Plutonodomus kungwensis Cooke, 1964

Rodrigues, Bruno V. B. & Rheims, Cristina A., 2020, An overview of the African genera of Prodidominae spiders: descriptions and remarks (Araneae: Gnaphosidae), Zootaxa 4799 (1), pp. 1-80 : 48-49

Plutonodomus kungwensis Cooke, 1964

Figs 35 A–G

Plutonodomus kungwensis, 1964: 280 , figs 34, 53–57 (holotype female from Kungwe-Mahali Mts. , Kasoge, Tanzania [6°7’15. 43”S, 29°44’3.55”E], deposited in OUMNH, examined).

Diagnosis. The female of Plutonodomus kungwensis differs from those of other Prodidominae by the following combination of characters: absence of eyes ( Fig. 35C ), sternum with anterior margin rounded ( Fig. 35D ), smooth claws, epigyne with posterior C-shaped copulatory openings, facing away from each other, with a hood between them ( Fig. 35E ). Males are unknown.

Description. Total length: 1.55. Body pale yellow ( Figs 35 A–D). Carapace 0.69 long, 0.40 wide; carapace without anterior constriction ( Fig. 35C ). Fovea absent. Eyes absent. Chelicerae 0.15 long; apparently without tooth. Endites slightly convergent, distal margin wide, similar to basal margin ( Fig. 35D ); serrula absent; labium wider than long ( Fig. 35D ). Sternum 0.45 long, 0.38 wide; anterior margin rounded, rebordered anteriorly and laterally; posterior region strongly protruding between coxae IV, with numerous long and erect setae ( Fig. 35D ); intercoxal extensions absent and precoxal triangles present. Pedicel with anterior region truncate. Leg formula 4123. Leg measurements: I: 1.81 (0.50, 0.36, 0.35, 0.30, 0.30); II: 1.49 (0.44, 0.22, 0.30, 0.26, 0.27); III: 1.23 (0.35, 0.25, 0.16, 0.24, 0.23); IV: 1.92 (0.52, 0.31, 0.40, 0.36, 0.33). Leg spination: III—femur d1-0-0; tibia v1p-0-0. IV—femur d1-1- 0, tibia p0-0-1, r1-0-1, v1p-0-1r. Patella I larger than others, length similar to tibia I. Two smooth claws; apparently with dense claw tufts of tenent setae. Abdomen 0.90 long, 0.55 wide; abdomen oval ( Figs 35A, B ). Six spinnerets; ALS 0.09 long, 0.07 wide; ALS separated from each other by approximately their diameter ( Fig. 35B ); piriform gland spigots elongated with associated setae, major ampulate gland spigot field well-defined conical structure; PLS larger than PMS. Vulva: copulatory ducts slender; secondary spermathecae well defined; connecting ducts convoluted; primary spermathecae round ( Figs 35 E–G).

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Tanzania, only known from the type locality ( Fig. 36 ).

Figures

FIGURE 35. Plutonodomus kungwensis, female. (A) habitus, dorsal view; (B) habitus, ventral view; (C) carapace, dorsal view; (D) sternum and endites; (E) epigyne, not dissected; (F) epigyne, dissected; (G) Vulva, dorsal view. CD—copulatory duct; COcopulatory opening; CoD—connecting duct; PS—primary spermathecae; SS—secondary spermathecae. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

FIGURE 36. Known distribution records of species of Plutonodomus from Tanzania.