Scelidocteus taitave Oketch & Li, 2020

Oketch, Ambata D., Zonstein, Sergei, Kioko, Esther N. & Li, Shuqiang, 2020, Description of a new genus and three new species of the family Palpimanidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from Kenya, African Invertebrates 61 (2), pp. 93-106 : 93

Scelidocteus taitave Oketch & Li sp. nov. Figs 3 , 4

Type material.

Holotype ♂, Kenya, Taita Taveta County, Taita Hills, Mbololo Forest, 30°26.85'E, 03°20.36'S, 1631 m, 2.VIII.2018, Ambata Oketch leg. Paratypes 1 ♂, 2 ♀, same data as holotype.

Etymology.

The specific name is a combination of Taita and Taveta, the county from which the specimens were collected; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

Males of this species differ from those of other members of Scelidocteus by the uniquely spiral-shaped embolus (Fig. 3C-E cf. Pocock 1903, fig. 3; de Lessert 1930, fig. 4; Jézéquel 1964, figs 2A, B, 4a, b). Females of S. taitave sp. nov. differ from those of other species by the structure of the endogyne; the orientation of sac-like receptacles (touching medially, with a space below them) mounted on oval, membranous receptive chambers and the outline of a rigid extension of the posterior wall of the epigastric fold (Fig. 4C, D ; Jézéquel 1964, figs 1, 3).

Description.

Male. Fig. 3A, B . Total body length 3.90. Color in alcohol: carapace and chelicerae orange-red, legs I, endites, sternum and labium orange, legs II-IV lighter, yellowish. Carapace 1.88 long, 1.50 wide at leg II, oval in dorsal view, finely granulate, cephalic part slightly elevated behind eye area. Thoracic fovea a longitudinal, deep slit, approximately 0.10 long. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.06, PLE 0.06, PME 0.06, AME-AME 0.05, AME-ALE 0.08, PME-PME 0.09, AME-PLE 0.04, ALE-PLE <0.01, PLE-PME 0.24. AER slightly procurved, almost straight, PER strongly recurved. Chelicerae flattened anteriorly towards the fangs, 1.60 long, cheliceral furrow with several peg-like teeth. Stridulatory mound absent. Clypeus approximately 2 times shorter than length of chelicerae. Sternum 1.09 long, 0.86 wide at leg II; shield shaped, rebordered, finely granulate. Endites almost D-shaped, labium notch 0.13 long, about a quarter of labium length. Leg I: coxa, patella and tibia possess dark, thorn-like outgrowths and well developed prolateral scopula on tibia and metatarsus. Tarsus I with weakly developed scopula. Leg and palp measurements as in Table 2. Abdomen oval with short, grey setae, dorsal portion of epigastric scutum very small, pedicel short, spinnerets short and unsegmented. Palp (Fig. 3C-E ): tibia, as long as wide, approximately 2.5 times wider than femur. Cymbium long and thin, tapering distally. “Conductor” bifurcate; embolus long and spiral, obscuring some parts of tegulum. Embolus ends with a bleached, claw-like structure at apex.

Female. General appearance as in Fig. 4A, B . Coloration as in male. Total length 4.88. Carapace 2.19 long, 1.72 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.06, PLE 0.06, PME 0.06, AME-AME 0.05, ALE-AME 0.08, ALE-PLE < 0.01, PLE-PME 0.20, PME-PME 0.7. Sternum 1.25 long, 1.00 wide, labium 0.5 long, 0.44 wide at the base, labium notch 1/3 length of labium. Vulva with fine, thread-like structures and 3 pairs of stalked, grape-shaped glands attached to a pair of relatively ovate and membranous receptive chambers.

Distribution.

This species is currently known only from the type locality.

Figures

Figure 3. Scelidocteus taitave sp. nov., male holotype A, B dorsal and ventral habitus respectively C-E palp: C prolateral D ventral E retrolateral aspects. Abbreviations: am - accompanying membrane, cl - claw like extension, co - " conductor ", em - embolus, cy - cymbium rt - retrolateral thorns, sco scopula. Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B), 0.2 mm (C-E).

Figure 4. Scelidocteus taitave sp. nov., female paratype A, B habitus C endogyne ventral D same, ventral E same, enlarged F leg I. Abbreviations: ch - receptive chamber, Ft - fine threads, Gr - grape-shaped glands, Re - rigid extensions of posterior wall of epigastric fold, Sr - sac like receptacle. Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B).