Purcelliana problematica 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 : 37-38

Purcelliana problematica Cooke, 1964

Figs 1B , 26 E–H, 31A–C

Purcelliana problematica Cooke, 1964: 282 , figs 47, 52, 64 (Holotype male from Prince Albert , Western Cape [33°13’36.57”S 22°2’8.57”E], South Africa, deposited in SAMC 3916 , examined).

Remarks. As observed by Cooke (1964), the holotype is poorly preserved, but it is possible to identify the diagnostic characters for the genus in the specimen. In addition, obtaining additional material allowed us to complement the description of the genus, as well as that of P. problematica .

Diagnosis. Males of Purcelliana problematica resemble those of P. cederbergensis sp. nov. by the male palp with the embolus mostly straight ( Figs 31A, B ) and a strong, laterally protruding dRTA, but are distinguished by the presence of a median, distally rounded tegular projection (absent in P. cederbergensis sp. nov.) and by the embolus slender and tapering (laminar and robust in P. cederbergensis sp. nov. Figs 31E ). Females are unknown.

Description. Male (NCA 2008/679). Carapace and legs pale yellow, abdomen gray ( Fig. 26E ). Total length: 2.42. Carapace 1.05 long, 0.90 wide; Abdomen 1.37 long, 0.72 wide; Sternum 0.77 long, 0.63 wide; Spinnerets: ALS 0.17 long, 0.13 wide. Eye diameters: AME 0.05, ALE 0.04, PME 0.07, PLE 0.09; interdistances: AME–AME 0.05, PME–PME 0.04. Chelicerae 0.44 long. Leg measurements: I: 3.84 (1.04, 0.59, 0.90, 0.74, 0.58); II: 2.83 (0.80, 0.44, 0.59, 0.54, 0.46); III: 2.38 (0.65, 0.38, 0.45, 0.46, 0.44); IV: 3.46 (0.94, 0.50, 0.80, 0.70, 0.53). Palp: vRTA truncated, smaller than dRTA, latter with tip curved ventrally; conductor hyaline, laminar, distally widened ( Figs 31 A–C).

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. South Africa ( Fig. 34 ).

Material examined. South Africa: Western Cape, Anysberg Nature Reserve , 33°31′48″S 20°45′36″E, 1 male, 24 September 2005, C. Haddad & R. Lyle leg. ( NCA 2008 /679) .

Figures

FIGURE 1. (A) Eleleis solitaria sp. nov., female, habitus, dorsal view; (B) Purcelliana problematica, male, habitus, dorsal view; (C) Austrodomus scaber, female, leg I; (D) Theuma sp., male, carapace, dorsal view; (E) Zimirina hirsuta, male, carapace, dorsal view; (F) Zimiris doriai, female, spinnerets, ventral view; (H) Namundra sp., female, spinnerets, ventral view; (H) Prodidomus simoni, female, spinnerets, apical view.

FIGURE 26. Purcelliana kamaseb sp. nov., female: (A) habitus, dorsal view; (B) habitus, lateral view; (C) abdomen, dorsal view, detail of clavate setae. P. cederbergensis sp. nov., male: (D) chelicerae, frontal view. P. problematica, male: (E) habitus, dorsal view; (F) sternum and endites; (G) spinnerets, lateral view; (H) spinnerets, ventral view.

FIGURE 31. Purcelliana problematica, male palp: (A) prolateral view; (B) ventral view; (C) retrolateral view. P. cederbergensis sp. nov., male palp: (D) retrolateral view, bulb rotated (prolateral view); (E) ventral view, bulb rotated; (F) basal view, bulb rotated (retro-ventral view). C—conductor; dRTA—dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis; E—embolus; LETe—laminar extension of tegulum; TeP—tegular projection; vRTA—ventral retrolateral tibial apophysis. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

FIGURE 34. Known distribution records of species of Purcelliana from Namibia and South Africa.