Lepthercus haddadi, Ríos-Tamayo & Lyle, 2020

Ríos-Tamayo, Duniesky & Lyle, Robin, 2020, The South African genus Lepthercus Purcell, 1902 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) phylogeny and taxonomy, Zootaxa 4766 (2), pp. 261-305 : 292-295

Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov.

( Figs. 2A, F, G , 19 A–K, 20A–C, 24) http://zoobank.org/ urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4ADBA1C9-2B18-41FA-B2AC-2A597B8D8B38

Material examined. Type material: Holotype ♂. SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape Province, De Hoop Nature Reserve, Koppie Alleen cottage, De Hoop Vlei, S shore (34°17′S 20°17′E), 25.iii.2005, Haddad, C. leg.,. ( NCA 2007 /1486) .— Paratype. SOUTH AFRICA: De Hoop Nature Reserve, Koppie Alleen cottage (34°17′S 20°17′E), 26.viii.2007. Haddad, C. leg., 1♀ ( NCA 2007/3847): same data as the male holotype, 1 ♀ (subadult), 1 ♂, 1 imm. ( NCA 2007/1486).

Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape Province: Bredasdorp Distr, Duinehuisie Guest Farm, Farm Rondekop; ca. 12 km SE Bredasdorp; east of farm buildings (34°35′37,12″S 20°9′15.31″E), 23.viii.2017, Engelbrecht, I., N. Calver, D. Calver, P. Bester, A. Cilliers. leg., 1 ♂ ( NCA 2019/40).

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Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronymic in honor of Dr Charles Haddad who collected the type specimens and for his contribution to arachnology in South Africa.

Diagnosis. Males of L. haddadi sp. nov., can be recognized inside of the “Group haddadi” by a very robust, darkly coloured tibia I ( Fig. 19J, K ) with a robust spur; and by a more elongated copulatory bulb ( Fig. 19 G–I). Females can be distinguished from L. engelbrechti sp. nov., by the shape of their spermathecae with a longer stalk ( Fig. 20D ).

Description. Male holotype (NCA 2007/1486, Fig. 19 A–K). Total length 15.95. Carapace ( Fig. 19A ): length 6.09, width 4.71, with lateral dark marginal bristles, with a little pubescence. Cephalic region: length 3.80; clypeus almost absent, with 6 bristles on the edge, 2 bristles in front of the OQ and 4 between the PME, line of bristles until de fovea. Fovea: width 0.45, almost straight (slightly recurved). Ocular measurements: AME 0.16, ALE 0.29, PME 0.20, PLE 0.26, OQ length 0.57, 1.03 width; AME–ALE 0.07, PME–PLE 0.04, AME–PME 0.09, ALE–PLE 0.08, AME–AME 0.10, OMP–OMP 0.39. Chelicerae: length 3.53, width 1.93, with dark dorsal–anterior bristles, intercheliceral tumescence small, well-marked with setae ( Fig. 19D ). Fang groove with 8 promarginal teeth and 14 mesobasal denticles. Labium: length 0.45, width 0.81. Maxillae: length 1.98, width 0.85, with 70 cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face slightly curved, without soft area, with long uniformly distributed hairs, serrula present ( Fig. 2F ). Sternum ( Fig. 19C ): length 3.20, maximum width 2.56. Abdomen ( Fig. 19B ): length 6.32, covered by dark hair and bristles. PMS: length 0.69; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 1.33:1.04:1.64; total length 4.01. Lengths of legs and palp: I: 4.20, 2.68, 2.85 (width/length: 0.69), 2.44, 1.70, 13.87. II: 4.09, 2.47, 2.52, 2.57, 1.66, 13.31. III: 3.68, 1.93, 2.18, 3.06, 1.59, 12.44. IV: 4.44, 2.24, 3.05, 3.85, 1.77, 15.35. Palp: 2.28, 1.20, 1.69, —, 0.91, 6.08.

Chaetotaxy: Leg I: femur, 1-1-1-1 d (centrals), 1 P A; patella, 1 P A; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-2-1 V, very swollen, a strong cuticular spur, with an apical curved megaspine and a strong curved spine near of the base of the megaspine ( Fig. 19K ); metatarsus, 1-1-2 V, presence of a protuberance (nearly two–thirds of the segment from its base), covered with numerous black blunt spinules ( Fig. 19J ); tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1-1 PA; patella, 1-1 P; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 2-3-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1-3-2-3 D; patella, 1-1 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1 D, 1-1 R, 2-2-2 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1-1 D-R, 2-3-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1-1-1-1 D; patella, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1 R, 2-2-2 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-2-1-1 D-R, 2-1-2-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp ( Fig. 19E, F ): femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1 PA; patella, 1 pa; tibia, 1 R, (width/length: 0.68); tarsus, 0.

Scopulae: Metatarsi: I, sparse, around the black blunt spinules; II, dense (1:2 A), more abundant in the anterior part, divided by fine setae; III–IV, 0. Tarsi: I–II, dense, uniformly distributed throughout the segment; III, dense, uniformly distributed and divided by a narrow band of setae; IV, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by a wide band of setae. Trichobothria: Tibiae: I 10-11; II 10-10; III 10-11; IV 12-11. Metatarsi: I (6)1(2)1(4)1; II (3)1(2)1(4)1; III (4)1(1)1(3)1(6)1; IV (4)1(3)1(6)1. Tarsi: I 13; II 12; III 11; IV 13. Preening combs: metatarsus: II, 4 PV; III, 2 PV-3 RV; IV, 2 PV-3 RV. Copulatory bulb: long, with a curved embolus tapering gradually ( Fig. 19 G–I), spermatic duct slightly curved. Color: Overall dark brown–reddish (chelicerae, Metatarsus–Tarsus I darker). Abdomen mottled with light spots distributed in all the dorsum; spinnerets orange, ventrally dark.

