Fuchibotulus haddadi, Lyle, 2013

Lyle, Robin, 2013, A new species of the tracheline genus Fuchibotulus Haddad & Lyle, 2008 (Araneae: Corinnidae), African Invertebrates 54 (1), pp. 245-249 : 246-248

Fuchibotulus haddadi sp. n.

Figs 1–5

Etymology: The species is named after the collector of the type series, C. Haddad.

Diagnosis: Females can be easily recognised by the compact, inverted U-shaped ridges of the copulatory openings, unlike the two previously described species that have less strongly curved ridges. The shape and length of ST II of F. haddadi sp. n. is similar to F. kigelia , but does not extend past the copulatory openings. Male unknown.

Description:

Female:

Measurements (n=4): CL 1.24–1.57, CW 1.01–1.22, AL 1.64–1.80, AW 1.22–1.39, TL 2.89–3.37, FL 0.06–0.10, SL 0.70–0.81, SW 0.70–0.81, AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.21, PME–PME 0.09, PME–PLE 0.12, PLE–PLE 0.42. Length of leg segments (from femur to tarsus, and total): I 0.81+0.44+0.61+0.51+0.38=2.75; II 0.76+0.40+0.56+0.47+0.36=2.55; III 0.68+0.34+0.43+0.49+0.25=2.19; IV 0.88+ 0.42+0.71+0.80+0.29=3.10.

Carapace: Bright to deep orange; slightly rounded with steep decline in last fifth of carapace, highest point at approx. 0.4 carapace length; surface finely granulate with short, fine setae; fovea small, distinct, at 0.8 carapace length; clypeus height equal to AME diameter. Eyes: Black rings around eyes; AER very slightly recurved; lateral eyes slightly larger than median eyes; AME separated by distance slightly larger than their diameter, AME separated from ALE by 0.25 AME diameter; PER strongly recurved; PME separated by their diameter, PME separated from PLE by nearly double PME diameter. Chelicerae: Pale to deep orange; surface granulated with scattered, short and long setae; cheliceral furrow with three promarginal teeth, largest tooth medially; three retromarginal teeth, largest tooth situated proximally to fang, smallest distally. Sternum: Shield-shaped; pale orange to orange, surface texture smooth, covered in short, fine setae; length 1.5× width. Abdomen: Pale to mottled grey with yellow undertones; heartshaped with distinct notch anteriorly, tapering posteriorly; dorsal scutum absent; paired brown sigilla and intermediate sclerites present, varying between specimens, sometimes absent ( Figs 1, 3 ); ventral sclerites on either side of epigyne; surface texture smooth, covered in short, fine setae. Legs: Light brown to orange; all segments covered with short, fine setae; dense scopulae on tarsi and distal part of metatarsi III and IV. Epigyne: Small median hood present, triangular; copulatory openings situated medially in short, inverted U-shaped ridges that are as long as broad ( Figs 2 , 4 ); entrance ducts twisted anteriorly before entering sausage-like ST II, extending posteriorly to approx. ⅔ of epigynal length ( Fig. 4 ); ST I comprises two lateral bilobed receptacles linked to narrow fertilisation ducts ( Fig. 5 ).

Holotype: ♀ SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: 3 km N of Paterson , 33°24.878'S 25°57.531'E, 23.iv.2010, C. Haddad, base of grass tussocks, roadside (TMSA 23763-A). Note : Holotype is the smallest specimen in the series; it is stored in a separate vial from the paratypes.

Paratypes: 3♀ 2 juveniles, same data as holotype (TMSA 23763-B) .

Distribution: Known only from type locality ( Fig. 6 ).

Figures

Figs 1–3. Fuchibotulus haddadi sp. n., female: (1) dorsal habitus; (2) epigyne, ventral view; (3) abdomen with paired sigilla with several pairs of minute intermediate sclerites between them, dorsal view.

Figs 4, 5. Epigyne of Fuchibotulus haddadi sp. n.: (4) ventral view, (5) dorsal view. Scale bar = 0.05 mm.

Fig. 6. The known distribution of the genus Fuchibotulus Haddad & Lyle, 2008 in Southern Africa.