Chinja scharffi, Polotow & Griswold, 2018

Polotow, Daniele & Griswold, Charles, 2018, Chinja, a new genus of spider from the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania (Araneae, Zoropsidae), Zootaxa 4472 (3), pp. 545-562 : 552-559

Chinja scharffi sp. nov.

Figures 2A , 4 , 8–10

Type material. Holotype male from a pitfall trap at 1250 m elevation in the Mwanihana Forest above Sanje , Uzungwa Mountains, 7°44'28.3"S 36°54'22.1"E, Morogoro Region, Tanzania, collected 25 July 1982 by M. Stolze & N. Scharff, CASENT9006146, deposited in the Zoological Museum of the University of Copenhagen ( ZMUC) . Paratype female, collected by sifting leaf litter in Mwanihana Forest above Sanje, Uzungwa Mountains, elev. 1000 m, 7°44'28.3"S 36°54'22.1"E, Morogoro Region, Tanzania, 1 August 1982, M. Stoltze & N. Scharff leg., CASENT9006157, also deposited in ZMUC .

Etymology. The species epithet is a patronym in honor of Nikolaj Scharff, a leader in biodiversity studies and conservation in the Eastern Arc Biotic Hotpot of Tanzania and collector of this and many other endemic Eastern Arc species.

Diagnosis. Males of C. scharffi can be distinguished from those of C. chinja by having the apex of the embolus evenly truncate in outline, and a recurved flange along the proximal margin of the embolus ( Figs 4A–B , 8A–B ), by lacking a middorsal projection on the palpal tibia ( Fig. 4C ), and by the RTA with both the ventral and retrobasal branches pointed ( Fig. 8G–H ). The females of C. scharffi can be distinguished from those of C. chinja by having the lateral teeth of the epigynum relatively broad and the median plate extending more posteriad ( Fig. 4D ).

Description. Male (holotype, CASENT9006146): Total length 3.10. Markings as in Fig. 2A . Carapace 1.65 long, 1.25 wide, 0.50 high; clypeus 0.03 high. Eye diameters: AME 0.05, ALE 0.09, PME 0.06, PLE 0.08. Chelicerae 0.61 long; sternum 0.80 long, 0.70 wide; labium 0.25 long and wide; palpal coxae 0.45 long, 0.20 wide. Spination: palp: femur d0-0-1-2, p0-0-0-1; leg I: femur d0-1-1-0, p0-0-0-1, tibia v2-2 -2-2, metatarsus v2-2 -2; leg II: femur d0-1-1-0, p0-0-0-1, tibia p0-0-1-0, v2-2 -2-2 [retroventral spines much stouter than proventral], metatarsus p1-1-0-0, v2-2 -2; leg III: femur d1-1-1, p0-0-1-1, r0-0-1-1, tibia d0-1-10, p0-1-1-0, r0-1-1-0, v1-2 -2, metatarsus p0-2-2, r0-2-0-1, v2-2 -2; leg IV: femur d1-1-0-0, p0-0-1-1, r0-0-1-1, tibia d1-0-0, p0-1-1-0, r0-1-1-0, v1-2 -2, metatarsus: d1-0-0-0, p1-1-0-2, r0-1-2-0, v2-2 -2. Leg measurements (Femur + Patella + Tibia + Metatarsus + Tarsus = [Total]): I: 1.25 + 0.60 + 1.15 + 1.00 + 0.70 = [4.70]; II: 1.20 + 0.60 + 0.90 + 0.85 + 0.65 = [4.20]; III: 1.00 + 0.50 + 0.80 + 0.95 + 0.70 = [3.95]; IV: 1.45 + 0.60 + 1.25 + 1.50 + 0.85 = [5.65]; palpus: 0.55 + 0.30 + 0.25 + NA + 0.60 = [1.70]. Palp: palpal tibia 0.44 of cymbial length, RTA with ventral and retrobasal branches pointed, about equal in size ( Figs 4A, C , 8G–H ), tibia lacking retrodorsal projection ( Fig. 4C ), apex of embolus evenly truncate in outline, with a recurved flange along the proximal margin of embolus ( Figs 4A–B , 8A–B ).

