Capobula infima ( Simon, 1896a ) Haddad & Jin & Platnick & Booysen, 2021

Haddad, Charles R., Jin, Chi, Platnick, Norman I. & Booysen, Ruan, 2021, Capobula gen. nov., a new Afrotropical dark sac spider genus related to Orthobula Simon, 1897 (Araneae: Trachelidae), Zootaxa 4942 (1), pp. 41-71 : 54-56

Capobula infima ( Simon, 1896a) comb. nov.

Figs 5, 6 , 11–53 , 59–64

Orthobula infima Simon, 1896a: 402 (Description of juvenile in generic nomen nudum; holotype juvenile: “Prom. Bonae Spei” {per original description, “ Cap!” on label}, = Cape of Good Hope , MNHN 16457 ; examined).

Remarks. This species was described from a juvenile specimen from the Cape of Good Hope (Prom. Bonae Spei), i.e. the vicinity of modern-day Cape Town. Only a single species of Capobula has been sampled from this part of the Western Cape, and these specimens are presented here as the previously undescribed adults of C. infima comb. nov.

Additional material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: Brenton-on-Sea , 34°04’S, 23°02’E, 17.XI.1998, leg. H.G. Robertson (butterfly site, Winkler sample #4), 1♀ ( SAMC ENW-C006112 ) ; Same locality, 19.XI.1998, leg. H.G. Robertson (forest site, Winkler sample #6), 1♀ ( SAMC ENW-C006114 ) ; Same locality, 23.XI.1998, leg. H.G. Robertson (Old Strandveld site, Winkler sample #16), 1♀ ( SAMC ENW-C006115 ) ; Cape Flats Nature Reserve [33°56’S, 18°37’E], III.1993, leg. A. Fortuin & M. Hendricks (pitfalls), 1♀ ( SAMC C3217 ) ; Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve, Olifantsbos nr Skaife Centre , Teeberg , Strandveld Mountain , 34°15.76’S, 18°23.13’E, X.1998, leg. H.G. Robertson (Winkler bag leaf litter, fynbos ecotone-dense bush), 1♀ ( SAMC ENW- C005373 ), 1♀ ( SAMC ENW-C005374 ) ; Same locality, X.1998, leg. H.G. Robertson (Winkler bag leaf litter, mesic mountain fynbos), 1♀ ( SAMC ENW-C005371 ), 2♀ ( SAMC ENW-C005372 ) ; Same locality, Smitswinkelvlakte , 34°15.6’S, 18°27.6’E, X.1998, leg. H.G. Robertson (Winkler bag leaf litter, mesic mountain fynbos on low-lying flat land), 1♂ (SAM-ENW-C005375) ; Cape Town, Robben Island [33°48’S, 18°22’E], 20.VIII.2004, leg. University of Cape Town (open range), 1♀ ( NCA 2005 /2001) ; De Hoop Nature Reserve , De Hoop Vlei, 34°29.425’S, 20°25.762’E, 8. IV.2004, leg. C. Haddad (milkwood leaf litter), 5♂ 14♀ ( NCA 2008 /1903) ; Same locality, Koppie Alleen , 34°28.534’S, 20°30.349’E, 5. IV.2004, leg. C. Haddad, 1♀ ( SAMC ENW-C005351 ) ; Same locality, Lekkerwater road, 34°24.002’S, 20°33.151’E, 26.IX.2007, leg. C. Haddad (under Thamnochortis), 1♀ ( NCA 2007 /3654) ; Same locality, Potberg , Eucalyptus forest 34°22.237’S, 20°32.482’E, 8. IV.2004, leg. C. Haddad (leaf litter and creepers), 3♂ 2♀ ( MHBU) ; Same data as previous but hand collecting, 2♂ 4♀ ( MHBU) ; Fernkloof Nature Reserve, 2.81 km 43º NE of Hermanus, 34°23.677’S, 19°15.967’E, 97 m a.s.l., 12.X.2011, leg. L. Almeida (hand sorting of concentrated leaf litter from fynbos and riparian vegetation), 2♀ ( CAS, CASENT 9043228 , SA11-120 ) ; Same locality, 4.18 km 92º E of Hermanus , 34°24.857’S, 19°17.445’E, 13 m a.s.l., 13.X.2011, leg. L. Almeida & C. Griswold (general collecting in coastal white milkwood forest and bushes), 1♀ ( CAS, CASENT 9043214 , SA11-125 ) ; Fisherhaven, near Hermanus , 34°21.430’S, 19°07.557’E, 30.IX.2007, leg. R. Lyle & C. Haddad (sifting leaf litter), 3♀ ( NCA 2008 /219) ; Same locality, 19. III.2004, leg. C. Haddad (sifting leaf litter), 2♂ 2♀ ( SAMC ENW-C005352 ) ; Same locality, 24. VI.2019, leg. C. Haddad (base of Restio spp. in fynbos), 4♀ ( NCA 2019 /429) ; Hartenbos, Bolandpark , 34°09.807’S, 22°06.388’E, 4.XII.2012, leg. J.A. Neethling (leaf litter, coastal fynbos), 1♀ ( NCA 2019 /1001) ; Langeberge, Grootvadersbosch, Honeywood Farm , 34°00.38’S, 20°49.69’E, 5–6.I.2013, leg. D. Ubick, 1♀ ( CAS, CASENT 9055435 ) ; Table Mountain National Park, Cecilia, Rooikat , 33°59’S, 18°25’E, 4.X.2008, leg. C. Uys (site 10, leaf litter, fynbos), 1♀ ( NCA 2011 /879) ; Table Mountain National Park, Cecilia , Spilhaus, 34°00’S, 18°25’E, 23.I.2009, leg. C. Uys (site 14, pitfall trap, fynbos), 1♀ ( NCA 2011 /878) ; Table Mountain National Park, Kirstenbosch , 33°59’S, 18°25’E, 12.IX.2008, leg. C. Uys (site 6, leaf litter, fynbos), 1imm. 1♀ ( NCA 2011 /851) ; Table Mountain National Park, Newlands , 33°58’S, 18°26’E, 15.I.2009, leg. C. Uys (site 2, sugar-baited ant trap, pine plantation), 1♀ ( NCA 2011 /875) ; Same locality, 15.I.2009, leg. C. Uys (site 2, pitfall trap, pine plantation), 1♀ ( NCA 2011 /883) ; Same locality, 12.IX.2008, leg. C. Uys (site 4, leaf litter, pine plantation), 1♀ ( NCA 2011 /873) ; Table Mountain National Park, Orange Kloof , 34°05’S, 18°14’E, 18.XI.2008, leg. C. Uys (site 22, leaf litter, pine plantation), 1♀ ( NCA 2011 /850) ; Same locality, 28.I.2009, leg. C. Uys (site 23, pitfall traps, felled pine), 1♀ ( NCA 2011 /874) ; Table Mountain National Park, Tokai South , 34°04’S, 18°24’E, 9.I.2009, leg. C. Uys (site 30, pitfall trap, fynbos), 1♀ ( NCA 2011 /877) ; Same locality, 19.I.2009, leg. C. Uys (site 32, pitfall trap, felled pine), 1♀ ( NCA 2011 /876) .

