Pachyballus miniscutulus, Wesołowska & Azarkina & Wiśniewski, 2020

Wesolowska, Wanda, Azarkina, Galina N. & Wisniewski, Konrad, 2020, A revision of Pachyballus Simon, 1900 and Peplometus Simon, 1900 (Araneae, Salticidae, Ballini) with descriptions of new species, ZooKeys 944, pp. 47-98 : 47

Pachyballus miniscutulus sp. nov. Figures 58-61 , 62-67 , 195

Holotype.

South Africa • ♂; Free State, Bloemfontein, National Botanical Gardens; 29°02'S, 26°12'E; 12.X.2012; C. Haddad leg.; sweeping, vegetation along stream; NCA 2019/1444.

Paratypes.

South Africa • 3♀; together with holotype • 1♀; Free State, Bloemfontein, National Botanical Gardens; VII.2012; L. de Jager and J. van der Merwe leg.; karree litter ( Searsia lancea ), streamside; NCA 2019/1446 • 1♀; the same locality; 19.XII.2012; C. Haddad grassland leg.; pitfall traps; NCA 2013/1635 • 2♀; the same locality; 19.XI.2012; C. Haddad leg.; sweeping, open grassland; NCA 2013/1604 • 4♀; the same locality; 12.X.2012; C. Haddad leg.; sweeping, vegetation along stream; NCA 2012/5707 • 2♀; KwaZulu-Natal, Ithala Game Reserve, picnic site; 27°33'S, 31°19'E; 29.I.2014; C. Haddad leg.; base of grass tussocks; NCA 2013/5098.

Diagnosis.

This species is distinctive in having a unique size of ventral posterior scutum (Figs 59 , 61 ) that is clearly smaller than in other species. Its width is equal to spinnerets area (2-3 times larger in the congeners). The female has the epigyne similar to that in Pachyballus mombasensis , but the copulatory ducts are longer (cf. Fig. 74 with Figs 66 , 67 ).

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the Latin words “mini-” and “scutum”, meaning “small” and “shield” correspondingly, and refers to the small size of ventral posterior scutum.

Description.

Male. Measurements. Cephalothorax: length 1.3, width 1.25, height 0.6. Eye field: length 0.7, anterior width 1.0, posterior width 1.2. Abdomen: length 1.7, width 1.7.

General appearance as in Figs 58 , 59 . Colouration of carapace dark brown, with black rings around eyes, some long bristles at first row of eyes. Chelicerae dark brown. Clypeus and cheeks dark brown, covered with sparse white hairs. Labium and endites yellowish brown, paler apically. Sternum yellowish brown. Abdomen heart-shaped, dark brown dorsally. Venter brownish grey, with a small posterior scutum, ranging at one fifth of abdomen length (Fig. 59 ). Book-lung covers yellow. Spinnerets yellowish brown. First pair of legs brown with yellow tarsi. Legs II-IV light brown. Leg hairs brown. Structure of palpal organ as in Figs 62 , 63 , embolic coil wide, comprises 2.5 loops, palpal tibia with protruding apophysis.

Female. Measurements. Cephalothorax: length 1.0-1.1, width 1.1-1.2, height 0.5-0.6. Eye field: length 0.5-0.6, anterior width 0.9-1.0, posterior width 1.1-1.2. Abdomen: length 1.8-1.9, width 1.5-1.8.

General appearance as in Figs 60 , 61 . Similar to male. Posterior ventral scutum small, as in male. All legs and palps yellow. Epigyne as in Figs 64 , 65 , with spade-like or round central part in semi-circular depression. Internal structure of epigyne as in Figs 66 , 67 .

Distribution.

Known from South Africa only (Fig. 195 ).

Figures

Figures 58 - 61. Pachyballus miniscutulus sp. nov. 58 male, holotype, habitus, dorsal view 59 male, habitus, ventral view 60 female, habitus, dorsal view 61 female, habitus, ventral view.

Figures 62 - 67. Pachyballus miniscutulus sp. nov. 62 holotype, palpal organ, ventral view 63 palpal organ, lateral view 64, 65 epigyne 66, 67 internal structure of epigyne, dorsal view.

Figures 193 - 198. Distribution maps of Pachyballus and Peplometus species. 193 circle - Pachyballus caelestis, square - P. castaneus, triangle - P. variegatus 194 P. flavipes 195 circle - P. miniscutulus, square - P. mombasensis, triangle - P. ornatus 196 P. transversus 197 circle - Peplometus biscutellatus, square - P. chlorophthalmus 198 circle - P. nimba, square - P. oyo, triangle - P. congoensis.

Figures 68 - 74. Pachyballus mombasensis sp. nov. 68 female, holotype, habitus, dorsal view 69 female, habitus, ventralal view 70 palpal organ, ventral view 71 palpal organ, lateral view 72 holotype, epigyne 73 internal structure of epigyne, ventral view 74 internal structure of epigyne, dorsal view.