Leptopilos vasivulva, Haddad & Booysen, 2022

Haddad, Charles R. & Booysen, Ruan, 2022, The ground spider genera Leptodrassex Murphy, 2007 and Leptopilos Levy, 2009 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in southern Africa, including the description of a new genus and seven new species, Zootaxa 5194 (1), pp. 1-32 : 28-30

Leptopilos vasivulva sp. nov.

Figures 91, 92 , 131–135

Type material. Holotype ♀: BOTSWANA: North-East: Near Francistown, Selkirk Mine , 21°19.494’S, 27°45.030’E, 30.XI–6.XII.2007, leg. D.H. Jacobs (pitfalls) (NCA 2010/1835).

Paratypes: Together with holotype, 2♂ 3♀ (NCA 2010/1835); Same data as holotype, 1♂ 1♀ (NCA 2009/3027); Same data as holotype but 30.X–6.XI.2007, 3♀ (NCA 2010/642). SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo: Blouberg Nature Reserve , 22°59.332’S, 29°06.397’E, leg. S. Foord & E. Stam (pitfalls, Sclerocarrea birrea), no date, 1♀ (NCA 2009/1779); Vhembe Biosphere Reserve , Baries Farm, 22°28.672’S, 29°24.316’E, 6.XII.2012, leg. C. Schoeman (pitfalls, Musina mopane bushveld), 1♀ (NCA 2015/1240) .

Etymology. The species name is a contraction of the Greek words vasis and vulva, referring to the vase-shaped margins of the female’s epigynal atrium.

Diagnosis. The females of L. vasivulva sp. nov. can be distinguished from congeners by the unique vaseshaped atrium and a single median curved marking on the anterior hood ( Fig. 131 ). Males of L. vasivulva sp. nov. are similar to L. butleri sp. nov., but have longer apical and retrolateral tegular processes and a distally constricted retrolateral tibial apophysis (compare Figs 124 and 125 with Figs 134 and 135 ).

Description. Female (holotype, NCA 2010/1835). Colouration ( Fig. 91 ): carapace and chelicerae creamyyellow; endites and labium creamy-yellow, labium slightly darker; sternum creamy-yellow, margins yellow-brown; femora creamy-yellow, remaining segments pale yellow; abdomen creamy-grey dorsally and ventrally.

Measurements: CL 1.13, CW 0.89, AL 1.90, AW 1.21, TL 3.40. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.09, PME 0.09, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.01, PME–PME 0.06, PME–PLE 0.04, ALE–PLE 0.01. Leg measurements: I 0.92, 0.38, 0.65, 0.62, 0.48 = 3.05; II 0.78, 0.37, 0.54, 0.53, 0.40 = 2.62; III 0.67, 0.35, 0.44, 0.49, 0.32 = 2.27; IV 1.16, 0.44, 0.84, 1.00, 0.33 = 3.77.

Leg spination: femora: I do 1, II do 1, III pl 1 do 2 rl 1, IV pl 1 do 3 rl 1; patellae spineless; tibiae: I and II spineless, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 1, IV pl 2 rl 2 plv 1 vt 2; metatarsi: I and II spineless, III pl 2 rl 1 plv 1 vt 3, IV pl 3 rl 2 plv 1 vt 3; palp: femur do 2, patella spineless, tibia plv 1, tarsus plv 3 rlv 3.

Epigyne with strongly curved hemispherical anterior hood, with small recurved median marking; atrium vase-shaped, broad anteriorly and narrowed posteriorly ( Fig. 131 ); copulatory openings anterolaterally in atrium, longitudinal; copulatory ducts short, initially directed laterally, looping anteriorly, then posteriorly, entering ovoid lateral spermathecae on their anterior margin; fertilization ducts on posterior margin of spermathecae, directed posteriorly ( Fig. 132 ).

Male (paratype, NCA 2010/1835). Colouration ( Fig. 92 ): similar to female, slightly darker.

Measurements: CL 1.05, CW 0.86, AL 1.43, AW 0.84, TL 2.63. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.11, ALE 0.08, PME 0.10, PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.01, PME–PME 0.04, PME–PLE 0.03, ALE–PLE 0.01. Leg measurements: I 0.90, 0.40, 0.76, 0.70, 0.51 = 3.27; II 0.81, 0.37, 0.60, 0.59, 0.43 = 2.80; III 0.66, 0.32, 0.48, 0.50, 0.33 = 2.29; IV 1.16, 0.41, 0.86, 1.02, 0.35 = 3.80.

Leg spination: femora: I do 2, II do 2, III do 2 rl 1, IV pl 1 do 2 rl 1; patellae spineless; tibiae: I and II spineless, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 1, IV pl 2 rl 2 plv 1 vt 2; metatarsi: I and II spineless, III pl 2 rl 1 plv 1 vt 3; IV pl 2 rl 2 plv 1 vt 3; palp: femur pl 1 do 3, patella spineless, tibia with several long ventral setae, tarsus with several distal setae ventrally.

Palpal tibia slightly longer than broad, broadened distally, without prolateral apophysis, with single triangular retrolateral apophysis with constricted tip ( Fig. 135 ); tegulum ovoid, with slender, gradually curved median apophysis with hooked tip ( Fig. 134 ); embolus very slender, originating proximally and entering groove in membranous conductor, continuing along prolateral margin in S-shaped groove ( Fig. 133 ), before entering groove in apical tegular process, partly hidden behind retrolateral tegular apophysis.

Additional material examined. ZIMBABWE: Bulawayo, Hillside , 20°10’S, 28°35’E, VI.1999, leg. M. FitzPatrick, 11♂ 14♀ (NMZ/ A16735 ) ; Same locality, VIII.1999, leg. M. FitzPatrick, 6 imm. 6♂ 14♀ (NMZ/ A16718) ; Same locality, III–IV.1999, leg. M. FitzPatrick (pitfall traps), 2 imm. 2♂ 11♀ (NMZ/A14033) .

Variation. Total length: females 2.80–3.60 (average 3.23, n = 9); males 2.15–2.80 (average 2.53, n = 3).

Habitat and biology. All nine examined females (100%) from South Africa had plugged epigynes. This species was only recorded from pitfall traps in savanna habitats.

Distribution. Only known from a small area in northern Limpopo Province, South Africa, and south-western Zimbabwe, and south-eastern Botswana ( Fig. 136 ).

Figures

FIGURE 136. Distribution of Leptopilos butleri sp. nov. (circles), L. digitus sp. nov. (triangles) and L. vasivulva sp. nov. (stars) in southern Africa.

FIGURES 87–92. Dorsal habitus of Leptopilos species: 87, 88. L. butleri sp. nov. female (87) and male (88); 89, 90. L. digitus sp. nov. female (89) and male (90); 91, 92. L. vasivulva sp. nov. female (91) and male (92). Scale bars = 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 131–135. Leptopilos vasivulva sp. nov., female epigyne in ventral (131) and dorsal (132) views, and male palp in prolateral (133), ventral (134) and retrolateral (135) views. Abbreviations: ATP—anterior tegular process; E—embolus; MA—median apophysis; RTP—retrolateral tegular process. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 121–125. Leptopilos butleri sp. nov., female epigyne in ventral (121) and dorsal (122) views, and male palp in prolateral (123), ventral (124) and retrolateral (125) views. Abbreviations: ATP—anterior tegular process; E—embolus; MA— median apophysis; RTP—retrolateral tegular process. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.