Smeringopus lesserti Kraus, 1957

HUBER, BERNHARD A., 2012, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Afrotropical endemic genus Smeringopus Simon, 1890 (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 3461 (1), pp. 1-138 : 69-73

Smeringopus lesserti Kraus, 1957

Figs. 12 , 374–377, 380–381, 384–385 , 402–423

“ Smeringopus elongatus ” (misidentification): Lessert 1930: 621–622, fig. 5.

Smeringopus lesserti Kraus 1957: 222–223 , pl. 19, figs. 7–10 (except female from Dilolo-Gare; see below).

Types. Male holotype and 1♀ paratype from Congo D.R., Congo Central Province, Malela [5°59’S, 12°37’E], 2.–12.vii.1915 (H. Lang, American Museum Congo Expedition), in MHNG (only left male palp) [the SMF (40441) also has a palp of a “male paratype”, but a male paratype was not designated and the palp is also a left one]. One misidentified female paratype (poorly preserved, larger epigynal pockets) from Congo D.R, Lualaba Prov. , Katanga, Dilolo-Gare [10°42’S, 22°20’E], 1931 (F. Haas), in SMF. All types examined .

Diagnosis. Easily distinguished from known congeners by long dorsal process on embolus ( Figs. 380 , 415), thin process distally on procursus ( Figs. 402–404 ), and epigynum shape (small, narrow plate with relatively large semicircular pockets; Figs. 384 , 423).

Male (Thysville). Total body length 6.5, carapace width 2.1. Leg 1: 64.3 (16.1 + 0.9 + 16.3 + 28.5 + 2.5), tibia 2: 10.5, tibia 3: 7.2, tibia 4: 10.5; tibia 1 L/d: 80. Habitus as in Figs. 374 and 375 . Carapace ochre-yellow with brown median and lateral marks, clypeus with pair of brown stripes, sternum monochromous brown, legs ochreyellow to light brown, tips of femora and tibiae lighter, abdomen ochre-gray with distinct dorsal and ventral pattern. Distance PME-PME 185 µm, diameter PME 170 µm, distance PME-ALE 70 µm, distance AME-AME 40 µm, diameter AME 135 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with indistinct ‘pseudo-lenses’ (cf. female, Fig. 422 ); deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in Figs. 408 and 409 , with small distal apophyses, each provided with modified hair ( Figs. 416, 417 ). Palps as in Figs. 380 and 381 , coxa with low retrolateral apophysis and deep wide furrow, trochanter barely modified, femur with deep retrolateral furrow with apophysis on proximal rim ( Fig. 411 ), procursus with distinctive distal processes ( Figs. 402–404 , 412–413 ), bulb with long dorsal process arising from embolus ( Figs. 405–407 , 415 ). 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 ( Fig. 418 ); ALS with eight spigots each ( Fig. 419 ); PMS with two spigots each ( Fig. 420 ).

Variation. Sternum varies from light brown to almost black; femora and tibiae subdistally often darkened. Tibia 1 in 34 males: 8.1–16.1 (mean 13.1).

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 51 females: 7.1–16.0 (mean 12.0). Epigynum small and narrow plate with relatively large, semicircular pockets ( Figs. 384 , 423); internal genitalia as in Figs. 385 and 410.

Distribution. Widely distributed in central Africa ( Fig. 401 ).

Material examined. CONGO D.R.: Congo Central Prov.: Malela, 1♂ 1♀ types above. Muanda [5°56’S, 12°21’E], ix.1947 (Darteville), 1♂ 1♀ (2 vials) in MRAC (66205, 66231) . Thysville [=Mbanza-Ngungu, 5°16’S, 14°51’E], 3.x.1938 (M. Bequaert), large cave, 1500 m a.s.l., 7♂ 26♀ in MRAC (1390–1432) ; same data but 6.x.1938, 7♀ in MRAC (separated from 1374–1382) . Grotte de Thysville , viii.1924 (G. Geerts), 1♀ in MRAC (25674) . “Grotte de Vivi” [near Matadi , ~ 5°50’S, 13°30’E?], ii.1937 (Darteville), 2♂ 4♀ + juvs (2 vials) in MRAC (26828–32, 26852–53) . Equateur Prov.: Eala [=Mbandaka, 0°03’N, 18°16’E], v.1936 (J. Ghesquière), 1♀ in MRAC (26908) . Tshopo Prov.: Stanleyville [=Kisangani, 0°31’N, 25°12’E], v.1928 (A. Collart), 1♂ in MRAC (30525) . Avakubi [1°19’N, 27°33’E], no date (Delhaize), 1♂ 4♀ in MRAC (25696–702) . Lulua Prov.: Luluaburg [=Kananga, 5°54’S, 22°27’E], no date (R. P. Cambier), 1♂ 3♀ in MRAC (25692–95) . Kele [6°55’S, 23°10’E], caves, 1938 (M. Bequaert), 2♂ 2♀ in MRAC (702–05) . Kinshasa Prov.: Leopoldville [= Kinshasa, 4°20’S, 15°19’E], i.1922 (P.H. Schouteden), 1♂ in MRAC (25690) . Nord-Kivu: Benei [=Beni?, 0°30’N, 29°28’E], i.–ii.1953 (M. Watty), 3♂ 13♀ in MHNG . Forêt de Beni, Vill. Mbao [=Mbau, 0°39’N, 29°30’E], 1000–1100 m a.s.l., 5.v.1964 (M.J. Celis), 4♂ 6♀ + juvs (2 vials) in MRAC (126796, 97) . Bas-Uele Prov.: Djamba [2°52’N, 24°06’E?], no date (P.H. Schouteden), 1♂ 2♀ in MRAC (30536–38).

SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE: São Tomé: Barricade Wall S of Praia du Mutamba (0°23.2’N, 6°35.7’E), 3.v.2001 (J.M. Ledford), 1♂ 1♀ 1 juv. in CAS. Roca Zampalma [~ 0°16’N, 6°37’E], 2500 feet a.s.l., 5.–14.viii.1949 (B. Malkin), 1♀ in CAS . Príncipe [~ 1°37’N, 7°24’E]: no further locality data, 9.xii.1932 (W.H.J. Janis?), 2♀ in BMNH (separated from 1933.8.30.60–64) .

CAMEROON: Adamawa Region: Djohong [6°50’N, 14°42’E], 1.–5.ix.1971 (F. Puylaert), 14♂ 16♀ in MRAC (141389) . Northwest Region: Oku (~ 6°14.5’N, 10°30.5’E), ~ 1900 m a.s.l., in building, 17.iv.2009 (B.A. Huber), 1♂ 1♀ in ZFMK (Ar 8510) . Centre Region: Reserve forestiere du Nyong, 16 km S of Makak (“ Lok. 174”; ~ 3°25’N, 11°00’E?), 10.xi.–13.xii.1950 (J. Birket-Smith, J. Dahl), 1♂ 1♀ in ZMUC ; same data but “1949–1950, 10/2–727”, 1♂ in ZMUC .

GABON: Ogooué-Ivindo: Monts de Belinga, Mayebout (1°06.9’N, 13°06.4’E), 500 m a.s.l., in building, 13.viii.2011 (B.A. & S.R. Huber), 2♂ 14♀ 1 juv. (2 vials) in ZFMK (Ar 8511-12); same data, 1♂ 2♀ in pure ethanol, in ZFMK (Gab 225). Makokou (0°33.9’N, 12°50.7’E), 520 m a.s.l., in building, 13.viii.2011 (B.A. & S.R. Huber) 1♀ in ZFMK (Ar 8513) . Ogooué-Lolo: village near Moudouma (1°23.9’S, 12°09.4’E), 440 m a.s.l., in building, 24.viii.2011 (B.A. & S.R. Huber), 2♂ 5♀ (2 vials) in ZFMK (Ar 8514-15); same data, 1♂ 1♀ in pure ethanol, in ZFMK (Gab 178). “Gabon”, no further data, with the label belonging to the lost S. arambourgi male syntypes, 11♂ 4♀ in MNHN (Ar 10363). “ Gabon ”, no further data, donated by E. Simon in 1913 (as S. elongatus ), 1♂ (without palps) 1♀ in MHNG .

ANGOLA: Luanda Prov.: Luanda [8°50’S, 13°15’E], no date (H. Chatclain), 1♂ 1 juv. in USNM . Malanje Prov.: Furnas de Cacolo-Calombe near Malange [= Malanje, ~ 9°30’S, 16°20’E], 23.xi.1946 (A. de Barros Machado), 2♂ 4♀ in SMF (Ang 165.3); same locality, vi.1948 (H. Breui), 2♂ 4♀ in SMF (Ang 3128.1) .

Figures

FIGURE 401. Known distribution of S. lesserti.

FIGURES 2–13. Smeringopus, alive specimens in their natural habitats. 2. S. bwindi, female with eggsac (Uganda, Bwindi). 3–4. S. chogoria, females with eggsac and spiderlings (Kenya, Mau Mau and Chogoria). 5. S. mpanga, female with spiderlings (Uganda, Kalinzu). 6–7. S. ngangao, male and web with silk-balls (Kenya, Ngangao). 8–10. S. peregrinus, web with silk-balls (Kenya, Gonkonyi), female (Kenya, Hell’s Gate), female with eggsac (Gonkonyi). 11. S. pallidus, female with eggsac (Uganda, Semuliki). 12. S. lesserti, male (Gabon, Mayebout). 13. S. cylindrogaster (Guinea, Dieke).

FIGURES 372–385. Smeringopus pallidus (372–373, 378–379, 382–383) and S. lesserti (374–377, 380–381, 384–385). 372–375. Males, dorsal and ventral views. 376–377. Female, dorsal and ventral views. 378–381. Left male palps, prolateral and retrolateral views (arrow points to retrolateral apophysis). 382–385. Epigyna, ventral views and cleared female genitalia, dorsal views.

FIGURES 402–410. Smeringopus lesserti. 402–404. Left procursus, retrolateral, retrolatero-ventral, and ventral views. 405–407. Left embolus, prolateral, prolatero-dorsal, and prolatero-ventral views. 408–409. Male chelicerae, frontal and lateral views. 410. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.2 mm (402–404), 0.5 mm (405–410).

FIGURES 411–423. Smeringopus lesserti. 411. Left male palpal femur, retrolateral view. 412–413. Left procursus tip, distal and retrolateral views. 414. Female prosoma. 415. Male bulbal processes, prolatero-dorsal view. 416–417. Male cheliceral apophyses. 418. Male gonopore. 419. Male ALS. 420. Male PMS. 421. Male palpal tarsal organ. 422. Female ocular area. 423. Epigynum. Scale lines: 10 µm (416–417), 20 µm (419–421), 80 µm (412–413, 418), 100 µm (411, 415), 200 µm (422–423), 500 µm (414).