Habrocestum africanum, Wesolowska & Haddad, 2009

Wesolowska, Wanda & Haddad, Charles R., 2009, Jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) of the Ndumo Game Reserve, Maputaland, South Africa, African Invertebrates 50 (1), pp. 13-103 : 38-41

Habrocestum africanum sp. n.

Figs 62–67

Etymology: The specific name refers to Africa. Diagnosis: The male of the species is closely related to H. formosum Wesolowska, 1999 from Zimbabwe, but has a wider tibial apophysis, longer tegulum and smaller embolus (compare Figs 64, 65 herein with figs 13–15 in Wesolowska 1999 a). The female resembles H. tanzanicum Wesolowska & Russell-Smith, 2000 from Tanzania, but can be recognised by the smaller copulatory openings and more elongate spermathecae (more compact in H. tanzanicum , compare Figs 66, 67 herein with figs 56, 57 in Wesolowska & Russell-Smith 2000).

Description.

Measurements (male/female): Carapace length 1.9/2.1–2.2, width 1.4/1.7–1.8, height 0.9/1.0. Abdomen length 1.4/2.5, width 1.1/1.7–2.1. Eye field length 1.1/1.1, anterior width 1.4/1.4–1.5, posterior width 1.3/1.3.

Male.

General appearance as in Fig. 62; small spider. Carapace high with very steep posterior slope ( Fig. 63); eye field short, distance between anterior lateral eyes slightly larger than between posterior lateral ones; carapace dark brown, vicinity of eyes black; short greyish hairs cover thoracic part, denser on carapace slopes, orange hairs on eye field, numerous brown bristles near eyes; anterior eyes surrounded by short hairs, orange above eyes and whitish below; clypeus light brown. Chelicerae fissidentate; mouthparts brown, sternum dark yellow. Abdomen small, narrower than carapace, dark yellow with brown pattern ( Fig. 62); venter yellow, tinged grey; brown hairs on abdomen. Legs dark yellow with brown spots, first pair slightly darker; legs III longest (especially long femora); spines numerous, long, brown; leg hairs brown. Pedipalps brown, along prolateral sides of femur, patella and part of cymbium dense white hairs; palpal organ shown in Figs 64, 65; tibial apophysis straight, embolus short.

Female.

Resembles male. Endites with pale inner margins. Pedipalps yellow. Epigyne rounded with deep pocket at epigastric furrow ( Fig. 66); internal structures strongly sclerotised, shown in Fig. 67.

Holotype: ơ Red Cliffs, 26 ° 51.164'S: 32 ° 12.365'E, subtropical bush, leaf litter, 17.vi.2005 (NCA 2009/667). Paratypes: 3^together with holotype (NCA 2009/667); 1^Between Main Camp and Vulture Restaurant, 26 ° 54.276'S: 32 ° 18.664'E, broadleaf woodland, beats, short shrubs, 2.xii.2000 (NMSA 21828); 1^Eastern shore of Shokwe Pan, 26 ° 52.516'S: 32 ° 12.407'E, beats, various trees, 24.i.2006, R. Lyle (NMSA 21829); 1ơ 1^Near Nyamiti Bird Hide, Pongola R. floodplain, Ezikebheni, 26 ° 53.362'S: 32 ° 18.892'E, pitfall traps, 15–25.i.2006, C. Haddad & R. Lyle (NCA 2008/1874); 2ơ 1^same locality, pitfall traps, 18–28.vi.2006, C. Haddad & F. Jordaan (NCA 2008/1872); 1ơ 6^Southern shore of Hotwe Pan, 26 ° 52.730'S: 32 ° 18.452'E, A. xanthophloea bark, 7.ii.2005 (NCA 2008/642); 1ơ South-western shore of Banzi Pan, 26 ° 53.118'S: 32 ° 16.927'E, A. xanthophloea bark, 17.vi.2005 (NCA 2008/1842); 1^Western shore of Nyamiti Pan, 26 ° 53.767'S: 32 ° 16.557'E, A. xanthophloea bark, 23.i.2006 (NCA 2008/611).

Habitat and biology: Specimens were collected from the soil surface and from leaf litter in thorny thickets in ST. Occasionally collected from the foliage of low shrubs and from fever tree bark in AX.