Lepthercus rattrayi Hewitt, 1917

Ríos-Tamayo, Duniesky & Lyle, Robin, 2020, The South African genus Lepthercus Purcell, 1902 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) phylogeny and taxonomy, Zootaxa 4766 (2), pp. 261-305 : 295-297

Lepthercus rattrayi Hewitt, 1917

Figs. 21 A–J, 22A–C, 24

Lepthercus rattrayi Hewitt, 1917: 699 , pl. 47, f. 1-2, f. 3A-E.

Material examined. Type material: Holotype ♂. SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province, East London [33°2’S 27°51’E], v.1916, Dr. Geo. Rattray and Master G. Rattray. leg., (NM 1317). examined . – Allotype. SOUTH AFRICA: same data as holotype, 1 ♀ (NM 16647), examined.

Other material examined: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province: East London, Delbome, 5 Parkview Road [33°2’S 27°51’E], 5.viii.1978, P. Croeser. leg., 1 ♀ (NM16637); Kwahleke Ranch, along R346 , ca 15 km due W of East London, area on S side of road (33°00′37.7″S 27°44′01.0″E), 1.v.2003, Engelbrecht, I. leg., 3 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂ ( NCA 2019 /39).

Remarks. The female specimen (NM 16647) appears to be collected shortly after molting as evidenced by what appear to parts of the old exuvia still attached to the body. This may be the reason for its pale colour, or it may be a result of long term preservation.

Diagnosis. Males of L. rattrayi can be distinguished from all species inside of “Group haddadi” by the copulatory bulb shape, with a long embolus bearing a long lateral keel ( Fig. 21 F–H). Females can be differentiated by the shape of their spermathecae with a small twisted stalk, with oval receptacles (fig. 22D). It is similar to L. dippenaarae sp. nov., but differs in the presence of labial cuspules.

Description. Male holotype (NM 1317, Figs. 21 A–I). Total length 9.60. Carapace ( Fig. 21A ): length 4.46, width 3.38, with small marginal bristles, covered with a little pubescence. Cephalic region: length 2.68; clypeus short with 4 bristles on the edge, 3 long bristles in front of the OQ and 5 between the PME. Fovea: width 0.31, short, almost straight (slightly recurved). Ocular measurements: AME 0.12, ALE 0.21, PME 0.14, PLE 0.18, OQ length 0.39, 0.72 width; AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PLE 0.03, AME–PME 0.06, ALE–PLE 0.03, AME–AME 0.08, OMP–OMP 0.29. Chelicerae: length 2.03, width 1.15, intercheliceral tumescence small, well-marked with setae ( Fig 21C ). Fang groove with 9 promarginal teeth and 20 denticles (1/2B). Labium: length 0.34, width 1.79, with one cuspule. Maxillae: length 1.52, width 0.60, with about 43 normal cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face straight, soft area long, with long uniformly distributed hairs. Sternum ( Fig. 21B ): length 2.26, maximum width 1.79. Abdomen ( Fig. 21A ): length 4.42, covered by fine hair, and anterior bristles. PMS: length 0.42; PLS: length of basal: medial:apical segments 0.91:0.71:0.73; total length 2.35. Lengths of legs and palp: I: 3.13, 1.98, 2.40, 1.97, 1.77, 11.25. II: 2.95, 1.82, 1.84, 1.92, 1.37, 9.90. III: 2.69, 1.28, 1.73, 2.33, 1.45, 9.48. IV: 3.40, 1.69, 2.47, 3.31, 1.70, 12.57. Palp: 1.51, 0.84, 0.91, —, 0.56, 3.82.

Chaetotaxy: Leg I: femur, 1-1-1-1 d (centrals), 1 P A; patella, 1 P A; tibia, 1-1 P, 2-3-1 V, a small spur, with an apical long and curved spine ( Fig. 21I ); metatarsus, 1 P, 1-1-2 V, presence of a protuberance (nearly two-thirds of the segment from its base), covered with numerous black blunt spinules ( Fig. 21I ); tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1-1-1-1-1-1 d, 1-1 P A; patella, 0; tibia, 1-1 P, 2-1-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1 P, 3-2-2-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1-1-1-1-1 d, 1-1-1 P SUP, 1-1-1 R SUP; patella, 1-2 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1 D, 1-1 R, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1-1 D–P, 1-1- 1-1 D–R, 1-1-1 R, 3-3-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1-1-1 P SUP, 1-1 R SUP; patella, 1 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1-2 R, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1-1 D–P, 1-1-1-1-1 D–R, 1-1-1-1 R, 1-2-2-1-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp ( Fig. 21D, E ): femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1 P A; patella, 0; tibia, 1-2 P, 1 R A, (width/length: 0.88); tarsus, 0.

Scopulae: Metatarsi: I–II, sparse (3:4A); III–IV, 0. Tarsi: I–II, sparse, uniformly distributed throughout the segment, II divided by central bristles; III, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by a narrow band of setae; IV, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by a narrow band of setae. Trichobothria: Tibiae: palp: 8-8; I-II 9-10; III 8-9; IV 11-11. Metatarsi: I (5)1(2)1(5)1; II (3)1(1)1(2)1(4)1; III (4)1(4)1(5)1; IV (5)1(2)1(4)1(5)1. Tarsi: I 16; II 13; III 14; IV 15. Preening combs: metatarsus: II, 4 P V; III, 3 P V–2 R V; IV, 2 P V–3 R V. Copulatory bulb: long, embolus gradually tapering with a dorsal flange ( Fig. 21 F–H), spermatic duct slightly curved. Color: Overall orange-yellowish. Abdomen light brown; spinnerets light yellow.

