Cheiracanthium kabalense, Lotz, L. N., 2015

Lotz, L. N., 2015, New Species of the Spider Genus Cheiracanthium from Continental Africa (Araneae: Eutichuridae), Zootaxa 3973 (2), pp. 321-336 : 325-326

Cheiracanthium kabalense sp. nov.

Figs 13–18

Type material. Holotype ♀, UGANDA: Kabale district, Ruhizha Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, ca. 01º02’S, 29º46’E, 25.IX.1996, C.E. Griswold ( CASC); 2♂ paratypes, Kabale district, Ruhizha Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, ca. 01º03’S, 29º47’E, 13–16.IX.1996, C.E. Griswold ( CASC).

Etymology. The species is named for the district in which the type locality is found.

Diagnosis. C. kabalense sp. nov. can be differentiated from other Afrotropical species of Cheiracanthium by the small, anterior, side expansion in the initial part of the copulatory ducts of the females, the unique, short and broad TA on the male palps and the abdominal pattern of both males and females ( Figs 15, 17 ).

Description. Female: (n = 1): TL = 3.8; CL = 1.8; CW = 0.7; OAL = 0.25; OAW = 1.3; CLL = 0.08. Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; fang furrow with five teeth of unequal size, PMT:RMT = 2:3 ( Fig. 13 ). Measurements: AME–AME 0.05; AME–ALE 0.10; AME diameter 0.10; PME–PME 0.10; PME–PLE 0.10; PME diameter 0.10; MOQAW 0.20; MOQPW 0.30; CI (CL/CW) 2.57; LL:CL unknown (both legs I missing); STL 1.10; STW 0.85. Leg measurements (I missing): II—1.8+0.7+1.6+1.8+0.6 = 6.5; III—1.1+0.5+1.0+1.2+0.5 = 4.3; IV— 2.0+0.7+1.6+2.2+0.6 = 7.1; Palp—0.9+0.3+0.5+0.7 = 2.4. Leg spines: II 0-0-1p, 2v- 8v-1v, 4v- 1p1r- 3v 1p1r; III 0, 0, 2v- 1p1r- 3v 1p1r; IV 0-0-1p1r, 0-0-1p1r, 2v 1p1r-1p1r- 3v 1p1r. Abdomen: cream coloured with a heartmark and dark chevrons and spots. Epigynum ( Figs 14–15 ): depression longer than wide, bean-shaped; copulatory openings situated in anterior-lateral margins of depression; internally, copulatory ducts loop posteriorly in a S-shape, then anteriorly and posteriorly, before ending laterally in round spermathecae; near start of copulatory ducts there is a small anterior expansion; fertilization tubes enter spermathecae medially.

Male: (n = 2): TL = 5.15 (5.0–5.3); CL = 2.50 (2.5–2.5); CW = 1.60 (1.6–1.6); OAL = 0.38 (0.35–0.40); OAW = 0.90 (0.9–0.9); CLL = 0.05 (0.05–0.05). Chelicerae longer than in female and with a slight posterior bump, with PMT:RMT = 4:4 ( Fig. 16 ). Measurements: AME–AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.20; AME diameter 0.10; PME–PME 0.20; PME–PLE 0.20; PME diameter 0.10; MOQAW 0.30; MOQPW 0.40; CI (CL/CW) 1.56; LL:CL 8.16; STL 1.6; STW 1.0. Leg measurements: I—5.1+1.1+5.8+6.5+1.9 = 20.4; II—3.1+0.9+3.2+3.4+0.9 = 11.5; III— 2.2+0.7+1.9+2.2+0.7 = 7.7; IV—3.7+0.9+3.3+4.1+0.9 = 12.9; Palp—2.1+0.5+1.0+1.3 = 4.9. Leg spines: I 0-1p- 1p1r, 2v- 16v-1v, 2v-6 v1 p- 3v 1p1r; II 0-1p-1p1r, 2v-8v-1 v1 p, 2v-6 v2 p- 3v 1p1r; III 0-0-1p1r, 2v-2v-1 v1 r, 2v-1 v1 p - 3v 1p1r; IV 0-0-1p1r, 1v- 0-1r, 2v 1p1r-2v-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen: similar to female, but slightly more elongate. Palp ( Figs 17–18 ): cymbium elongate, longer than tibia, with a broad, proximally directed CA; RTA apically bifid, both points rounded; TA short and broad inside curve of EM, with rounded apex; EM long, almost encircling tegulum, ending at CON apex; CON not sclerotized but distinct.

Distribution. Known only from Ruhizha Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda ( Fig. 52 ). Habitat. Forest.

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 21. 13 – 18 C. kabalense sp. nov.: 13 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 14 epigynum, ventral view; 15 same, dorsal view; 16 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 17 male palp, ventro-lateral view; 18 same, retrolateral view. 19 – 21 C. kakamega sp. nov.: 19 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 20 male palp, ventro-lateral view; 21 same, retrolateral view.

FIGURES 52 – 55. Distribution maps: 52 C. boendense sp. nov. (circle); C. falcis sp. nov. (triangle); C. foordi sp. nov. (diamond); C. ghanaense sp. nov. (square); C. kabalense sp. nov. (star). 53 C. kakumense sp. nov. (circle); C. kakamega sp. nov. (square). 54 C. lukiense sp. nov. (square). 55 C. mayombense sp. nov. (square); C. punctipedellum Caporiacco, 1949 (circle), C. sansibaricum Strand, 1907 (triangle).