Stenaelurillus brandbergensis (Wesołowska, 2006) comb. nov.

Figs 90–104, 511

Mashonarus brandbergensis Wesołowska, 2006: 239, figs 63–77 (D♂ ♀); the ♂ holotype in the State Museum of Namibia (Windhoek), not examined; the paratypes in MRAC, examined.

Diagnosis

By the conformation of the copulatory organs (the well-marked proximal projection of the functional tegulum, the stiletto-shaped embolus and the developed cymbial lateral projection, etc.), S. brandbergensis comb. nov. is most similar to S. guttatus comb. nov. and S. pseudoguttatus sp. nov. (cf. Figs 90–94 and 416–420). The males of S. brandbergensis comb. nov. differ in having the RTA visibly directed ventrad (distad in the related species) and the distal projection wide and obtuse (pointed in S. guttatus comb. nov., absent in S. pseudoguttatus sp. nov.). The females differ in having very short insemination ducts (long in S. guttatus comb. nov., not yet known in S. pseudoguttatus sp. nov.; Fig. 100). Besides, both sexes of S. brandbergensis comb. nov. can easily be distinguished from all species of Stenaelurillus, except for S. marusiki from Iran (see Logunov 2001b: fig. 30), by the presence of a pair of wide, longitudinal white stripes on the dorsum (Figs 96, 102).

Material examined

Paratypes

NAMIBIA: 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, Brandberg, Hungarob Ravine, NE side, 21°13′ S, 14°31′ E, 1200 m a.s.l., 3–13 Nov. 1998, A. Kirk-Spriggs leg. (MRAC 216.021).

Other material

NAMIBIA: 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀, Khomas Region, Windhoek, Us Pass Road, 22°33′39.2″ S, 17°03′56.9″ E, 13 Nov. 1974, S. Endrödy-Younga leg. (TMSA 21541).

Remarks

We have been unable to borrow the holotype of this species, because it was impossible to post them to us from Namibia. Therefore, the present diagnosis and redescription are based on the paratypes of Mashonarus brandbergensis retained at the MRAC (216.021).

Description

Male (paratype)

Measurements: carapace: 2.15 long, 1.55 wide, 1.05 high. Abdomen: 2.15 long, 1.35 wide. Ocular area: 1.08 long, 1.28 wide anteriorly, 1.20 wide posteriorly. Cheliceral length 0.68. Clypeal height 0.13. Diameter of AME 0.38. Length of leg segments: I 1.30 + 0.65 + 0.88 + 0.73 + 0.48 (4.04); II 1.25 + 0.65 + 0.73 + 0.65 + 0.38 (3.66); III 1.53 + 0.78 + 0.93 + 1.15 + 0.45 (4.84); IV 1.35 + 0.63 + 0.95 + 1.25 + 0.50 (4.68). Leg formula III,IV,I,II. Leg spination: I: Fm d 0-1-1-4; Tb pr 1-1, v 1-1-2ap; Mt pr 1ap, v 2-2ap. II: Fm d 0-1-1-5; Tb pr 1-1, v 1-1-2ap; Mt pr 1-1ap, rt 1ap, v 2-2ap. III: Fm d 0-1-2-4; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb d 1-0-0, pr and rt 1-1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt d 0-1-0, pr and rt 1-0-2ap, v 0-2-2ap. IV: Fm d 0-1- 1-3; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb d 1-1-0, pr and rt 1-1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt pr 1-1-2ap, rt 2-1-2ap, v 0-1-1-2ap. Coloration (in alcohol; Figs 95–98). Carapace brown, with black eye field, densely covered with long brown recumbent scales; there are two white longitudinal stripes of scales; clypeus light brown, sparsely covered with long white hairs. Sternum yellowish brown, densely covered with white hairs. Labium and endites yellow, tinged with brown. Chelicerae yellow, tinged with brown. Abdomen: dorsum dark brown, with a pair of white spots at its anterior margin and a large V-shaped white figure on its rear half; sides and venter yellow. Book-lung covers yellow. Spinnerets brownish. Legs: coxae and trochanters I yellow, with brown anterior sides; coxae and trochanters II-IV yellow; Fm I dark brown anteriorly and yellow posteriorly, Pt and Tb I dark brown, Mt and Tr I brownish yellow; Fm II-IV yellow, with brown tips, the remaining segments of legs II-IV yellow, with brownish (semi)rings and patches. Palps brown, but its Pt and the tips of Tb dorsally densely covered with white scales. Palpal structure as in Figs 90–94: VTA bulge-shaped; RTA straight, stiletto-shaped, directed antero-ventrad; the cymbium simple, with a poorly-marked cymbial lateral process; the tegulum small, poorly marked, without a tegular process; the functional tegulum narrow-elongated, with well-developed proximal (PP) and distal (DP) projections, both being wide and obtuse; the embolus stiletto-shaped, with a wide round base.

Female (paratype)

Measurements: carapace: 2.00 long, 1.45 wide, 0.85 high. Abdomen: 2.00 long, 1.40 wide. Ocular area: 0.95 long, 1.15 wide anteriorly, 1.13 wide posteriorly. Cheliceral length 0.50. Clypeal height 0.18. Diameter of AME 0.38. Length of leg segments: I 1.08 + 0.53 + 0.68 + 0.50 + 0.38 (3.17); II 1.03 + 0.55 + 0.60 + 0.50 + 0.30 (2.98); III 1.40 + 0.70 + 0.80 + 1.05 + 0.45 (4.40); IV 1.30 + 0.55 + 0.90 + 1.15 + 0.55 (4.45). Leg formula IV,III, I,II. Leg spination: I: Fm d 0-1-1-4; Tb pr 1-1, v 1-2-2ap; Mt v 2-2ap. II: Fm d 0-1-1-4; Tb pr 1-0, v 1-1-2ap; Mt pr 1-1ap, v 2-2ap. III: Fm d 0-1-2-4; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb d 1-0, pr and rt 1-1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt d 1-1-0, pr and rt 1-0-2ap, v 0-1-2ap. IV: Fm d 0-1-1-3; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb d 1-0-0, pr and rt 1-1-1, v 1-2ap; Mt d 1-0-0, pr and rt 1-1-2ap, v 1-1-2ap. Coloration (in alcohol; Figs 101–104) as in the male, but differs as follows: white stripes on the carapace wider and longer, dorsum of the abdomen with two subparallel white stripes (no white spots), and legs I are identical to others, yellow with brownish (semi)rings and patches. Epigyne and spermathecae as in Figs 99–100: the

epigynal plate flat, with no visible structures; the copulatory openings small, poorly visible and widely separated; the insemination ducts very short, directed towards each other and forming bean-shaped structures with the primary spermathecae.

Distribution

A few close localities around the Brandberg massif in Namibia (Fig. 511) (Wesołowska 2006).