Stasimopus maraisi male description

(Figs 3G, 7D, 12B, 13D, 40, 41)

Material examined: Ô SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape Province, Williston (-31.7863, 20.7857), 19.v.2018, S. Brandt, C. Sole, E. Engelbrecht and E. Brand, (NCA 2019/630) .

Diagnosis: The males of S. maraisi are distinguishable from other members of the genus occurring in the Karoo based on the following combination of characters. The main distinguishing feature is that S. maraisi has a carapace which is smooth in texture, whereas other species are more rugose. Further differentiation can be made from S. astutus, S. erythrognathus, S. malesociatus sp. nov., S. patersonae, S. steynsbergensis, S. karooensis sp. nov. and S. mandelai based on the pedipalp not reaching the tarsus of leg I. Distinguished from S. palpiger as the pedipalp is longer than leg I, which S. maraisi is not.

Description: ♀: The female description is available in Hewitt 1914. Based on a Ô (NCA 2019/630).

Remarks: Ô: The original male described in Hewitt 1927 pg. 425–426 was found to not be a genetic match for the characters describing the female holotype for the species. For this reason, the male that does match genetically is described here.

General: Ô: (Fig 7D) Medium bodied spider, 8.46 total length.

Carapace: Ô: Carapace length 3.86; width 3.46. Orange yellow colouration, smooth in texture. Fovea procurved, 0.85 in length.

Ocelli: Ô: (Fig 3G, 12B) AME diameter 0.18, PME diameter 0.13, MOQ anterior width 1.11, MOQ posterior width 1.34; AME-AME 0.16, AME-ALE 0.10, ALE-ALE 0.69, PME-PME 0.73, PME-PLE 0.11, PLE-PLE 1.15 AER strongly recurved, PER also recurved.

Chelicerae: Ô: (Fig 13D) Two teeth rows present, 3 teeth in proventral row, 4 in retroventral row. 5–6 cuspules between rows.

Sternum, labium and maxillae: Ô: (Fig 40C) Sternum length 2.21; sternum width 1.93. Sternum shape has shallow impressions of where the coxa are situated. Sigilla in the shape of fused arrow, distal end fused, proximal end 0.93 apart. Cuspules on labium absent; maxilla cuspules absent.

Abdomen: Ô: Abdomen length 4.61; width 3.10. Light grey colouration with dark bands. Large dark patch proximally covering 1/3 total abdomen dorsally, followed by 4 smaller dark bands which are lighter in the middle.

Pedipalps: Ô: (Fig 40A, B) Total length 15.32; Segment lengths 1.34, 5.15, 4.22, -, 4.61. Spination: spines absent. Bulb oval, embolus elongated tapering into sharp point, curving posteriorly.

Legs: Ô: Length order: I, IV, II, III. I Total length 17.76; Segment lengths 5.31, 2.29, 4.40, 3.97, 1.79; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella do - 1 small spine, v - 4 spines distally (slightly rl). Tibia v (Fig 40D)- 12 large spines extending rl, only on distal half. Metatarsus v (Fig 40D)- 17 large spines extending pl & rl. Tarsus v (Fig 40D)- scopulate. II Total length 15.10; Segment lengths 4.52, 2.02, 3.59, 3.24, 1.73; Spination: Femur 4 randomly scattered spines. Spines absent on patella. Tibia v - 11 large spines extending rl. Metatarsus v - 18 large spines, extending pl & rl. Tarsus v - scopulate. III Total length 11.56; Segment lengths 3.10, 1.63, 1.37, 3.31, 2.16; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella do - 8 small spines along surface, rl - 6 spines. Tibia pl - 1 spine, do - 6–8 spines distally, v - 2 spines. Metatarsus pl - 3 red spines, v (Fig 40E)- 4 spines, rl - 2 spines. Tarsus pl & rl - 2–3 spines on either edge, v (Fig 40E)- 7 small spines, dense setae covering spines. IV Total length 16.63; Segment lengths 4.39, 1.87, 3.43, 4.40, 2.55; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella do - short dense red spines proximally (approx. 30), less dense distally, interspersed with fine black setae. Tibia v (Fig 40F)- 1 small spine. Metatarsus pl - 5–6 spines, v (Fig 40F)- 8 spines, rl - 1 spine distally. Tarsus pl - 4–5 spines, v (Fig 40F)- 9 spines (extend pl), rl - 1 spine distally.

Distribution and environment notes:

This species is widely distributed across the Karoo region, mostly in the Western and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa as seen in Figure 41. The species occurs in a range of soil and vegetation types. The soil types include clay, loam, sand and occasionally silt, but the specimens were most often found in clay or loam soils. All the specimens were collected on open plains near to drainage lines. In these areas the vegetation was mostly low shrubs, with grasses present at few sites .

4. Discussion