Smeringopus hanglip, 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 : 59-61

Smeringopus hanglip new species

Figs. 247–248, 253 , 270–271 , 290–291 , 336–342 , 350–356

Type. Male holotype from South Africa, Northern Province, Soutpansberg, 8 km NW Louis Trichard, Hanglip Forest , picnic area (~ 23°00’S, 29°53’E), 1440 m a.s.l., 30.xi.1996 (C.E. Griswold), in CAS .

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

Diagnosis. Distinguished from most congeners (except S. lydenberg ) by two black lines ventrally on abdomen (versus three; Fig. 248 ); from similar congeners ( S. lydenberg , S. ndumo , S. mlilwane ) by shapes of bulbal processes ( Figs. 338, 339 ); from other close relatives by low process near palpal tarsal organ ( Fig. 336 ), ventrally strongly curved procursus ( Figs. 271 , 336 ), and prolateral process on procursus tip ( Fig. 337 ).

Male (holotype). Total body length 9.5, carapace width 3.3. Leg 1: 77.8 (20.4 + 1.5 + 19.6 + 33.2 + 3.1), tibia 2: 14.5, tibia 3: 11.3, tibia 4: 14.8; tibia 1 L/d: 59. Habitus as in Figs. 247 and 248 . Carapace ochre-yellow with distinct dark pattern (median and lateral bands, no submarginal marks), clypeus with pair of indistinct dark stripes, sternum posterior half brown, legs with indistinct darker rings subdistally on femora and tibiae, abdomen dorsally with distinct dark pattern, ventrally with two dark lines. Distance PME-PME 240 µm, diameter PME 240 µm, distance PME-ALE 90 µm, distance AME-AME 70 µm, diameter AME 205 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with very indistinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in Figs. 340 and 341 ; with pair of small distal apophyses; each apophysis with modified hair at tip ( Fig. 351 ). Palps as in Figs. 270 and 271 , coxa without retrolateral apophysis, trochanter barely modified, femur with deep and wide retrolateral furrow with distinct rim proximally, cymbium with indistinct projection near tarsal organ ( Fig. 336 ), procursus ventrally strongly curved ( Figs. 271 , 336 ), with prolateral process at tip ( Figs. 337 , 350 ), bulb with three distinctively shaped processes ( Figs. 338, 339 , 352 ). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs ventrally on tibiae and metatarsi 1 and 2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 1.5%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1. Gonopore with two epiandrous spigots ( Fig. 354 ); ALS with eight spigots each ( Fig. 353 ).

Variation. Tibia 1 in 6 other males: 14.0–19.2 (mean 16.5). In southern specimens (Magoebaskloof and George’s Valley) the two dorsal processes of the bulb are slightly closer together.

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 17 females: 12.1–18.8 (mean 15.7). Epigynum a simple plate without pockets ( Figs. 290 , 355 ), laterally whitish, not clearly distinguishable from close relatives ( S. lydenberg , S. mlilwane ); internal genitalia as in Figs. 291 and 342 (also similar to close relatives, with internal pockets). ALS as in male ( Fig. 356 ).

Distribution. Known from several localities in northeastern South Africa ( Fig. 299 ).

Material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo: Hanglip Forest: 1♂ holotype above ; same data, 2♂ 7♀ in CAS. Soutpansberg , Entabeni Forest , ~ 20 km N Levubu (22°59’S, 30°17’E), 1360 m a.s.l., 1.–2.xii.1996 (C.E. Griswold), 3♂ 5♀ in CAS. Magoebaskloof Hotel, 30 km SSW Tzaneen (~ 23°53’S, 30°00’E), 22.–23.xi.1996 (C.E. Griswold), 3♀ 1 juv. in CAS. 28 km SSW Tzaneen, 8.6 km from Magoebaskloof Hotel, forest on Magoebaskloof trail (~ 23°50’S, 29°59’E), 1800 m a.s.l., 22.–23.xi.1996 (C.E. Griswold), 1♀ 4 juvs in CAS. Magoebaskloof, Hideaway Farm, forest, pump house, near stream, 11.viii.1997 (R. Jocqué), 1♂ 1♀ in MRAC (206534) ; same data but 1700 m a.s.l., night catch, 1♀ 2 juvs in MRAC (206529). George’s Valley [~ 23°57’S, 30°01’E], 23.iii.2001 (G. Binford), 1♂ 2♀ in ZFMK (Ar 8508) .

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 336–342. Smeringopus hanglip. 336. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 337. Left procursus, dorsal view. 338–339. Left bulbal processes, prolateral and dorsal views. 340–341. Male chelicerae, frontal and lateral views. 342. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view (arrow points to internal pocket). Scale lines: 0.3 mm (336–339), 0.5 mm (340–342).

FIGURES 343–356. Smeringopus natalensis (343–349) and S. hanglip (350–356). 343. Left procursus tip, retrolateral view. 344. Left palpal femur, ventral view. 345. Male cheliceral apophysis. 346. Tarsal pseudosegments. 347. Male gonopore. 348. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. 349. Detail of pore plate. 350. Left procursus, dorsal view. 351. Male cheliceral apophysis. 352. Bulbal processes. 353. Male ALS and PMS. 354. Male gonopore. 355. Epigynum. 356. Female ALS. Scale lines: 20 µm (345, 351), 30 µm (346, 356), 40 µm (353), 50 µm (349), 60 µm (343), 80 µm (347), 100 µm (344, 352), 200 µm (348, 350, 354), 300 µm (355).