Pseudomicrommata longipes ( Bösenberg & Lenz, 1895 )

Moradmand, Majid, 2015, Revision of the grass huntsman spider genus Pseudomicrommata Järvi, 1914 (Araneae: Sparassidae) in the Afrotropical Region, African Invertebrates 56 (2), pp. 425-425 : 429-433

Pseudomicrommata longipes ( Bösenberg & Lenz, 1895)

Figs 1 , 3–14

Micrommata longipes BÖsenberg & Lenz, 1895: 34, pl. 1, fig. 11 (♂ holotype: East Africa [exact locality not clear], 31.i.1896, leg. S.F. Stuhlmann, ZMH – examined); Lessert 1936: 271, figs 68–69.

Pseudomicrommata vittigera ( Simon, 1897) : JÄrvi 1914: 49, 162, pl. 3, figs 4–6, 40 (material from Kenya,

misidentified); Lawrence 1942: 168 (in part, misidentification).

Pseudomicrommata longipes ( Bösenberg & Lenz, 1895) : Levy 1989: 163; JÄger & Kunz 2005: 168, figs

255–258, 262–267.

Diagnosis: Males with diagnostic EA, which in ventral view is narrow proximally, widened medially and bifurcated distally ( Figs 3, 5 , 14 ). Females can be recognised (especially in comparison with closely similar P. vittigera ) by the vulva equipped with several glandular pores (GPO) ( Figs 9, 10 , 12 ) and sTL extending beyond fTL laterally in dorsal view ( Figs 9 , 12 ).

Redescription:

Male (ranges: n=11, single measurements: holotype).

Measurements: Medium sized; total length 10.9–12.9, total length of holotype: 11.3, prosoma length 5.1–5.5, prosoma width 4.2–4.7, anterior width of prosoma 2.3–2.6, opisthosoma length 5.8–7.4, opisthosoma width 2.3–3.0. Eye diameters: AME 0.22, ALE 0.31, PME 0.24, PLE 0.30; eye interdistances:AME–AME 0.15, AME–ALE 0.09, PME–PME 0.40, PME–PLE 0.30, AME–PME 0.75, ALE–PLE 0.42, clypeus height at AME 0.17, clypeus height at ALE 0.28.

Chelicerae: With 2 anterior and 3 posterior teeth (first two larger than the third one) ( Fig. 7 ).

Legs: Leg formula: IV II I III. Palp 6.6 [2.6, 1.1, 0.5, 2.4], I 21.7 [6.1, 2.6, 5.2, 5.7, 2.1], II 23.8 [7.0, 2.8, 6.1, 5.9, 2.0], III 21.5 [6.2, 3.2, 5.0, 5.1, 2.0], IV 23.3 [7.1, 2.4, 5.8, 5.9, 2.1].

Spination: Palp 131, 001/101, 1211; Legs: Femur I–III 323, IV 321/322; Patella I–IV 000/101; Tibia I–IV 2126 /2226; Metatarsus I–III 2024, IV 3036.

Palp: As in diagnosis, with dRTA pointed and vRTA rounded at distal end in ventral view ( Fig. 3 ), both with the same length ( Figs 3, 4 ); cymbium more than 2 times longer than tibia ( Fig. 4 ).

Female (ranges: n=20, single measurements: MRAC 211305 from Tanzania).

Measurements: Medium sized; total length 15.3–18.3, prosoma length 5.8–6.5, prosoma width 4.7–5.1, anterior width of prosoma 2.8–3.1, opisthosoma length 9.5–11.8, opisthosoma width 4.1–6.0. Eye diameters:AME 0.34, ALE 0.48, PME 0.44, PLE 0.46; eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.21, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.56, PME–PLE 0.37, AME–PME 0.85, ALE–PLE 0.52, clypeus AME 0.27, clypeus ALE 0.38.

Chelicerae: As in males.

Legs: Leg formula: IV II I III. Measurements of palp and legs. Palp 6.9 [2.0, 1.1, 1.3, 2.5], I 19.8 [6.5, 3.0, 4.9, 5.0, 2.0], II 21.4 [6.5, 3.0, 4.9, 5.0, 2.0], III 19.0 [6.0, 2.7, 4.3, 4.4, 1.6], IV 21.8 [6.7, 2.6, 5.2, 5.6, 1.8].

Spination: Palp 131, 001/101, 1013; Legs: Femur I–III 323, IV 321/322; Patella I–IV 000/101; Tibia I–IV 1016 /2026; Metatarsus I–III 0004/1014/2024, IV 3036.

Epigyne/vulva: As in diagnosis ( Figs 8–13 ), with AMP slightly longer than PMP (for more details the genus redescription).

