Smeringopus harare, 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 : 57-58

Smeringopus harare new species

Figs. 266–267 , 327–330

Type. Male holotype from Zimbabwe, Harare (17°49’S, 31°05’E), in store room, 28.iv.2004 (M. Cumming), in ZFMK ( Ar 8551 ) .

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. badplaas ) by shapes of bulbal processes ( Figs. 329, 330 ); from other close relatives by absence of process near palpal tarsal organ ( Fig. 327 ), 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 5.9, carapace width 1.8. Leg 1: 10.8 + 0.8 + 10.8, metatarsus damaged, tibia 2: 7.3, tibia 3: 5.6, tibia 4: 7.9; tibia 1 L/d: 58. Habitus similar S. koppies (cf. Figs. 245–246 ). Carapace and abdomen with usual dark pattern but dissolved into many spots, clypeus without dark marks, sternum brown with light marks, legs with barely visible rings subdistally on femora and tibiae. Distance PME-PME 175 µm, diameter PME 140 µm, distance PME-ALE 70 µm, distance AME-AME 35 µm, diameter AME 125 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with very indistinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in S. badplaas (cf. Figs. 314, 315 ; apophyses minimally more detached). Palps as in Figs. 266 and 267 , 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. 327, 328 ), bulb with three distinctively shaped processes ( Figs. 329, 330 ). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs on tibiae and metatarsi 1 and 2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 3%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Only known from type locality in Zimbabwe ( Fig. 299 ).

Material examined. ZIMBABWE: Harare: 1♂ holotype above, together with 1 juv.

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 327–335. Smeringopus harare (327–330) and S. blyde (331–335). 327, 331. Left cymbia and procursi, retrolateral views. 328, 332. Left procursi, prolateral views. 329–330, 333–334. Left bulbal processes, prolateral and dorsal views. 335. 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.

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.