Smeringopus peregrinoides Kraus, 1957

HUBER, BERNHARD A., 2012, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Afrotropical endemic genus Smeringopus Simon, 1890 (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 3461 (1), pp. 1-138 : 100-103

Smeringopus peregrinoides Kraus, 1957

Figs. 560–561 , 574–575 , 594–595 , 626–646

“ Smeringopus peregrinus ” (misidentifications): Strand 1913: 341–343. Lessert 1915: 5–6, pl. 1, fig. 3.

Smeringopus peregrinoides Kraus 1957: 224–225 , figs. 17–22.

Types. Male holotype and 4♂ paratypes from Rwanda, no further data, in SMF (holotype: RII 7771 ; paratypes: RII 11726) ; 4♂ and several juvenile paratypes from “Bukoba, Njarugenji” [ Tanzania: Kagera Region: Karagwe Distr.: Bukoba : 1°19’S, 31°48’E; Rwanda: Nyarugenge = Kigali: 1°57’S, 30°04’E], no date (J. Carl), in MHNG ; 2♀ paratypes from Tanzania, Bukoba , no date (J. Carl), in SMF (9812/1) and MHNG, all types examined.

Misidentified type specimens: 3♀ paratypes from Angola, Huíla, Vila da Ponte [=Capelongo, 14°28’S, 16°18’E], no date (Exped. Monard), in MHNG (2♀) and SMF (9808/1: 1♀), examined .

Notes. Most of Lessert’s (1915) specimens from Bukoba and Nyarugenge are apparently joined in one vial. In contrast to Kraus (1957), this vial does not contain 4♂ 4♀ but only 4♂ and several juveniles. Two females are in separate vials (see above); the other two females could not be located. The identity of the misidentified females from Vila da Ponte remains unclear. They probably belong to an undescribed species.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners by small perpendicular apophyses frontally on male chelicerae ( Figs. 631, 632 ), by tip of procursus (distinctive prolateral sclerite; arrow in Fig. 627 ), shape of embolus ( Figs. 628–630 ), and v-shaped (or u-shaped) structure frontally in female internal genitalia (visible through cuticle; Fig. 594 ).

Male (Akagera Parc). Total body length 6.6, carapace width 2.1. Leg 1: 36.9 (10.2 + 0.8 + 9.7 + 13.9 + 2.3), tibia 2: 7.2, tibia 3: 5.3, tibia 4: 7.5; tibia 1 L/d: 42. Habitus as in female (cf. Fig. 560 ). Carapace ochre-yellow with brown median and lateral marks, clypeus with pair of dark stripes, sternum brown with light marks near bases of coxae 2–4 and medially, legs light brown, femora and tibiae with lighter tips and subdistal dark rings, abdomen ochre-gray with distinct dorsal and ventral pattern. Distance PME-PME 175 µm, diameter PME 140 µm, distance PME-ALE 70 µm, distance AME-AME 60 µm, diameter AME 130 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with ‘pseudo-lenses’ ( Fig. 638 ); deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in Figs. 631 and 632 , with distinctively small distal apophyses, each provided with one modified hair at tip ( Figs. 641, 642 ). Palps as in Figs. 574 and 575 , coxa with distinct retrolateral apophysis and shallow wide furrow, trochanter barely modified, femur with retrolateral furrow with distinct rim proximally, procursus with distinctive prolateral sclerite distally ( Fig. 627 ), without prolateral membranous projection, bulb with distinctively shaped prolateral process on embolus ( Figs. 628–630 ). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs on tibiae (ventrally) and metatarsi 1 and 2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 3%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1 ( Fig. 644 ). Gonopore with two epiandrous spigots ( Fig. 640 ); ALS with eight spigots each ( Fig. 643 ).

Variation. There is slight variation in the shape of the dorsal part of the process of the embolus (arrow in Fig. 629 ). This part is slightly wider in the Kenyan specimens, and slightly more projecting in specimens from Bujumbura ( Burundi) and some specimens from Uganda. Kenyan specimens also lack the small pointed process ventrally on the embolus. Tibia 1 in 57 males: 6.0–14.9 (mean 10.7). The holotype is pale but otherwise in fair condition; tibia 1: 14.0.

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 52 females: 6.2–13.1 (mean 9.2). Epigynum roughly triangular, with distinctive internal structure frontally (v-shaped or u-shaped), and semicircular pockets ( Figs. 594 , 645 ); internal genitalia as in Figs. 595 and 633 . ALS as in male ( Fig. 646 ).

Distribution. Widely distributed in northeastern Congo D.R., Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, northern Tanzania, and western Kenya ( Fig. 608 ).

