Smeringopina kikongo, Huber, Bernhard A., 2013

Huber, Bernhard A., 2013, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Guineo-Congolian spider genus Smeringopina Kraus (Araneae, Pholcidae, Zootaxa 3713 (1), pp. 1-160 : 22

Smeringopina kikongo new species

Figs. 158–162 , 172, 183 , 287–292

Type. ♂ holotype from Congo D.R., Bas Congo Province, Luki Forest Reserve (5°37.3’S, 13°05.9’E), central zone, by hand, 26.–27.ix.2007 (W. Hubau), in MRAC (222155 part).

Other material examined. CONGO D.R.: Bas Congo: Luki Forest Reserve, fogging in primary forest, 10.xi.2006 and 27.ix.2007 (D. de Bakker, J.P. Michiels), 2♀ (2 vials) in MRAC (219853 part, 224313 part); same locality, hand catch in secondary rainforest, 2.xi.2006 (D. de Bakker, J.P. Michiels), 1♀ in MRAC (219933); same locality, sieving along trail in primary rainforest, 20./ 28.ix.2007 (D. de Bakker, J.P. Michiels), 2♀ (2 vials) in MRAC (223052, 223409); same locality, beating, 25.ix.–2.x.2007 (D. de Bakker, J.P. Michiels), 4♀ 2 juvs. (5 vials) in MRAC (223096 part, 223605 part, 223623, 223806 part, 223842 part); same locality, pitfall trap in primary rainforest, 3.–14.xi.2006 (D. de Bakker, J.P. Michiels), 1 juv. in MRAC (219921).

Etymology. The name is derived from Kikongo , the Bantu language spoken by the Bakongo and Bandundu people living in the tropical forests of the western Congo D.R. and neighboring countries; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Easily distinguished from congeners by distinctive frontal apophyses on male chelicerae (directed sideways; Fig. 289 ), and by anterior epigynal plate with long anterior prolongation ending in distinct ridge ( Figs. 172 , 291 ).

Male (holotype). Total body length 4.0, carapace width 1.2. Leg 1: 38.5 (9.0 + 0.4 + 9.1 + 18.5 + 1.5), tibia 2: 5.5, tibia 3: 3.7, tibia 4: 5.6; tibia 1 L/d: 89. Distance PME-PME 150 µm, diameter PME 115 µm, distance PME- ALE 45 µm, distance AME-AME 25 µm, diameter AME 105 µm. Carapace ochre-yellow with brown mark posteriorly and brown lateral margins; ocular area posteriorly brown, clypeus with brown pattern, sternum dark brown; legs light brown, with dark rings on femora (subdistally), tibiae (proximally, subdistally and additional ring in-between), and metatarsus (proximally); abdomen ochre-gray with dark pattern dorsally, laterally, and ventrally, ventral dark bands with lateral constriction. Habitus as in Figs. 158–159 , ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with indistinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; clypeus with sclerotized apophysis (pointed in lateral view) between AME and rim; deep thoracic pit and pair of shallow furrows diverging behind pit. Chelicerae as in Fig. 289 , with lateral apophyses in very distal position, with distinctive frontal apophyses directed sideways and pair of rows of small apophyses/ridges medially, without modified hairs. Palps as in Figs. 160–162 ; coxa with retrolateral process; trochanter with strong ventral apophysis serrated ventrally; femur with large retrolateral apophysis directed toward ventrally and accompanied by proximal sclerotized hump, with sclerotized projection at prolateral trochanterfemur joint, with weakly sclerotized ventral projection distally; prolateral femur-patella joint strongly shifted toward ventrally; tarsus with some longer and slightly stronger hairs dorsally; procursus as in Figs. 287–288 , with complex membranous and sclerotized structures ventrally, without hinge; bulb with simple weakly sclerotized process ( Fig. 290 ; sperm duct opening apparently at basis of this process). Legs without spines and curved hairs, with few vertical hairs (many hairs missing); retrolateral and prolateral trichobothria on tibia 1 not seen; pseudosegments barely visible.

Female. In general similar to male; clypeus unmodified. Tibia 1 in 7 females: 7.3–9.0 (mean 8.3). Epigynum anterior plate with long anterior prolongation ending in distinct ridge, with pair of round internal structures visible through cuticle ( Figs. 172 , 291 ); posterior plate laterally with overhanging folds; internal genitalia as in Figs. 183 and 292 .

Distribution. Known from type locality only ( Fig. 114 ).

Figures

FIGURE 114. Known distribution of the lekoni species group. Question marks denote females of undescribed species (in MRAC and MCZ) that may belong to this species group.

FIGURES 153 – 162. Smeringopina ndjole n. sp. (153 – 157) and S. kikongo n. sp. (158 – 162). 153 – 154, 158 – 159. Males, dorsal and ventral views. 155 – 157, 160 – 162. Left male palps, prolateral, dorsal, and retrolateral views. Arrow points at serrated trochanter.

FIGURES 163 – 183. Female abdomens, ventral views, and cleared female genitalia, dorsal views, lekoni species group. 163, 173. Smeringopina kinguele n. sp. 164, 174. S. mohoba n. sp. 165 – 166, 175 – 176. S. fang n. sp. from Djidji (165, 175) and Ndjolé (166, 176). 167, 177. S. tebe n. sp. 168, 178. S. lekoni n. sp. 169, 179. S. iboga n. sp. 170, 180 – 181. S. moudouma n. sp. from Moudouma (170, 180) and Iboundji (181). 171, 182. S. ndjole n. sp. 172, 183. S. kikongo n. sp. Arrows point at lateral constriction of dark band (165) and at laterally overhanging fold (180).

FIGURES 287 – 292. Smeringopina kikongo n. sp. 287 – 288. Left procursus, prolateral and retrolateral views. 289. Male chelicerae, frontal view. 290. Left bulbal process, prolateral view. 291. Epigynum, ventral view; arrow points at frontal ridge. 292. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.2 (290), 0.5 (287 – 289, 291 – 292).