Female (paratype, CASENT9006157): Total length 4.00. Markings as in male. Carapace 1.90 long, 1.40 wide, 0.65 high; clypeus 0.03 high. Eye diameters: AME 0.06, ALE 0.11, PME 0.08, PLE 0.10. Chelicerae 0.73 long; sternum 0.90 long, 0.80 wide; labium 0.25 long, 0.30 wide; palpal coxae 0.60 long, 0.28 wide. Spination: palp: femur d0-0-1-1, tibia p0-1-0-0, r0-1-0-0, tarsus p0-2-0-1; leg I: tibia v2-2 -2, metatarsus v2-2 -2; leg II: tibia v2-2 -2- 2 [retroventral spines much stouter than proventral], metatarsus v2-2 -2; leg III: femur d0-1-0-1, p0-0-0-1, tibia d0- 1-10, p0-1-1-0, r0-1-1-0, vv1-2-2, metatarsus p0-1-0-2, r0-1-0-2, v2-2 -2; leg IV: femur d1-1-0-0-0, tibia d0-1-0, p0-1-0, r0-1-0, v1-2 -2, metatarsus p1-1-0-2, r1-0- 02, v2-2 -2. Leg measurements (Femur + Patella + Tibia + Metatarsus + Tarsus = [Total]): I: 1.40 + 0.70 + 1.15 + 1.00 + (abs) = [NA]; II: 1.35 + 0.60 + 1.00 + 0.85 + 0.60 = [4.40]; III: 1.20 + 0.55 + 0.85 + 1.00 + 0.70 = [4.30]; IV: 1.55 + 0.65 + 1.40 + 1.50 + (abs) = [NA]; palpus: 0.70 + 0.35 + 0.40 + NA + 0.60 = [2.05]. Epigynum with lateral teeth relatively broad and median plate extending more posteriad ( Fig. 4D ) than in C. chinja ( Fig. 3D ); vulva as in Fig. 4E .

Variation. Male (N= 11): total length 2.90–4.00; ratios of carapace length/width 1.28–1.56, carapace width/ height 1.93–3.10, PER/AER 1.14–1.36, OAL/OQL 1.09–1.27, cheliceral length/clypeal height 20.00–45.00, sternum length/width 1.00–1.21, length of femur I/carapace length 0.75–0.85, palpal tarsus/femur length 0.88– 1.09. The recurved flange along the proximal margin of the embolus varies in development, being large in the Uluguru specimens and some Uzungwa specimens, and a weakly developed fold in other Uzungwa specimens. The species lacks a developed middorsal process on the palpal tibia, characteristic of C. chinja , but this area may be slightly raised in some specimens. Female (N= 4): total length 4.00–4.80; ratios of carapace length/width 1.28– 1.36, carapace width/height 2.15–2.90, PER/AER 1.26–1.36, OAL/OQL 0.94–1.24, cheliceral length/clypeal height 20.00–35.00, sternum length/width 1.12–1.21, length femur I/carapace length 0.73–0.83, palpal tarsus/ femur length 0.87–1.07.