Other material examined: BOTSWANA: Palapaye , 23.xii.1980, leg. P. Reavell, on herbs, 1♂ ( NCA 81 /82) . KENYA: Eastern Prov.: Kibwezi , 23–24.xii.1905, leg. K.P. Scheffler, grassland steppes, 2♂ 5♀ 5 imm. ( ZMB 31331 ) . NAMIBIA: Kunene: Annabis Farm , 20°00'S, 14°38'E, 23–24.ii.1969, leg. B. Lamoral & R. Day, with egg sac attached to grass, 1♀ ( NMSA 11526 ) . SOUTH AFRICA: Free State Prov.: Brandfort district, Amanzi Private Game Reserve , 28°36.042'S 26°25.791'E, 17.xii.2010, leg. C. Haddad & V. Butler, canopy fogging, Olea europea africana , canopy height 8 m, 10:00 am, 1♀ (SD742, SMF); same locality, 28°35.435'S, 26°26.157'E, 1425 m, 25.x.2011, leg. C. Haddad, 1♂ (SD1117, SMF) . Gauteng Prov.: Roodeplaat Dam , 20.xi.1991, leg. A. Leroy, in grass, 1♀ ( NCA 92 /164) . KwaZulu-Natal Prov.: Maritzburg (= Pietermaritzburg ), ii.1945, 4♀ ( NMSA 4309 ) ; Ndumo Game Reserve, 26°54.425'S 32°19.191'E, 11.ii.2005, post AFRAS 2005 excursion, leg. D. Kunz, 1♀ (DK323, SMF); same data as previous but 26°53.025'S 32°10.050'E, 8.ii.2005, 1♀ (DK298, SMF); same data as previous but 26°54.425'S 32°19.191'E, 5.ii.2005, 1♂ (DK269, SMF); Ndumo Game Reserve , 28.xi.1973, 1♂ ( NMSA 20171 ) ; Pietermaritzburg, Ashburton , 27.i.1982, under brick in Acacia karroo veld, 1♂ ( NMSA 20170 ) ; Nyala Game Reserve , 12.xii.1980, in dense grass at side of path, 1♀ ( NMSA 20171 ) ; Zululand, Mfongosi , ii.1918, leg. W.E. Gonzo, 1♀ (misidentified as Micrommata vittigera, Lawrence det.) ( SAMC B4023 ) . Limpopo Prov.: Tuinplaas, Springbokvlakte, Settlers ( Tweekaansen ), 19.xii.2002, leg. M. van Jaarsveld, 1♂ ( NCA 2003 /1322); Nylsvley Nature Reserve , 6.iii.1998, leg. J. Leeming, on grass, sweep net, 1♀ ( NCA 98 /570); Farm Rochdale, between Waterpoort and Louis Trichardt IV, slopes of Soutpansberg, 4.xii.1998, leg. W. Croucamp, 1♀ ( NCA 2001 /308) . North West Prov.: Barberspan , xii.1990, leg. K. Morgan, in passage of house, 1♂ ( NCA 91 /812); same data as previous but 2.ii.1991, 1♀ ( NCA 91 /813) . TANZANIA: Mkomazi Game Reserve, Igire Ridge , 15.iii.1995, leg. A. Russell-Smith, grassland, 2♂ 1♀ ( MRAC 211305 ) .

Known geographical distribution: Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, South Africa and Namibia ( Fig. 40 ).

Remarks: For a long time P. longipes was thought to be the only species of Pseudomicrommata widespread in tropical Africa. Recent molecular investigation ( Moradmand et al. 2014) revealed a clue, that in spite of similarity in morphology between species in South Africa and Guinea (in particular females), considerable genetic distance can be observed (see Moradmand et al. 2014: fig. 3).

Figures

Figs 1–2. (1) Habitus of Pseudomicrommata longipes (Bösenberg & Lenz, 1895) from Ellisras, South Africa; (2) grasslands, the common habitat of Pseudomicrommata spp., in Ellisras, South Africa. Photos by Peter Webb.

Figs 3–7.Pseudomicrommata longipes (Bösenberg & Lenz,1895),male,Tanzania (MRAC):(3–5) left palp: (3) ventral view,(4) retrolateralview and (5) tipof embolus,embolic apophysisand conductor,ventral view; (6) eye arrangement; (7) left chelicera, ventral view. Abbreviations: C – conductor; dRTA – dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis;E – embolus; EA – embolic apophysis; EM – embolus membrane; ET – embolus tip; H – haematodocha; T – tegulum; vRTA – ventral retrolateral tibial apophysis.

Figs8–10.Pseudomicrommata longipes (Bösenberg &Lenz, 1895),female,Tanzania(MRAC):(8) epigyne, ventral view; (9) vulva, dorsal view; (10) left vulva, anterio-dorso-lateral view.Abbreviations:AMP – anterior margin of epigynal pocket; CD – copulatory duct;CO – copulatoryopening; EF – epigynal field; EP – epigynal pocket; FD – fertilization duct; fTL – first turning loop; GPO – glandular pores; LL – lateral lobes; MS – median septum; PMP – posterior margin of epigynal pocket; SS – slit sensillum; sTL – second turning loop.

Figs 11–14. Pseudomicrommata longipes (Bösenberg & Lenz, 1895), (11–13) female, Barberspan, South Africa (NCA) and (14) male, Brandfort, SouthAfrica (SMF):(11) epigyne, ventral view; (12) vulva, dorsal view; (13) schematic course of internal ductsystem;(14) tipof embolus,embolic apophysis and conductor,ventral view.Abbreviation:AB – anterior bandsof epigynal field;for others see Figs 8–10.

Fig. 40. Currently known distribution of Pseudomicrommata species.