Female allotype (NM 16647, Fig. 22 A–D). Total length 13.68. Carapace ( Fig. 22A ): length 5.02, width 3.60, with small marginal bristles. Cephalic region: length 3.06, clypeus small with 5 marginal bristles; 3 small bristles in front OQ. Fovea: width 0.49, almost straight (slightly procurved). Ocular measurements: AME 0.13, ALE 0.30, PME 0.20, PLE 0.23, OQ length 0.48, width 0.89; AME–ALE 0.07, PME–PLE 0.05, AME–PME 0.06, ALE–PLE 0, AME–AME 0.12, PME-PME 0.33. Chelicerae ( Fig. 22C ): length 2.96, width 1.92; with dorsal–retrolateral dark bristles. Fang groove with 9 promarginal teeth and 28 mesobasal denticles. Labium: length 0.42, width 0.82 with one cuspule. Maxillae: length 1.79, width 0.90, with 54 cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face straight, soft area long, with long uniformly distributed hairs, serrula present, prolateral side straight. Sternum ( Fig. 22B ): length 2.43, maximum width 2.09. Abdomen ( Fig. 22A ): length 5.71, with small bristles in the dorsum. PMS: length 0.68; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 1.39:0.95:1.08; total length. Lengths of legs and palp: I: 3.20, 2.23, 2.23, 1.83, 1.24, 10.73. II: 3.01, 1.83, 1.86, 1.76, 1.16, 9.62. III: 2.17, 1.65, 1.55, 2.17, 1.21, 9.28. IV: 3.57, 2.06, 2.43, 3.25, 1.45, 12.76. Palp: 2.35, 1.33, 1.44, —, 1.41, 6.53.

Chaetotaxy: Leg I: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1 P A; patella, 0; tibia, 1 P, 1-1-3 V; metatarsus, 2-1-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1 P A; patella, 1 P A; tibia, 1 P, 1-1-3 V; metatarsus, 2-1-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1 P A, 1-1 R A; patella, 1-1 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1 D, 1-1 R, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1-1 D–P, 1-1-1 D–R, 1-1-1 R, 3-2-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1-1-1-1-1 d, 1 RA; patella, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-1-1 R, 2-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1 P, 1-1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1-1-1 D–R, 1-1-1 R, 3-3-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp: femur, 1-1-1-1 d (1:2A); patella, 0; tibia, 2-2 P, 1-2-3 V; tarsus, 2 V B.

Scopulae: Metatarsi: I, dense, uniformly distributed, divided by bristles; II, sparse (1:2A), divided by narrow band of setae; III–IV, 0. Tarsi: I-II dense, uniformly distributed divided by bristles; III, rale, uniformly distributed and divided by a narrow band of setae; IV, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by a wide band of setae. Trichobothria: Tibiae: palp 8-8; I 11-10; II 10-10; III 11-11; IV 11-10. Metatarsi: I (4)1(2)1(5)1; II (3)1(1)1(4)1; III (4)1(2)1(5)1; IV (3)1(1)1(3)1(5)1. Tarsi: palp 10; I 12; II 11; III 12; IV 11. Preening combs: metatarsus: II 2 P V; III 4 P V–3 R V; IV 2 P V–2 R V. Spermathecae: as in Fig. 22D . Color: Overall orange–yellowish (chelicerae darker). Abdomen yellowish mottled with some light brown spots, spinnerets slight yellow.

Distribution. Eastern Cape Province, South Africa ( Fig. 24 ).

Figures

FIGURE. 21. Lepthercus rattrayi Hewitt, 1917. (male holotype, NM 1317). A cephalothorax, dorsal view; B sternum, ventral view; C chelicerae, prolateral view, arrow indicate the intercheliceral tumesence; D right pedipalp, black arrow indicates the long dorsal setae, the normal anterior side of the retrolateral side of the ventral excavation, red arrow indicate the palpal tibia base dorsally very convex, retrolateral view; E right pedipalp, arrow indicates the abundant proventral setae, prolateral view; F–H copulatory bulb, F retrolateral view, G ventral view, H prolateral view, arrows indicate the long lateral keel; I tibia–metatarsus I, arrow indicates the metatarsus with a protuberance covered by blunt spines.

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

FIGURE. 24. Distribution map of Lepthercus spp: ● Lepthercus confusus sp. nov., ○ Lepthercus dippenaarae sp. nov., Ɨ Lepthercus dregei Purcell, 1902, O Lepthercus engelbrechti sp. nov., A Lepthercus filmeri sp. nov., * Lepthercus haddadi sp. nov., D Lepthercus kwazuluensis sp. nov., ■ Lepthercus lawrencei sp. nov., v Lepthercus mandelai sp. nov., ▼ Lepthercus rattrayi Hewitt, 1917, ▲ Lepthercus sofiae sp. nov. Solid black line indicates the two species overlapped.