Diagnosis. Females have a similar epigyne to C. montana spec. nov. and C. neethlingi spec. nov., but the initial 2/3 of the copulatory ducts are heavily sclerotized and much darker than the posterior 1/3, while in the other two species only the initial 1/3 of the copulatory ducts is heavily sclerotized. Further, the anterior margin of the ridges incorporating the copulatory openings is in the same transverse plane as the anterior margin of the primary spermathecae, while more posteriorly positioned in the other two species (compare Fig. 59 with Figs 65 and 71 ). Males of C. infima comb. nov. can be distinguished from C. capensis spec. nov. and C. montana spec. nov. by the considerably longer and more strongly curved distal section of the embolus (compare Fig. 62 with Figs 57 and 68 ).

Female (De Hoop, NCA 2008/1903). Measurements: CL 0.90, CW 0.70, AL 1.19, AW 1.02, TL 2.25 (1.70– 2.25), PERW 0.30, MOQAW 0.13, MOQPW 0.18, MOQL 0.17. Length of leg segments: I 0.63 + 0.24 + 0.56 + 0.48 + 0.28 = 2.19; II 0.57 + 0.24 + 0.44 + 0.41 + 0.25 = 1.91; III 0.50 + 0.22 + 0.38 + 0.40 + 0.23 = 1.73; IV 0.62 + 0.24 + 0.51 + 0.57 + 0.29 = 2.23.

