Smeringopus florisbad, Huber, 2012

HUBER, BERNHARD A., 2012, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Afrotropical endemic genus Smeringopus Simon, 1890 (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 3461 (1), pp. 1-138 : 54-55

Smeringopus florisbad new species

Figs. 262–263 , 284–285 , 317–321

Type. Male holotype from South Africa, Free State, Brandford, Florisbad (28°46’S, 26°05’E), 1250 m a.s.l., 1.–15.ii.1988 (L.N. Lotz), in NMBA (4107) .

Etymology. The name is a noun in apposition, derived from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners (other species of the natalensis group, especially S. lesnei , S. natalensis , S. blyde , S. koppies , S. harare , S. badplaas ) by shapes of bulbal processes ( Figs. 319, 320 ); from other close relatives by absence of process near palpal tarsal organ ( Fig. 317 ), relatively straight procursus (ventrally), absence of prolateral process on procursus tip, and three black lines ventrally on abdomen (versus two).

Male (holotype). Total body length 5.5, carapace width 1.7. Leg 1: 41.0 (10.9 + 0.7 + 10.4 + 16.7 + 2.3), tibia 2: 7.3, tibia 3: 5.5, tibia 4: 7.7; tibia 1 L/d: 59. Habitus similar S. koppies (cf. Figs. 245–246 ). Carapace ochreyellow with distinct dark pattern (median, lateral, and submarginal marks), clypeus with pair of dark marks widening distally, sternum brown with light marks near leg coxae, legs with barely visible darker rings subdistally on femora and tibiae, abdomen dorsally with distinct dark pattern, ventrally with three dark lines in median part (median line narrow but distinct). Distance PME-PME 170 µm, diameter PME 140 µm, distance PME-ALE 70 µm, distance AME-AME 35 µm, diameter AME 140 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with very indistinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in S. badplaas (cf. Figs. 314, 315 ). Palps as in Figs. 262 and 263 , coxa without retrolateral apophysis, trochanter barely modified, femur with retrolateral furrow with distinct rim proximally, cymbium without projection near tarsal organ, procursus ventrally almost straight, without prolateral process at tip ( Figs. 317, 318 ), bulb with three distinctively shaped processes ( Figs. 319, 320 ). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs on metatarsi 1 and 2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 2.5%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1. Gonopore with two epiandrous spigots.

Variation. In males from Bronkhorstspruit the median bulbal projection is slightly shorter and the distance between dorso-distal apophysis and membranous tip of procursus (marked in Fig. 317 ) is slightly shorter. Tibia 1 in 6 other males: 7.6–11.5 (mean 10.2).

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 9 females: 6.8–10.9 (mean 9.3). Epigynum a simple plate without pockets ( Fig. 284 ), variable in shape and coloration and thus possibly not clearly distinguishable from close relatives ( S. lesnei , S. natalensis , S. blyde , S. koppies , S. harare , S. badplaas ); internal genitalia as in Figs. 285 and 321 (also very similar to close relatives).

Distribution. Known from four localities in central and eastern South Africa ( Fig. 299 ).

Material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Free State: Brandford, Florisbad : 1♂ holotype above, together with 1 juv.; same data but 21.xii.1987 – 5.i.1988, 1♀ in NMBA (3845) ; 5.–19.i.1988, 1♀ in NMBA (3919) ; 19.i.–1.ii.1988, 1♂ in NMBA (3983) ; 1.–15.ii.1988, 1♀ in NMBA (4079) ; 2.–16.iii.1988, 1♀ in NMBA (4223) ; 24.v.–8.vi.1988, 1♂ in NMBA (4443) . 31.x.–18.xi.1988, 1♂ in NMBA (5225) . Florisbad , vi.1985 (Museum Staff), 1♂ in NMBA (839) . Bloemfontein (29°09’S, 26°10’E), 23.xi.1999 (L.N. Lotz), 1♂ in NMBA (9236) ; Bloemfontein , 1440 m a.s.l., in house, 3.xii.1991 (L.N. Lotz), 1♂ in NMBA (5851) ; Bloemfontein , in house, 22.ix.1988 (L.N. Lotz), 1♂ in NMBA (2983) ; Bloemfontein , in house, ii.1993 (M. Swart), 1♀ in NMBA (6116) ; Bloemfontein , in museum, 1400 m a.s.l., 24.i.1992 (J. Irish), 1♀ in NMBA (6000) ; Bloemfontein , in house, 23.viii.1993 (J. Irish), 1♀ in NMBA (8299) . Bloemfontein, Naval Hill (29°06’S, 26°14’E), 1440 m a.s.l., viii.1990 (L.N. Lotz), 1♀ in NMBA (6518) . Bloemfontein, Grant’s Hill South, Oliewenhuis (29°06’S, 26°13’E), xi.1991 (L.N. Lotz) 1♀ in NMBA (7930) . Gauteng: Bronkhorstspruit [25°48’S, 28°44’E], “onder klip”, 12.ii.1967 (A.S.D.), 1♂ 1♀ in NCP (76/ 2015); Bronkhorstspruit , in house, 15.iv.1987 (K. Viviers), 1♀ in NCP (91/223). “Plaas Onverwacht”, ~ 12 km E Bronkhorstspruit [~ 25°51’S, 28°57’E], date not given, leg. A.S.D., 1♂ in NCP (76/2014) .

Figures

FIGURE 299. Known distribution of the natalensis group except S. natalensis (cf. Fig. 298). Squares: further undescribed species.

FIGURES 256–267. Smeringopus natalensis group, left male palps, prolateral and retrolateral views. 256–257. S. natalensis. 258–259. S. koppies. 260–261. S. badplaas. 262–263. S. florisbad. 264–265. S. lesnei. 266–267. S. harare.

FIGURES 278–297. Smeringopus natalensis group, epigyna, ventral views and cleared female genitalia, dorsal views. 278–279. S. natalensis. 280–281. S. koppies. 282–283. S. badplaas. 284–285. S. florisbad. 286–287. S. lesnei. 288–289. S. blyde. 290–291. S. hanglip. 292–293. S. lydenberg. 294–295. S. mlilwane. 296–297. S. ndumo.

FIGURES 317–326. Smeringopus florisbad (317–321) and S. lesnei (322–326). 317, 322. Left cymbia and procursi, retrolateral views (asterisk marks variable detail; see text). 318, 323. Left procursi, prolateral views. 319–320, 324–325. Left bulbal processes, prolateral and dorsal views. 321, 326. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal views. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.

FIGURES 243–255. Smeringopus natalensis group, habitus and male prosomata, oblique frontal views. 243–244. S. natalensis, male, dorsal and ventral views. 245–246. S. koppies, male, dorsal and ventral views. 247–248. S. hanglip, male, dorsal and ventral views. 249–250. S. lydenberg, female, dorsal and ventral views. 251. S. natalensis. 252. S. blyde. 253. S. hanglip. 254. S. lydenberg. 255. S. mlilwane.

FIGURES 310–316. Smeringopus badplaas. 310. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 311. Left procursus, prolateral view. 312–313. Left bulbal processes, prolateral and dorsal views. 314–315. Male chelicerae, frontal and lateral views. 316. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.