Cheiracanthium schenkeli Caporiacco, 1949

Lotz, L. N., 2015, New Species of the Spider Genus Cheiracanthium from Continental Africa (Araneae: Eutichuridae), Zootaxa 3973 (2), pp. 321-336 : 332

Cheiracanthium schenkeli Caporiacco, 1949

Figs 40–42

Chiracanthium schenkeli Caporiacco, 1949: 436 , figs 70; Lotz, 2007a: 56, figs 105–108.

Diagnosis. C. schenkeli females are most similar to those of C. vansoni Lawrence, 1936 , in the bend in the copulatory ducts close to the spermathecae, but differ by the shape of the shorter copulatory ducts (see Lotz 2007a figs 108, 124). Males are most similar to those of C. furculatum Karsch, 1879 and C. vansoni Lawrence, 1936 , in the TA being relatively broad with a pointed and a rounded double apex, but differ from C. furculatum by the bend in the RTA apex and from C. vansoni by the straight CA (compare Lotz 2007a: figs 39–40, 127–128 and Figs 41– 42 ).

Description. Females redescribed by Lotz (2007a). Male: (n = 9): TL = 4.76 (4.1–5.0); CL = 2.16 (1.8–2.3); CW = 1.62 (1.4–1.7); OAL = 0.33 (0.30–0.35); OAW = 0.79 (0.7–0.8); CLL = 0.05 (0.05–0.05). Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; fang furrow with six teeth of unequal size, with PMT:RMT = 3:3 ( Fig. 40 ). Measurements: AME– AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.10; AME diameter 0.15; PME–PME 0.15; PME–PLE 0.15; PME diameter 0.15; MOQAW 0.40; MOQPW 0.45; CI (CL/CW) 1.35; LL:CL 5.96; STL 1.1; STW 0.9. Leg measurements: I— 3.5+1.0+3.7+4.0+1.5 = 13.7; II—2.5+0.9+2.3+2.8+0.8 = 9.3; III—1.4+0.7+1.4+1.7+0.7 = 5.9; IV— 2.7+0.9+2.3+3.3+0.8 = 10.0; Palp—1.0+0.3+0.4+0.9 = 2.6. Leg spines: I 0-1p1r-1p1r, 2v-6v- 0, 2v- 1v-1v; II 0- 1p1r-1p1r, 2v-2 v1 p-1p, 2v-2 v1 p- 1v; III 0-1p1r-1p1r, 2v- 1p1r-1p1r, 2v 1p1r- 2v 1p1r- 3v 1p1r; IV 0-1p1r-1p1r, 2v- 1p1r-1p1r, 2v 1p1r- 4v 1p1r- 3v 1p1r. Abdomen: similar to female, but more elongate. Palp ( Figs 41–42 ): cymbium elongate, about twice tibia length, with straight proximally directed apophysis with sharp apex, narrowing in last third before apex; RTA with single apex, widening before curving to apex; TA sclerotized, with two broad, rounded apices; one apex at 90 degrees to other apex; EM long, almost encircling tegulum, ending at CON apex; CON not sclerotized but distinct.

New material examined. 1♂, BOTSWANA: Selkirk mine, 21º19’S, 27º42’E, 28.III–5.IV.2008, D.H. Jacobs ( NCAP); 6♂, SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo, Pafuri, Wallers Camp, 22º26’S, 30º55’E, 14–16.II.2008, N. Hahn ( NCAP, 6 vials); 1♂, Limpopo, Little Leigh, 22º56’S, 29º54’E, 2006, F. Maanda ( NCAP); 1♂, Limpopo, Blouberg Nature Reserve, 22º59’S, 29º08’E, 2006, V. Gelebe ( NCAP); 1♂, Limpopo, Soutpansberg, Lajuma, 23º02’S, 29º27’E, 6.II.2008, R. Lyle ( NMBA 11436); 1♀ RWANDA: Kisenyi, 01º42’S, 29º16’E, XII.1952, A. Bertrand ( MRAC 78860).

Distribution. Widely distributed on the eastern side of Africa south of the equator ( Fig. 56 ).

Habitat. Collected by sweeping and beating in savanna and Afromontane forests.

Figures

FIGURES 40 – 51. 40 – 42 C. schenkeli Caporiacco, 1949: 40 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 41 male palp, ventro-lateral view; 42 same, retrolateral view. 43 – 48 C. shilabira sp. nov.: 43 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 44 epigynum, ventral view; 45 same, dorsal view; 46 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 47 male palp, ventro-lateral view; 48 same, retrolateral view. 49 – 51 C. tanzanense sp. nov.: 49 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 50 male palp, ventro-lateral view; 51 same, retrolateral view.

FIGURES 56 – 57. Distribution maps: 56 C. schenkeli Caporiacco, 1949 (square). 57 C. shilabira sp. nov. (circle), C. tanzanense sp. nov. (triangle).