Colour: carapace deep orange-brown, pits slightly darker, lateral margins brown; chelicerae orange-brown; endites and labium yellow-brown proximally, distal ends cream; sternum yellow-orange, pits slightly darker, lateral margins yellow-brown; palps pale yellow-brown; legs with femora and tibiae I and II pale orange-brown, other segments yellow; legs III and IV yellow, distal segments slightly paler than proximal; abdomen dark grey dorsally and laterally, with cream spots at setal bases, dorsally with eight fine cream chevrons in posterior half to spinnerets; venter paler mottled grey medially; spinnerets cream.

Leg spination: femora and patellae: spineless; tibiae: I plv 6 rlv 5, II plv 5 rlv 4; metatarsi: I plv 4 rlv 4, II plv 4 rlv 4; tarsi: I plv 3 rlv 3, II plv 3 rlv 2.

Epigyne with copulatory openings in large J-shaped epigynal ridges ( Fig. 59 ); copulatory ducts relatively thick, initially curving mesally, then directed posteriorly along midline, looping dorsally and laterally before entering lateral teardrop-shaped primary spermathecae along their interior margin; bursae oval, similar in size to primary spermathecae ( Fig. 60 ).

Male (De Hoop, NCA 2008/1903). Measurements: CL 0.89, CW 0.67, AL 0.83, AW 0.62, TL 1.78 (1.75–1.90), PERW 0.29, MOQAW 0.12, MOQPW 0.17, MOQL 0.16. Length of leg segments: I 0.62 + 0.24 + 0.52 + 0.43 + 0.26 = 2.07; II 0.52 + 0.23 + 0.41 + 0.40 + 0.25 = 1.81; III 0.44 + 0.19 + 0.35 + 0.37 + 0.23 = 1.58; IV 0.59 + 0.23 + 0.48 + 0.52 + 0.27 = 2.09.

Colour: carapace deep orange-brown, pits and lateral margins brown; chelicerae dark yellow-brown; endites pale yellow-brown medially, cream distally; labium yellow-brown, darker than endites, cream at distal end; sternum bright yellow-orange, pit margins orange, lateral margins orange-brown; palps yellow-brown; legs with femora and tibiae I and II pale orange-brown, patellae and metatarsi yellow-brown, tarsi creamy-yellow; legs III and IV pale yellow-brown, progressively paler distally; abdomen with bright yellow dorsal scutum covered in dark grey mottling, cream with grey mottling laterally; venter with creamy-yellow epigastric and ventral sclerites, latter covered in grey mottling; spinnerets cream.

Leg spination: femora and patellae: spineless; tibiae: I plv 6 rlv 5, II plv 6 rlv 5; metatarsi: I plv 5-7 rlv 4, II plv 5 rlv 4; tarsi: I plv 4 rlv 3, II plv 4 rlv 2-3.

Palpal femur with stout thumb tip-like ventral apophysis; patella with small subtriangular retrolateral ridge; tibia with tibial apophysis short and triangular in ventral view, broad and ridge-like in retrolateral view; embolus larger than in congeners, S-shaped, width larger than ½ width of tegulum at midpoint, tip curved and directed retrolaterally ( Figs 61–63 ).

Habitat and biology. Commonly found in leaf litter in fynbos habitats, particularly in litter of broadleaved plants such as milkwood ( Sideroxylon inerme ) and dune guarri ( Euclea racemosa ) in coastal regions and Protea spp. away from coastal habitats.

Distribution. Only known from the Western Cape Province of South Africa ( Fig. 75 ).

Figures

FIGURE 75. Distribution of Capobula capensis spec. nov. (circles), C. infima (Simon, 1896) comb. nov. (triangles), C. montana spec. nov. (squares), C. neethlingi spec. nov. (stars) and C. ukhahlamba spec. nov. (inverted triangles) in southern Africa.

FIGURES 3–10. Capobula gen. nov. dorsal habitus photographs: 3 C. capensis spec. nov., female holotype from Pakhuis Pass; 4 Same, paratype male from Pakhuis Pass; 5 C. infima (Simon, 1896) comb. nov., female from Fisherhaven; 6 Same, male from De Hoop Nature Reserve; 7 C. montana spec. nov., female holotype from Mount Coke State Forest; 8 Same, paratype male from Shamwari Game Reserve; 9 C. neethlingi spec. nov., female holotype from Saasveld Pass; 10 C. ukhahlamba spec. nov., paratype female from Royal Natal National Park.

