Stasimopus maraisi Hewitt, 1927: 424 (Dm)

Brandt, Shannon, Sole, Catherine & Lyle, Robin, 2023, An integrative taxonomy of the genus Stasimopus Simon 1892 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) of the Karoo with the description of nine new species and a Stasimopus maraisi Hewitt 1914 male, Zootaxa 5341 (1), pp. 1-60 : 41-44

Stasimopus maraisi Hewitt, 1927: 424 (Dm)

( Figures 6D , 12A , 13C , 29 , 30 )

Type material: Holotype Ô SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape Province, Victoria West, no collection date, H. James, (AMGS-5367).

Etymology: The specific epithet is a Latin adjective ‘malè sociatus’ taken in apposition meaning mismatched. This is in reference to this specimen being incorrectly assigned as the allotype to the previously described species Stasimopus maraisi .

Diagnosis: The males of S. malesociatus sp. nov. are distinguishable from other members of the genus occurring in the Karoo based on the following combination of characters. It is differentiated from S. astutus , S. erythrognathus , S. schrieneri , S. finni sp. nov. and S. maraisi by the AME being the largest eye. It is distinguished from S. ignis as PLE is the smallest eye. The species is distinguished from S. patersonae , S. karooensis sp. nov., S. dylani sp. nov. and S. palpiger as S. malesociatus sp. nov. only has 3 cheliceral teeth in the inner row, whereas the others have 4. The metatarsus of legs I and II are less spinous than S. steynsbergensis .

Description: Ô: Originally described in Hewitt 1927 pg. 425–426. Additional description is given below.

Remarks: The specimen is in poor condition with various limbs severed or damaged. The spination patterns may be inaccurate due to the removal of a hard clay-like substance.

General: Ô: ( Fig 6D ) Medium bodied spider, 9.09 total length.

Carapace: Ô: Carapace length 4.93; width 4.61. Reddish orange colouration, thoracic region with rugose texture. Fovea procurved, 0.77 in length.

Ocelli: Ô: ( Fig 12A ) AME diameter 0.23, PME diameter 0.13, MOQ anterior width 1.21, MOQ posterior width 1.68; AME-AME 0.20, AME-ALE 0.12, ALE-ALE 0.87, PME-PME 0.77, PME-PLE 0.16, PLE-PLE 1.29; AER slightly recurved, PER recurved.

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

Sternum, labium and maxillae: Ô: ( Fig 29D ) Sternum length 2.77; sternum width 2.65. Sternum shape has distinct impressions of where the coxa are situated. Sigilla in the shape of a fused arrow, distal end fused, proximal ends 1.0 apart; cuspules on labium absent; maxilla absent.

Abdomen: Ô: Abdomen length 4.16; width 3.48. Mottled brownish red colouration.

Pedipalps: Ô: ( Figs 29A–C ) Total length 13.48; Segment lengths 1.39, 4.37, 3.18, -, 4.54. Spination: spines absent. Bulb elliptical, embolus with broad base, tapering into sharp point, curving distally.

Legs: Ô: Length order: undetermined. I Total length undetermined; Segment lengths -, -, -, 4.78, 1.98; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Metatarsus v ( Fig 29E )- 13 large spines. Tarsus v - scopulate. II Total length 18.31; Segment lengths 5.63, 2.55, 3.96, 4.15, 2.02; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella v - 1 large spine. Tibia v - 12–14 large spines. Metatarsus v - 8 spines. Tarsus v - scopulate. III Total length undetermined; Segment lengths 3.81, 2.00, 1.78, -, -; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella do - damaged, 8 red spines, extend pl, v - 1 spine. Tibia pl & rl - dense patches of short red spines distally (7–9 in each patch), v - 3 thin spines. IV Total length 20.68; Segment lengths 5.06, 2.69, 4.26, 5.81, 2.87; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella do - short dense red spines proximally (approx. 50–60), less dense distally, interspersed with fine black setae. Tibia pl / v ( Fig 29F )- 5 spines. Metatarsus v ( Fig 29F )- 9 spines. Tarsus pl ( Fig 29F )- 11 spines along surface.

Distribution and environment notes:

The species is found in the locality indicated in Figure 30 . The species is only known from the type locality near Victoria West in the Northern Cape province. The original description does not describe the area where the specimen was collected .

Figures

FIGURE 6. Three Stasimopus species in habitus view. (A) Female of Stasimopus ignis sp. nov. (NCA 2019/653). (B) Male of Stasimopus ignis sp. nov. (NCA 2019/642). (C) Male of Stasimopus karooensis sp. nov. (SAM- ENW-C007293). (D) Male of Stasimopus malesociatus sp. nov. (AMGS-5367). Scale: 1cm.

FIGURE 12. Ocular patterns for the male Stasimopus Simon, 1892 species. (A) Stasimopus malesociatus sp. nov. (AMGS- 5367). (B) Stasimopus maraisi (NCA 2019/630). Scale: 1mm.

FIGURE 13. Cheliceral teeth of various male Stasimopus species. (A) Stasimopus finni sp. nov. (NCA 2019/605). (B) Stasimopus karooensis sp. nov. (SAM-ENW-C007293). (C) Stasimopus malesociatus sp. nov. (AMGS-5367). (D) Stasimopus maraisi (NCA 2019/630). Scale: 1mm.

FIGURE 29. Male of Stasimopus malesociatus sp. nov. (AMGS-5367). (A) Pedipalp tibia, bulb, retrolateral aspect. (B) Pedipalp tibia, bulb, prolateral aspect. (C) Pedipalpal bulb, ventral aspect. (D) Sternum with fused labium and visible sigilla (as shown by the arrows). (E) Leg I tibia, metatarsus, tarsus. Ventral aspect. (F) Leg IV metatarsus. Ventral aspect. Scale: 1mm.

FIGURE 30. Map of the locality where the Stasimopus malesociatus sp. nov. specimen was collected. Map created in QGIS version 3.4.8-Madeira (2019), available at: http://qgis.osgeo.org.