. S. oromia. 200–201. S. saruanle. 202–203. S. lineiventris.

FIGURES 205–209. Smeringopus arambourgi. 205. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 206. Left procursus, dorsal (slightly retrolateral) view. 207. Left bulbal processes, prolateral view. 208. Male chelicerae, frontal view. 209. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.

FIGURES 210–218. Smeringopus arambourgi. 210. Left procursus tip, retrolatero-distal view. 211. Left bulbal processes, prolaterodistal view. 212–213. Male chelicerae and cheliceral apophysis. 214. Male ALS. 215. Female ocular area (arrows point to ‘pseudolenses’). 216. Female ALS. 217. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. 218. Detail of pore plate. Scale lines: 10 µm (213), 20 µm (214, 216), 30 µm (218), 80 µm (212), 100 µm (210, 211, 215), 200 µm (217).