Hexophthalma spatulata ( Pocock, 1900 )

Lotz, Leon N., 2018, An update on the spider genus Hexophthalma (Araneae: Sicariidae) in the Afrotropical region, with descriptions of new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 424, pp. 1-18 : 14-15

Hexophthalma spatulata ( Pocock, 1900)

Figs 16 , 22–23 , 25

Sicarius spatulatus Pocock, 1900: 321 .

Sicarius spatulatus – Newlands 1986: 56. — Lotz 2012: 10.

Hexophthalma spatulata – Magalhaes et al. 2017: 853, figs 6A–D, 12C, 14D, 18H, 19D, 20E–F, 22A–E, 23D–F, 31H.

Diagnosis

Leg femora in both sexes with scoop-shaped enlarged dorsal setae ( Fig. 23 ), differing from the setae of all other species. Female inner spermathecae consist of a broad chamber, extending anteriorly in numerous tubes, each ending in one or more spherical vesicles ( Fig. 16 ), differing from all other species,where the inner spermathecae are finger-like sacs. Male embolus ending in a broad, blunt triangular apex ( Fig. 22 ), whereas the embolus of all the other species have thin apices.

Material examined

SOUTH AFRICA – Eastern Cape Province: 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 2 imm., Alicedale [33°18′ S, 26°05′ E], Dec. 1914, F. Cruden leg. ( AMSA); 1 ♀, same data as for preceding ( AMSA 2525 ). – Western Cape Province: 1 ♂, Borrelfontein, 8 km W of Gouritz River mouth, 34°20′ S, 21°51′ E, 4 Mar. 2007, H. Leibel leg. ( PPRI 2008/745 ); 1 ♂, same data as for preceding but Nov. 2007 – May 2008 ( PPRI 2009/5601 ); 1 ♂, Bredasdorp [34°32′ S, 20°03′ E] ( SAMC B7435 ); 4 ♀♀, Calidon [34°14′ S, 19°26′ E] ( SAMC 8348 ); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 2 imm., same data as preceding but W.F. Purcell leg. ( SAMC B363 ); 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, 1 imm., Hermanus [34°25′ S, 19°13′ E], ( SAMC 11632 , B8482 ); 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 5 imm., Houwhoek, 3419Aa ( SAMC 8327 ); 1 ♂, Kammanasie Nature Reserve , 33°39′ S, 22°44′ E, 31 Jul. 2003, Reserve Staff leg. ( PPRI 2010/2403 ); 1 ♀, Piquetberg, 3218Dd ( SAMC B8490 ); 1 ♀, Swellendam, Tradows Pass [33°58′ S, 20°42′ E] ( SAMC B6767 ) .

Natural history

Hexophthalma spatulata have been collected in a Fynbos biome.

Distribution

Hexophthalma spatulata is distributed along the southern coastal areas of South Africa ( Fig. 25 ). Discussion

Figures

Figs 9–16. Female internal genitalia. 9. Hexophthalma damarensis (Lawrence, 1928). 10. H. dolichocephala (Lawrence, 1928). 11–15. H. hahni (Karsch, 1878). 16. H. spatulata (Pocock, 1900). Scale bar =1mm.

Figs 17–23. 17–22. Male palps (right side prolateral). 17. Hexophthalma albospinosa (Purcell, 1908). 18. H. goanikontesensis sp. nov. 19. H. damarensis (Lawrence, 1928). 20. H. dolichocephala (Lawrence, 1928). 21. H. hahni (Karsch, 1878). 22. H. spatulata (Pocock, 1900). 23. H. spatulata, enlarged femoral seta (not to scale). Scale bars=1 mm.

Figs 24–25. Distribution maps for species of Hexophthalma Karsch, 1879. 24. H. goanikontesensis sp. nov., H. binfordae sp. nov. and H. leroyi sp. nov. 25. H. albospinosa (Purcell, 1908, H. damarensis (Lawrence, 1928), H. dolichocephala (Lawrence, 1928) and H. spatulata (Pocock, 1900).