Material examined. RWANDA: no further data: 5♂ types above. Kigali, Nyarugenge, unspecified number of male paratypes together with specimens from Tanzania, Bukoba (see above). 40 km E of Kigali [~ 1°55’S, 30°16’E], 1575 m a.s.l., 9.xii.1957 (E.S. Ross, R. E. Leech), 2♀ 1 juv. in CAS . Near Lac Ihema [~ 1°55’S, 30°42’E], 14./ 18.vii.1969 (R. Kiss), 92♂ 119♀ (3 vials) in MRAC (136301–03) . Akagera Parc, Lac Ihema [~ 1°55’S, 30°42’E], vi.1969 (R. Kiss), 35♂ 60♀ (2 vials) in MRAC (135870–71) ; same locality, “presq’il au N de la pêcherie, sous pierres”, 29.xi.1985 (R. Jocqué, Nsengimana, Michiels), 1♂ 7♀ (2 vials) in MRAC (164762, 165399) ; same data but “ 4 km S de la pêcherie Ihema”, 14.xi.1985, 1♂ 1♀ in MRAC (165533) ; same data but “pêcherie”, 14.xi.–8.xii.1985, 1♀ in MRAC (164715) ; same data but “savanne boisée, bois pourri”, 16.xi.1985, 1♀ in MRAC (165626) ; same data but “maison de pompage, sous pierres en savanne arborescente”, 5.xii.1985, 1♂ 1♀ (2 vials) in MRAC (164802, 165528) . Akagera Parc , “ 50 km N de la pêcherie Ihema” [~ 1°36’S, 30°40’E], 23.xi. and 6.xii.1985 (R. Jocqué, Nsengimana, Michiels), 1♂ 1♀ (2 vials) in MRAC (164991, 165068) . Butare [2°36’S, 29°44’E], vi./ vii.1971 (P. Nyalugaka), 24♂ 31♀ in MRAC (140658) ; same data but vi.1971, 12♂ 2♀ in MRAC (141206) ; same data but x./ xi.1970, 1♂ 3♀ (2 vials) in MRAC (137764, 137788 part) . Butare ( Lac Mohasi ), iv.1968 (E. Vertriest), 1♂ in MRAC (134794) . Astrida [=Butare, 2°36’S, 29°44’E], 30.vi.1952 (Laurent), 2♀ in MRAC (73264–68 part).

BURUNDI: Nkayamba [3°57’S, 29°26’E], Miombo woodland with Brachystegia , 850 m a.s.l., by hand, 19.iii.2002 (N. Benoit), 1♂ in MRAC (213818) . Bujumbura [3°23’S, 29°21’E], 1939 (Lestrade), 12♂ 9♀ (2 vials) in MRAC (3340–59, 3451–64).

CONGO D.R.: Nord-Kivu Prov.: Beni [0°30’N, 29°28’E], i./ ii.1953 (Watty), 2♂ 8♀ in MHNG. Butembo [0°08’N, 29°17’E], 1750 m a.s.l., iii.1975 (M. Lejeune), 18♂ 16♀ in MRAC (161140) . Butembo , “vallée de la Musosa”(?), v.1967 (R. P. Lejeune), 1♂ in MRAC (132838) . Plaine de la Ruindi [= Rwindi , 0°47’S, 29°18’E], “Bulemba”, 1000 m a.s.l., dans termitière, 21.vi.1972 (R. P.M. Lejeune), 2♂ 1♀ 1 juv. in MRAC (144610) . Forêt de Visiki [0°12’N, 29°15’E], 27.xii.1971 (R.P.M. Lejeune), 1♀ in MRAC (140904). Saké [1°34’S, 29°03’E], iii.1936 (L. Lippens), 1♀ in MRAC (26892). West shore of Lake Edward [~ 0.5°S, 29.3°E], 1931 (E.B. Worthington), 1♀ in BMNH (1934.2.15.100). Ituri Prov.: Geti [1°14’N, 30°10’E], 1939 (Randour), 12♂ 8♀ (3 vials) in MRAC (26880–84, 26950–58, 26959–68). Nioka [2°06’N, 30°37’E], 1934 (J. Leroy), 13♂ 8♀ (2 vials) in MRAC (26928–38, 29939–49); same locality, vii.1937 (J. Ghesquière), 1♂ in MRAC (26827). Lodjo, Mongbwalu [2°04’N, 30°01’E], viii.1939 (A. Lepersonne), 4♂ 7♀ (3 vials) in MRAC (26858–62, 26899–902, 26903–06). Mongbwalu [1°56’N, 30°03’E], i.-ii.1939 (A. Lepersonne), 2♂ 4♀ in MRAC (2419–24); same data but v.1939, 3♀ (2 vials) in MRAC (3683–84, 3687). Mahagi-Port [2°09’N, 31°14’E], 1925 (H. Schouteden), 2♂ (2 vials) in MRAC (26895/98, 26896). Mawambi [1°04’N, 28°34’E], iv.1908 (Schultz?) 1♂ in ZMB .

