Micariaparvotibialis, Booysen & Haddad, 2021

Booysen, Ruan & Haddad, Charles R., 2021, Revision and molecular phylogeny of the spider genus Micaria Westring, 1851 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in the Afrotropical Region, Zootaxa 4940 (1), pp. 1-82 : 57-58

Micariaparvotibialis sp. nov.

Figs 27 , 69 , 149 – 150

Type material. Holotype: ♂, SENEGAL: Saint Louis Region: Richard Toll , 5–10 km East of Richard Toll, semiarid thorn bush, hand collecting, 16°20’N, 15°30’W, leg. J. Everts, IX.1989 (MRAC 172110).

Paratypes: SENEGAL: Saint Louis Region: same data as holotype but VIII.1989, 2 ♂ (MRAC 172100), with 1 non–type immature .

Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin adjectives parvus (short) and tibialis (concerning the tibia). The name refers to the very short palpal tibia of the male, which is approximately half the length of the cymbium.

Diagnosis. The males of this species can be distinguished from other larger Afrotropical Micaria in having a very short tibia, a small inward slanting MA, the absence of an RTA and a narrow curvature in the sperm duct. The females of this species are unknown.

Description. Male (holotype from Richard Toll, MRAC 172110): Measurements: TL 2.50, CL 1.10, CW 0.70, CL:CW 1.57, CLH 0.06, CLH:AME 1.14. Eyes: ALE 0.05, AME 0.06, PLE 0.06, PME 0.06, AME–AME 0.03, PME–PME 0.06, MOQAW 0.14, MOQPW 0.17, MOQL 0.18. SL 0.56, SW 0.41, AL 1.85, AW 0.65. Leg measurements: Palpal segment lengths: 0.30, 0.16, 0.14, 0.29. Leg I: 0.67, 0.29, 0.58, 0.46, 0.46. II: 0.64, 0.27, 0.54,?,?. III: 0.54, 0.25, 0.43, 0.46, 0.38. IV: 0.62, 0.30, 0.65, 0.65, 0.44. TLoflegs (I–IV): 2.46, 1.45, 2.06, 2.66; leg formula: possibly 4123.

Colouration: carapace dark brown; abdomen dark brown or black; femora darkened; sternum, endites, labium, and chelicerae similar in colour to carapace ( Fig. 27 ). Carapace: smooth in texture; decorated with squamose setae; pattern faded, radiating from middle; posterior margin rounded; anterior margin narrowing slightly from coxa I; PER procurved in dorsal view, AER straight in anterior view; fovea absent. Chelicerae: decorated with plumose setae. Labium: triangular in shape; cluster of setae present on tip. Endites: oblique; serrula present. Sternum: shieldlike; broadest between coxa Iand II; posterior margin narrowly truncating between coxa IV; few long, aculeate setae present. Legs: femora laterally flattened, highest at base, leg Imore pronounced in this fashion; rest of legs normal, thin; decorated with lanceolate setae ( Fig. 69 ). Leg macrosetae: Palps: 1pl, 1do, 1pl, 1pl, 1plv, 3vt. Leg I: 1do, 1pl. II: 1d. III: 1do, 1pl, 1pl, 1plv, 1rlv, 2vt, 1plv, 1rlv, 4vt. IV: 1do, 1rl, 1plv, 2vt, 2plv, 4vt. Legs I–IV with two rows of scopulate setae on metatarsi and four rows on tarsi. Abdomen: cylindrical in shape; decorated with squamose setae; dorsal pattern not visible; venter similar in colour to dorsum; sigilla not visible. Palp: retrolateral tibial apophysis absent; median apophysis present, small, thin, offset from embolus at retroapical edge of bulb; sperm duct present on retrolateral surface of tegulum, curved at midpoint of tegulum, kink at end of duct; cymbium elongate, widest at basal third; apex of cymbium half its length above tegulum; two small spines at cymbial tip; two ventral terminal spines prolaterally in front of embolus ( Figs 149, 150 ).

Distribution. Micaria parvotibialis sp. nov. is only known from its type locality ( Map 5 ).

Figures

MAP 5. The distribution of 13 Micaria species in the Afrotropical Region .

FIGURES 27–36. Stereomicroscope photographs of the dorsal habitus of Afrotropical Micaria species: 27 M. parvotibialis sp. nov. male; 28 M. plana sp. nov. female and 29 male; 30 M. quadrata sp. nov. female; 31 M. quinquemaculosa sp. nov. female and 32 male; 33 M. rivonosy sp. nov. female; 34 M. sanipass sp. nov. male; 35 M. scutellata sp. nov. male; 36 M. tersissima Simon, 1910 male. Scale bars: 1.0 mm.

FIGURES 65–71. Scanning electron microscope images of the lanceolate setae of Micaria: 65 M. basaliducta sp. nov. male, patella I; 66 M. beaufortia (Tucker, 1923) male, palpal tibia; 67 M. bispicula sp. nov. male, patella I; 68 M. koingnaas sp. nov. male, femur I; 69 M. parvotibialis sp. nov. male, tarsus IV; 70 M. plana sp. nov. male, patella I; 71 M. quadrata sp. nov. female, femur IV. Abbreviation: LS—lanceolate setae.

FIGURES 145–150. Genital morphology of Micaria laxa sp. nov. (145, 146), M. mediospina sp. nov. (147, 148) and M. parvotibialis sp. nov. (149, 150): 145, 147, 149 male palp, ventral view; 146, 148, 150 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.