Namundra brandberg, Platnick & Bird, 2007

Platnick, Norman I. & Bird, Tharina L., 2007, On the First African Spiders of the Subfamily Molycriinae (Araneae, Prodidomidae), American Museum Novitates 3552 (1), pp. 1-8 : 6-7

Namundra brandberg , new species figures 1–3 , 9, 10

TYPE: Female holotype taken in a yellow pan trap at an elevation of 700 m in Hungarob Ravine , Brandberg, 21 ° 13 9 25 0 S, 14 ° 31 9 3 0 E, Omaruru Distr., Namibia (Nov. 2, 1999; K. Meakin), deposited in NMNW ( SMN 45303) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: Females can be distinguished from those of the other known species by their more pea-shaped spermathecae and relatively small epigynal ducts ( figs. 9, 10 ).

MALE: Unknown.

FEMALE: Total length 4.45. Carapace 1.79 long, 1.54 wide. Femur II 2.06 long. Coloration as in N. griffinae . Leg spination typical for genus except femora: I, II p0-0-0, III p0-0-0, r0-0-0; IV p0-0-0; metatarsi IV p0- 1-0, r0-1-0. Spermathecae pea-shaped, occupying about three times as much of epigynal length as do ducts ( figs. 9, 10 ).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: NAMIBIA: Omaruru Distr. : Brandberg-Nuwuarib Gorge, 21 ° 02 9 26.4 0 S, 14 ° 35 9 38.4 0 E, May 6, 2004, pitfall, elev. 620 m (EduVentures 4 Expedition, NMNW) , 1 juv., probably this species.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the Brandberg massif, Namibia.

Namundra kleynjansi , new species figures 11, 12

TYPE: Female holotype taken in reptile traps at 17 ° 37 9 S, 12 ° 12 9 E, Opuwo Distr., Namibia (Oct. 15, 1988; H. Kleynjans), deposited in NMNW ( SMN 40806) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a patronym in honor of the collector of the type.

DIAGNOSIS: Females resemble those of N. leechi in having large, almost rectangular spermathecae, but have shorter epigynal ducts ( figs. 11, 12 ).

MALE: Unknown.

FEMALE: Total length 5.07. Carapace 2.30 long, 2.05 wide. Femur II 2.97 long. Coloration as in N. griffinae except anterior portion of carapace only slightly darkened. Leg spination typical for genus. Spermathecae large, almost rectangular, with epigynal ducts restricted to anterior edge of spermathecae ( figs. 11, 12 ).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: None.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the type locality in northwestern Namibia .

Figures

Figs. 1–3. Namundra brandberg, new species, female. 1. Cephalothorax and abdomen, dorsal view. 2. Same, ventral view. 3. Spinnerets, ventral view.

Figs. 9–14. 9, 10. Namundra brandberg, new species. 11, 12. N. kleynjansi, new species. 13, 14. N. leechi, new species. 9, 11, 13. Epigyna, ventral views. 10, 12, 14. Same, dorsal views.