FIGURES 11–19. Capobula infima (Simon, 1896) comb. nov., female from De Hoop Nature Reserve, SEM photographs: 11 Carapace, dorsal; 12 Same, detail of carapace texture, showing pits and fine tubercles on striae, dorsal; 13 Eye region, dorsal; 14 Eye region, frontal; 15 Chelicerae, ventral (arrow indicating promarginal escort seta); 16 Fang, ventral (arrow indicating fang serrula); 17 Endites and labium, ventral; 18 Detail of endite serrula, ventral; 19 Sternum, ventral.

FIGURES 20–29. Capobula infima (Simon, 1896) comb. nov., female (20, 23–29) and male (21, 22) from De Hoop Nature Reserve, SEM photographs: 20 Detail of sternum texture; 21 Femur I, ventral; 22 Femur I, detail of fine distal tubercles on ventral surface, ventral; 23 Patella III, prolateral (arrow indicating lyriform organ); 24 Patella IV, retrolateral (arrow indicating lyriform organ at end of patellar indentation: PI); 25 Detail of lyriform organ at end of PI, retrolateral ventral; 26 Tibia I spines, ventral; 27 Metatarsus I spines, ventral; 28 Metatarsus I, detail of spine bases, ventral; 29 Tarsus I spines, ventro-distal.

FIGURES 30–38. Capobula infima (Simon, 1896) comb. nov. female from De Hoop Nature Reserve, SEM photographs: 30 Metatarsus IV, distal preening brush and metatarsal stopper, retrolateral; 31 Tarsus I, dorsal, indicating chemosensory seta (cs), trichobothria (tr) and tarsal organ (to); 32 Tarsus I, trichobothrium, dorsal; 33 Same, detail of trichobothrium base, dorsal; 34 Tarsus I, detail of tarsal organ, dorsal; 35 Tarsal claws, leg IV, prolateral; 36 Tarsal claws, leg III, distal; 37 Palpal claw, prolateral distal; 38 Dorsal abdominal setae, dorsal, arrow indicating sigillum.

FIGURES 39–46. Capobula infima (Simon, 1896) comb. nov., female (39, 41–43) and male (40, 44–46) from De Hoop Nature Reserve, SEM photographs: 39–40 Spinnerets, general view; 41, 44 Anterior lateral spinnerets; 42, 45 Posterior median spinnerets; 43, 46 Posterior lateral spinnerets. Abbreviations: Ac—aciniform gland spigot; Cy—cylindrical gland spigot; mAmp—minor ampullate gland spigot; MAmp—major ampullate gland spigot; Nu—nubbin; Pi—piriform gland spigot; Ta—tartipore.

FIGURES 47–53. Capobula infima (Simon, 1896) comb. nov., female (47) and male (48–53) from De Hoop Nature Reserve, SEM photographs: 47 Epigyne, ventral; 48 Left palpal femur and patella, ventral; 49 Left palpal patella, retrolateral (rectangle indicating lyriform organ associated with patellar apophysis); 50 Lyriform organ, enlarged; 51 Right palp, detail of retrolateral tibial apophysis; 52 Left palp, ventral; 53 Embolus, ventral.

FIGURES 59–64. Capobula infima (Simon, 1896) comb. nov., genitalic morphology of female (59, 60) and male (61–64) from De Hoop Nature Reserve: 59 Epigyne, ventral; 60 Vulva, dorsal; 61–63 Left palp (61 prolateral, 62 ventral, 63 retrolateral); 64 Palpal femur, patella and tibia, retro-dorsal. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 65–70. Capobula montana spec. nov., genitalic morphology of female (65, 66) and male (67–70) paratypes from Platberg Nature Reserve: 65 Epigyne, ventral; 66 Vulva, dorsal; 67–69 Left palp (67 prolateral, 68 retrolateral, 69 retrolateral); 70 Palpal femur, patella and tibia, retro-dorsal. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 71–74. Capobula neethlingi spec. nov. (71, 72) and C. ukhahlamba spec. nov. (73, 74), genitalic morphology of paratype females from Anysberg Nature Reserve and Cathedral Peak, respectively: 71, 73 Epigyne, ventral; 72, 74 Vulva, dorsal. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 54–58. Capobula capensis spec. nov., genitalic morphology of female (54–55) and male (56–58) paratypes from Pakhuis Pass: 54 Epigyne, ventral; 55 Vulva, dorsal; 56–58 Left palp (56 prolateral, 57 ventral, 58 retrolateral). Scale bars = 0.25 mm. Abbreviations: b—bursa; cd—copulatory duct; co—copulatory opening; ps—primary spermatheca.