Rhampsinitus transvaalicus Lawrence, 1931

Starêga, Wojciech, 2009, Some southern African species of the genus Rhampsinitus Simon (Opiliones: Phalangiidae), Zootaxa 1981, pp. 43-56 : 53-54

Rhampsinitus transvaalicus Lawrence, 1931

Figs 17–21

Rhampsinitus transvaalicus Lawrence, 1931: 493 –494, fig. 77 [type locality: Zoutpansberg (= Soutpansberg), near Louis Trichardt]. Kauri 1961: 170; Lawrence 1963: 304; Starega 1984: 67.

Material examined. Republic of South Africa: 1 juvenile ( MRAC 203.559) from Louis Trichardt, Soutpansberg, Hanglip, 1500 m, montane forest, sieved litter, collected 30 November 1996 by R. Jocqué. 1 juvenile ( MRAC 203.588) from Soutpansberg, Entabeni, 1350 m, montane forest, grassland, collected 1 December 1996 by R. Jocqué. 2 ɗ ( MRAC 203.600) + 1 ɗ ( MRAC 203.864, now RCWS II/0043) from Soutpansberg, Entabeni, 1350 m, montane forest, collecting at night, 1 December 1996 by R. Jocqué. 2 ɗ ( MRAC 203.868) from Louis Trichardt, Soutpansberg, Hanglip, 1500 m, montane forest, collected 30 November 1996 by R. Jocqué. 1 juvenile ( MRAC 206.944) from Magoebaskloof, Hideaway farm, forest, 1700 m, sieved litter, collected 11 August 1997 by R. Jocqué. 1 juvenile ( MRAC 206.946) from Dap Naude Dam, near Magoebaskloof, 2000 m, forest, sieved litter, collected 11 August 1997 by R. Jocqué.

Diagnosis. Most similar to Rhampsinitus leighi but dark brown instead of black, with shorter male chelicerae and specific genital morphology. See also Kauri 1961: 148–150.

Remark. The specimens described by Lawrence (1931) belong to a form with relatively short chelicerae; he even suspected that they are not adult.

Description. MALE: body squat, in dorsal view nearly rectangular, 5.5–6.6 mm long; carapace 3.2–4.1 mm wide. Dorsum horizontal from front margin to 3rd abdominal segment, then abruptly bent ventrad, the anus therefore lying on the ventral side and not at the posterior end. Abdominal sternites seemingly very narrow, pushed under each other (shrunken specimens?). Eye mound as long as wide and nearly as high, but appearing higher due to 3+3 long, pointed denticles pointing upwards and forming a „crown”. Carapace with very few denticles in front of and laterally to eye mound. Single, longer denticle above each coxa. „Thoracal” and all abdominal tergites with single, transversal rows of strong denticles. Venter smooth, only 1st and 2nd coxa with minute granules bearing a bristle.

Chelicerae ( Fig. 17 ) elongate, though very variable in length: 4.5+5.0 mm–10.1+ 12.3 mm. Basichelicerite dorsally and on both ventral edges with sharp denticles. Prolateral surface with numerous sharp granules. A shallow furrow between ventral edges extending over whole length of basal segment. Second segment dorsally, retrolaterally and ventrally densely covered with sharp granules of different sizes. Prolateral surface nearly smooth, some granules only at basal end. Pedipalps ( Fig. 18 ) long, weak, unarmed, only in vicinity of trochanter/femur joint with some larger granules and small blunt denticles. Other segments with bristles and hairs, tarsus with hairs only. Length of segments: trochanter 0.77 mm (one specimen), femur 2.69–3.84 mm, patella 0.92–1.15 mm, tibia 1.31–1.77 mm, tarsus 3.08–4.54 mm. Legs very long, strongly armed; femur I not stronger than the others. All femora with longitudinal rows of large denticles; the apical ones on femora I, III and IV particularly long, bent and forming an oblique group across the tip on ventral and prolateral margins. Patellae (except II) similarly armed, but denticles smaller. Only tibia and metatarsus I with rows of sharp granules, the others only with bristles. False joints on metatarsi: I: 2–3, II: 6–7, III: 3, IV: 3–6. Femur length: I: 7.6–12.1 mm, II: 12.9–17.8 mm, III: 7.5–10.0 mm, IV: 9.6–13.3 mm. BLI 2.415–2.907.

Penis ( Figs 19–21 ) relatively short, shaft 2.83 mm long, apical „spoon” short but deep (0.11 mm) and wide (0.38 mm), its margins strongly bent to dorsal side; basis 0.40 mm wide. Glans ( Fig. 21 ) nearly bananashaped but laterally compressed, not rounded, 0.50 mm long; stylus 0.19 mm long.

Whole dorsum uniformly brown to black-brown, some oblique lighter stripes on carapace and laterally in anterior part of abdomen, outside the saddle (visible only there!). Venter brown or dark brown, basal parts of coxae with numerous yellowish dots and therefore lighter. Chelicerae brown, lighter than body and other appendages. Palps and legs dark brown to blackish, metatarsi and tarsi lighter. Penis shaft yellowish, „spoon” margins dark brown (the dark coloration reaching deep into the „spoon”), basis with brownish „shade”.

Distribution. Known only from the Soutpansberg Mts in the Limpopo Province of the RSA (formerly Transvaal and Venda) ( Lawrence 1931, 1963). In the material examined there are also two juveniles from Strydpoortberge (Magoebaskloof), so the species may possibly have a slightly wider distribution than previously known. It lives (or more exactly: has been collected) in montane forests at altitudes between about 1200 ( Lawrence 1963) to 1500 or even 2000 m (present data, in need of confirmation).

Figures

FIGURES 17 – 21. Rhampsinitus transvaalicus Lawrence, male (MRAC 203.600 from Entabeni). 17, right chelicera, mesal view; 18, right pedipalpus, mesal view; 19, penis, dorsal view; 20, penis, lateral view; 21, apical part of penis, lateral view.