TANZANIA: Kagera Region: Karagwe: Bukoba : 2♀ paratypes and unspecified number of male paratypes together with specimens from Rwanda, Kigali (see above) . Arusha Region: Nghongongare, M.B.T.’s Snake Farm (3°19.2’S, 36°53.0’E), arid grassland, 1450 m a.s.l., 15.i.1997 (P.P. Bjørn, L. Sørensen) 1♂ 1♀ in ZMUC. “Tanganjika”, no further locality data, collector unreadable, 1♂ 5 juvs in ZMB .

KENYA: Western Prov.: Kakamega Forest N.P., buildings at camping site (0°21.1’N, 34°51.9’E), 1610 m a.s.l., 2.–3.ii.2010 (B.A. Huber), 2♂ in ZFMK (Ar 8558) ; same data, 2♀ in pure ethanol in ZFMK (Ken 138) . Kakamega Forest , 23.vii.1979 (N. Scharff), 1♂ 1♀ in ZMUC . Rift Valley: Mtembur [1°21’N, 35°03’E], dry scrub, 1500 m a.s.l., 26.vii.1974 (Murphy), 1♀ in CJFM (3731) ; same locality, hot dry scrub, 1600 m a.s.l., 30.viii.1984 (Murphy), 1♂ in CJFM (12165) . Kongelai [1°28’N, 35°00’E?], 1400 m a.s.l., dry scrub, 17.viii.1972 (Murphy), 2♀ in CJFM (1957).

UGANDA: Central Region: Entebbe [0°03’N, 32°28’E], no date (E. Degen), 6♂ 22♀ in BMNH (06.3.28-58- 300, part) ; same data, 1♂ 4♀ in BMNH (300-344, part) ; same data, 2♂ 2♀ in BMNH (344-400, part) ; Entebbe , botanic gardens, 17.v.1995 (A. Russell-Smith), 1♂ in ZFMK (Ar 8559) . Namulonge Research Station near Kampala, [0°31’N, 32°37’E], on tree trunk, 31.i.1997 (A. Russell-Smith), 1♂ in ZFMK (Ar 8560) . Western Region: Kanungu Distr.: Buhoma (0°58.0’S, 29°36.9’E), 1400 m a.s.l., in building, 26.xi.2010 (B.A. Huber), 2♂ 1♀ in ZFMK (Ar 8561) ; same data, 3♀ in pure ethanol in ZFMK (Uga 114) . “ Ruwenzori ”, no further locality data [~0.3’N, 30.0°E], 1952 (G.O. Evans), 2♂ 4♀ in BMNH . Kibale Forest, Ngogo Camp (0°30’N, 30°35’E), 1500–1800 m a.s.l., 30.–31.x.1992 (V. & B. Roth), 2♂ 2♀ (2 vials) in CAS .

Figures

FIGURE 608. Known distribution of the peregrinus group. S. butare and S. peregrinus are represented by triangles in order to facilitate distinction from S. peregrinoides. Squares: further undescribed species.

FIGURES 558–571. Smeringopus peregrinus group, habitus and male prosomata, oblique frontal views. 558–559. S. peregrinus, male, dorsal and ventral views. 560–561. S. peregrinoides, female, dorsal view and male, ventral view. 562. S. butare, male dorsal view. 563. S. similis, male, dorsal view. 564–565. S. kalomo, male and female, dorsal views. 566–567. S. chibububo, male, dorsal view and female, ventral view. 568. S. katanga, male, dorsal view. 569. S. moxico, male, dorsal view. 570. S. chibububo. 571. S. kalomo.

FIGURES 572–583. Smeringopus peregrinus group, left male palps, prolateral and retrolateral views. 572–573. S. peregrinus. 574–575. S. peregrinoides. 576–577. S. butare. 578–579. S. katanga. 580–581. S. kalomo. 582–583. S. chibububo.

FIGURES 592–607. Smeringopus peregrinus group, epigyna, ventral views and cleared female genitalia, dorsal views. 592–593. S. peregrinus. 594–595. S. peregrinoides. 596–597. S. butare. 598–599. S. katanga. 600–601. S. kalomo. 602–603. S. chibububo. 604–605. S. dundo. 606–607. S. similis.

FIGURES 626–633. Smeringopus peregrinoides. 626. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 627. Left procursus, prolateral view. 628–630. Left embolus, prolateral, dorsal, and ventral (slightly prolateral) views (arrow points to variable structure). 631–632. Male chelicerae, frontal and lateral views. 633. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.

FIGURES 634–646. Smeringopus peregrinoides. 634. Male prosoma, frontal view. 635. Left male palp, dorsal view. 636. Left procursus tip, retrolatero-dorsal view. 637. Left bulb, prolateral view. 638. Male ocular area. 639. Left embolus, prolatero-distal view. 640. Male gonopore. 641–642. Male chelicerae and cheliceral apophysis. 643. Male ALS. 644. Male tibia 1, trichobothria. 645. Epigynum. 646. Female ALS. Scale lines: 10 µm (642), 20 µm (643, 646), 50 µm (636), 80 µm (639–641), 100 µm (637, 638, 644), 200 µm (635, 645), 400 µm (634).