Female paratype (NCA 2007/3847, Fig. 20 A–D). Total length 15.46. Carapace ( Fig. 20A ): length 5.18, width 3.61. Cephalic region: length 3.24, clypeus small (almost absent) with 6 marginal bristles; 7 bristles in front of the OQ and 6 between the PME. Fovea: width 0.28, almost straight (slightly procurved). Ocular measurements: AME 0.11, ALE 0.29, PME 0.19, PLE 0.22, OQ length 0.50, width 0.87; AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PLE 0.04, AME–PME 0.07, ALE–PLE 0.06, AME–AME 0.10, PME–PME 0.29. Chelicerae ( Fig. 20C ): length 3.08, width 1.95; with dorsal–retrolateral dark bristles. Fang groove with 8 promarginal teeth and 12 mesobasal denticles. Labium: length 0.41, width 0.80 with one cuspule. Maxillae: length 1.87, width 0.91, with 86 cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face slightly curved, soft area long, with long uniformly distributed hairs, serrula present on anterior inner corner ( Fig. 2G ). Sternum ( Fig. 20B ): length 2.47, maximum width 2.17. Abdomen ( Fig. 20A ): length 7.42, with small bristles in the dorsum. PMS: length 0.77; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 1.26:0.79:1.45; total length 3.50. Lengths of legs and palp: I: 3.42, 2.32, 2.26, 1.74, 1.21, 10.95. II: 3.05, 1.99, 1.88, 1,63, 1.14, 9.69. III: 2.71, 1.59, 1.50, 2.12, 1.10, 9.02. IV: 3.37, 2.05, 2.43, 2.92, 1.21, 11.98. Palp: 2.56, 1.55, 1.44, —, 1.53, 7.08.

Chaetotaxy: Leg I: femur, 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 d, 1 PA; patella, 0; tibia, 1-3 v; metatarsus, 2-1-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 d, 1-1 PA; patella, 1 pa; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-2 V; metatarsus, 2-2-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1-1 RA; patella, 1-1 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1 D, 1 R, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1 D-R, 2-3-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1-1-1-1-1-1 d; patella, 1 P; tibia, 1-1 P, 2-2-2 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1 D-R, 1-1-1 R, 2-3-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp: femur, 1 pa; patella, 0; tibia, 1p, 2-2v, 3 VA; tarsus, 2 VB.

Scopulae: Metatarsi: I, dense, uniformly distributed, divided by setae; II, dense (1:2A), divided by setae; III–IV, without scopula. Tarsi: I, dense, uniformly distributed; II dense, uniformly distributed, divided by setae; III–IV, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by a wide band of setae (IV wider). Trichobothria: Tibiae: palp 9-9; I 11-10; II 10-10; III 9-10; IV 10-11. Metatarsi: I (6)1(2)1(3)1; II (6)1(2)1(5)1; III (4)1(2)1(7)1; IV (5)1(1)1(4)1(6)1. Tarsi: palp 11; I 13; II 12; III 12; IV 13. Preening combs ( Fig. 2A ): metatarsus: II 4 PV; III 4 PV–3 RV; IV 3 PV–2 RV. Spermathecae: small, tubulars and curved ( Fig. 20D ). Color: Overall orange–yellowish (chelicerae darker). Abdomen mottled with light spots distributed in all the dorsum; spinnerets orange, ventrally dark.

Distribution. Eastern and Western Cape Provinces, South Africa ( Fig. 22B ).

Figures

FIGURE. 2. Preening comb. A Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov. (female paratype, NCA 2007/3847). Maxillary cuspules (males). B L. dippenaarae. C L. kwazuluensis. Serrula. D L. mandelai sp. nov. (female, NCA 2014/415A); E L. filmeri sp. nov. (female, NCA 91/1437); F L. haddadi sp. nov. (male, NCA 2007/1486); G L. haddadi sp. nov. (female, NCA 2007/3847); H L. engelbrechti sp. nov. (female, NCA 2018/385); I L. engelbrechti sp. nov. (male, NCA 2018/384); J L. dregei Purcell, 1902 (female, NCA 2012/2333); K L. sofiae sp. nov. (male, NCA 97/395).

FIGURE. 19. Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov. (male holotype, NCA 2007/1486). A cephalothorax, dorsal view; B abdomen, dorsal view; C sternum, ventral view; D chelicerae, arrow indicates the intercheliceral tumescence with setae, prolateral view; E right pedipalp, arrows indicates the palpal tibia base dorsally very convex and the development of the anterior side of the retrolateral side of the ventral excavation, retrolateral view, F right pedipalp, arrows indicates the few proventral setae and the development of the anterior side of the retrolateral side of the ventral excavation, prolateral view; G–I copulatory bulb, G retrolateral view, H ventral view, I prolateral view; J tibia-metatarsus I, showing the very robust tibia with a robust spur, arrow indicates the patch of numerous black blunt spinules, prolateral view; K tibia I, arrow indicates the strong curved spine near of the base of the megaspine, ventral view.

FIGURE. 20. Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov. (female paratype, NCA 2007/3847). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view; D spermathecae

FIGURE. 22. Lepthercus rattrayi Hewitt, 1917. (female paratype, NM 16647). A habitus, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view; D spermathecae.