Smeringopus blyde, 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 : 58

Smeringopus blyde new species

Figs. 252 , 268–269 , 288–289 , 331–335

Type. Male holotype from South Africa, Mpumalanga, Blyde River Canyon [~ 24°31’S, 30°48’E], “Botaniese Reservaat”, in house, under roof, 9.iv.2001 (D. van den Spiegel), in MRAC (211081 part) .

Etymology. The name is a noun in apposition, derived from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners (other species of the natalensis group, especially S. lesnei , S. natalensis , S. florisbad , S. koppies , S. harare , S. badplaas ) by shapes of bulbal processes ( Figs. 333, 334 ); from other close relatives by absence of process near palpal tarsal organ ( Fig. 331 ), relatively straight procursus (ventrally), absence of prolateral process on procursus tip, and three black lines ventrally on abdomen (versus two).

Male (holotype). Total body length 7.0, carapace width 2.2. Leg 1: 54.2 (14.1 + 0.9 + 14.0 + 22.7 + 2.5), tibia 2: 9.6, tibiae 3 and 4 missing; tibia 1 L/d: 66. Habitus similar S. koppies (cf. Figs. 245, 246 ). Carapace ochre-yellow with distinct dark pattern (median, lateral, and submarginal marks), clypeus with pair of dark marks widening distally, sternum brown with light marks, legs with barely visible darker rings subdistally on femora and tibiae, abdomen dorsally with distinct dark pattern, ventrally with three dark lines in median part (median line narrow but distinct). Distance PME-PME 150 µm, diameter PME 175 µm, distance PME-ALE 70 µm, distance AME-AME 45 µm, diameter AME 145 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with very indistinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in S. badplaas (cf. Figs. 314, 315 ; just slightly larger). Palps as in Figs. 268 and 269 , coxa without retrolateral apophysis, trochanter barely modified, femur with retrolateral furrow with distinct rim proximally, cymbium without projection near tarsal organ, procursus ventrally almost straight, without prolateral process at tip ( Figs. 331, 332 ), bulb with three distinctively shaped processes ( Figs. 333, 334 ). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs ventrally on metatarsi 1 and 2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 2.5%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1.

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1: 9.7 (missing in other females). Epigynum a simple plate without pockets ( Figs. 288 ), possibly not clearly distinguishable from close relatives ( S. lesnei , S. natalensis , S. florisbad , S. koppies , S. harare , S. badplaas ); internal genitalia as in Figs. 289 and 335 (longer than in close relatives).

Distribution. Only known from type locality in eastern South Africa ( Fig. 299 ).

Material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Mpumalanga: Blyde River Canyon: 1♂ holotype above; same data, 2♀ 5 juvs, in MRAC (211081 part) ; same locality but under rocks, 5.iv.2001 (R. Jocqué), 1♀ in MRAC (210166).

Figures

FIGURE 299. Known distribution of the natalensis group except S. natalensis (cf. Fig. 298). Squares: further undescribed species.

FIGURES 243–255. Smeringopus natalensis group, habitus and male prosomata, oblique frontal views. 243–244. S. natalensis, male, dorsal and ventral views. 245–246. S. koppies, male, dorsal and ventral views. 247–248. S. hanglip, male, dorsal and ventral views. 249–250. S. lydenberg, female, dorsal and ventral views. 251. S. natalensis. 252. S. blyde. 253. S. hanglip. 254. S. lydenberg. 255. S. mlilwane.

FIGURES 268–277. Smeringopus natalensis group, left male palps, prolateral and retrolateral views. 268–269. S. blyde. 270–271. S. hanglip. 272–273. S. lydenberg. 274–275. S. mlilwane. 276–277. S. ndumo.

FIGURES 278–297. Smeringopus natalensis group, epigyna, ventral views and cleared female genitalia, dorsal views. 278–279. S. natalensis. 280–281. S. koppies. 282–283. S. badplaas. 284–285. S. florisbad. 286–287. S. lesnei. 288–289. S. blyde. 290–291. S. hanglip. 292–293. S. lydenberg. 294–295. S. mlilwane. 296–297. S. ndumo.

FIGURES 327–335. Smeringopus harare (327–330) and S. blyde (331–335). 327, 331. Left cymbia and procursi, retrolateral views. 328, 332. Left procursi, prolateral views. 329–330, 333–334. Left bulbal processes, prolateral and dorsal views. 335. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.

FIGURES 310–316. Smeringopus badplaas. 310. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 311. Left procursus, prolateral view. 312–313. Left bulbal processes, prolateral and dorsal views. 314–315. Male chelicerae, frontal and lateral views. 316. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.