M aterial examined: TANZANIA: Morogoro Region: Uluguru Mountains , Lupanga West, elev. 1600 m, 6°52'03.5"S 37°43'05.8"E, pitfall trap [SEM prep. palpus, Stub 18-9], 1 July 1981, M. Stoltze & N. Scharff leg., 1 Ƌ, CASENT9006141 ( ZMUC) ; 1 ♀, CASENT9006143 (ZMUC); 1 juvenile, CASENT9006144 (ZMUC); Uluguru Mountains, Lupanga East , elev. 1100 m, 6°51'39.2"S 37°45'50.1"E, pitfall trap, [SEM prep. leg], 10 July 1981, M. Stoltze & N. Scharff leg., 1 ♀, CASENT9006142 ( ZMUC) ; Uzungwa Mountains, Mwanihana Forest above Sanje , 7°44'28.3"S 36°54'22.1"E, all from pitfall traps, elev. 900 m, 1 August 1982, M. Stoltze & N. Scharff leg., 1♂, CASENT9006160 ( ZMUC) ; elev. 1000 m, litter, 1 August 1982, M. Stoltze & N. Scharff leg., 1♀, paratype, CASENT9006157 (ZMUC); 1 August 1982, 1♂, CASENT9006151 (ZMUC); elev. 1100 m, 18 July 1982, M. Stoltze & N. Scharff leg., 1♂, CASENT9006155 (ZMUC); elev. 1250 m, 25 July 1982, M. Stoltze & N. Scharff leg., [habitus drawn JS], 1♂, HOLOTYPE, CASENT9006146 (ZMUC); 1♂, CASENT9006162 (ZMUC); 18 August 1982, 1 juvenile, CASENT9006153 (ZMUC); elev. 1400 m, 15 August 1982, M. Stoltze & N. Scharff, 1♂, CASENT9006154 (ZMUC); elev. 1650 m, litter, 18 July 1982, M. Stoltze & N. Scharff leg., [left palpus drawn], 1♂, CASENT9006145 (ZMUC); 18 August 1982, M. Stoltze & N. Scharff leg., 1♂, CASENT9006159 (ZMUC); Mwanihana Forest Reserve, 7°49'04.9"S 36°50'39.9"E, elev. 700 m, pitfall traps in lowland rain forest, 8–16 September 1984, N. Scharff leg., 1♀ 1♂, CASENT9006149 ( ZMUC) ; 2♂, CASENT9006147 (ZMUC); 2♂, CASENT9065518 (CAS); Mwanihana Forest Reserve, 7°49'04.9"S 36°50'39.9"E, elev. 1650 m, pitfall traps in montane rain forest, 25–29 September 1984, N. Scharff, 1♂, CASENT9006161 ( ZMUC) ; elev. 1800–1850 m, pitfall traps in montane rain forest, 25–29 September 1984, N. Scharff, [SEM prep. Stub16:4, right palp, leg I], 1♂, CASENT9006150 (ZMUC); 1♂, CASENT9006152 (ZMUC), 3♂, CASENT9006158 (ZMUC); 2♂, CASENT9065519 (CAS).

Natural history. This species occurs in the leaf litter and on the soil surface of closed-canopy, moist forest, and is found at low (700 m) to high (1850 m) elevations.

Distribution. Uzungwa and Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania ( Fig. 10 ).

Figures

FIGURE 2. Chinja spp., habitus. A. C. scharffi sp. nov., holotype male, CASENT9006146, dorsal. B, C. C. chinja sp. nov., Kihuhwi-Zigi Forest Reserve, East Usambara Mts., female, no legs, CASENT9006139. B. Ventral. C. Lateral. All by Jenny Speckels.

FIGURE 3. Genitalia of Chinja chinja sp. nov.. A–C. Left male palp, tibia and tarsus, holotype ♂, CASENT9006127. A. Ventral. B. Prolateral. C. Retrolateral. D, E. Female genitalia. D. Epigynum, ventral. E. Vulva, dorsal. Drawings A–C by Jenny Speckels, D–E by Daniele Polotow.

FIGURE 4. Genitalia of Chinja scharffi sp. nov. A–C. Left male palp, tibia and tarsus, from Mwanihana Forest above Sanje, CASENT9006145. A. Ventral. B. Prolateral. C. Retrolateral. D, E. Female genitalia. D. Epigynum, ventral. E. Vulva, dorsal. Drawings A–C by Jenny Speckels, D–E by Daniele Polotow.

FIGURE 8. Right palp of male Chinja scharffi sp. nov., from Mwanihana Forest above Sanje, Uzungwa Mts., [SEM prep. Stub16:4, right palp, leg I], CASENT9006150. A. Ventral. B. Bulb, ventral, showing MA, C, tegular process, and E apex. C. Prolateral. D. Bulb, prolateral, showing MA, C, tegular process, and E apex. E. Retrolateral, showing st/t lock mechanism. F. Dorsal. G. Apex of tibia, retrolateral, showing RTA and concavity beneath cymbial projection. H. Tibia, retrolateral, showing RTA and concavity beneath cymbial projection. I. Tibia, dorsal, showing concavity beneath cymbial projection.

FIGURE 9. Morphology of Chinja scharffi sp. nov.. Male from Mwanihana Forest above Sanje, CASENT9006150, [SEM prep. Stub16:4, right palp, leg I]. A. Tarsal organ, cymbium. B. Tarsus I, prolateral. C. Claws, tarsus and pretarsus I, prolateral. D. Trichobothrial base, metatarsus I.

FIGURE 10. Distribution records of Chinja chinja sp. nov. (green triangles) and C. scharffi sp. nov. (red squares). Africa with inset of Eastern Arc Mountain region of Kenya and Tanzania.