Smeringopus badplaas, Huber, 2012

HUBER, BERNHARD A., 2012, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Afrotropical endemic genus Smeringopus Simon, 1890 (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 3461 (1), pp. 1-138 : 53-54

Smeringopus badplaas new species

Figs. 260–261 , 282–283 , 310–316

Type. Male holotype from South Africa, Mpumalanga, Badplaas (25°57.0’S, 30°34.0’E), 1100 m a.s.l., at night, litter under riparian trees, 26.–29.iii.2001 (D. & S. Ubick), in CAS (9027106 part) .

Etymology. The name is a noun in apposition, derived from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners (other species of the natalensis group, especially S. natalensis , S. florisbad , S. lesnei , S. blyde , S. koppies , S. harare ) by shapes of bulbal processes ( Figs. 312, 313 ); from other close relatives by absence of process near palpal tarsal organ ( Fig. 310 ), relatively straight procursus (ventrally), absence of prolateral process on procursus tip, and three black lines ventrally on abdomen (versus two).

Male (holotype). Total body length 5.7, carapace width 1.8. Leg 1: 42.5 (11.2 + 0.8 + 10.8 + 18.0 + 1.7), tibia 2: 7.2, tibia 3: 5.3, tibia 4: 7.6; tibia 1 L/d: 58. Habitus similar S. koppies (cf. Figs. 245, 246 ). Carapace ochreyellow with distinct dark pattern (median, lateral, and submarginal marks), clypeus with pair of dark marks widening distally, sternum brown with light marks, legs with indistinct dark rings subdistally on femora and tibiae, tips of femora and tibiae black, abdomen dorsally with distinct dark pattern, ventrally with three dark lines in median part (median line narrow but distinct). Distance PME-PME 150 µm, diameter PME 140 µm, distance PME-ALE 60 µm, distance AME-AME 35 µm, diameter AME 130 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with very indistinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in Figs. 314 and 315 ; with pair of distal apophyses. Palps as in Figs. 260 and 261 , coxa without retrolateral apophysis, trochanter barely modified, femur with retrolateral furrow with distinct rim proximally, cymbium without projection near tarsal organ, procursus ventrally almost straight, without prolateral process at tip ( Figs. 310, 311 ), bulb with three distinctively shaped processes ( Figs. 312, 313 ). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs ventrally on tibiae and metatarsi 1 and 2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 2%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1.

Variation. Tibia 1 in 4 other males: 11.3, 11.5, 12.0, 16.1.

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 2 females: 11.1 (both). Epigynum a simple plate without pockets ( Fig. 282 ), not clearly distinguishable from close relatives ( S. natalensis , S. florisbad , S. lesnei , S. blyde , S. koppies , S. harare ); internal genitalia as in Figs. 283 and 316 (also similar to close relatives).

Distribution. Known from several localities in northeastern South Africa ( Fig. 299 ).

Material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Mpumalanga: Badplaas : 1♂ holotype above; same data, 1♂ 2♀ 4 juvs. in CAS (9027106 part) . Limpopo: Oudestad, Groblersdal [25°10’S, 29°24’E], “Blok VII, Katoenland”, 28.ii.1980 (M. Stiller) , 1♂ 1 juv. in NCP (81/419). Kruger Nat. Park, Pafuri area [22°26’S, 31°18’E], hollow, cracks between rocks, 14.x.1995 (A. Leroy) , 1♂ 1 juv. in NCP (98/403). Thabazimbi [24°34’S, 27°25’E], in barn in dark corner, 18.iv.1987 (R. Vos) , 1♂ in NCP (91/218). Makalali (24°09’S, 30°42’E), ii.–xii.1999 (C. Whitmore) , 1♂ in DNSM (477).

Figures

FIGURE 299. Known distribution of the natalensis group except S. natalensis (cf. Fig. 298). Squares: further undescribed species.

FIGURES 256–267. Smeringopus natalensis group, left male palps, prolateral and retrolateral views. 256–257. S. natalensis. 258–259. S. koppies. 260–261. S. badplaas. 262–263. S. florisbad. 264–265. S. lesnei. 266–267. S. harare.

FIGURES 278–297. Smeringopus natalensis group, epigyna, ventral views and cleared female genitalia, dorsal views. 278–279. S. natalensis. 280–281. S. koppies. 282–283. S. badplaas. 284–285. S. florisbad. 286–287. S. lesnei. 288–289. S. blyde. 290–291. S. hanglip. 292–293. S. lydenberg. 294–295. S. mlilwane. 296–297. S. ndumo.

FIGURES 310–316. Smeringopus badplaas. 310. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 311. Left procursus, prolateral view. 312–313. Left bulbal processes, prolateral and dorsal views. 314–315. Male chelicerae, frontal and lateral views. 316. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.

FIGURES 243–255. Smeringopus natalensis group, habitus and male prosomata, oblique frontal views. 243–244. S. natalensis, male, dorsal and ventral views. 245–246. S. koppies, male, dorsal and ventral views. 247–248. S. hanglip, male, dorsal and ventral views. 249–250. S. lydenberg, female, dorsal and ventral views. 251. S. natalensis. 252. S. blyde. 253. S. hanglip. 254. S. lydenberg. 255. S. mlilwane.