Diploglena proxila, Haddad, 2015

Haddad, Charles R., 2015, A revision of the southern African two-eyed spider genus Diploglena (Araneae: Caponiidae), African Invertebrates 56 (2), pp. 343-343 : 360-362

Diploglena proxila sp. n.

Figs 64–68

Etymology: The species name is Latin for broad, referring to the broad base of the tegular apophysis of the male palp.

Diagnosis: Males of D. proxila sp. n. are most similar to those of D. capensis and D. major , with which it shares the distal lobe of the tegular apophysis projecting considerably beyond the distal margin of the tegulum. It can be separated from D. capensis by the much broader basal lobe of the tegular apophysis, and from D. major by the much larger distal lobe of the tegular apophysis and clearly longer embolus (compare Fig. 65 with Figs 52 and 61 ). The shape of the epigyne in the females resembles that in D. major , particularly the partially obscured sclerotised strips (compare Fig. 67 with Fig. 18 ), but D. proxila sp. n. has a slightly greater ESTR of 1:0.61, while 1:0.52–1: 0.56 in D. major . Description:

Male (holotype, NMBA 2128).

Measurements: CL 2.60, CW 2.11, SL 1.55, SW 1.42, AL 3.68, AW 2.00, TL 5.75, CLER 1:0.16.

Length of leg segments, sequence from femur to tarsus, and total: I 1.80 + 0.95 + 1.40 + 0.88 + 0.55 = 5.58; II 1.60 + 0.80 + 1.20 + 0.95 + 0.60 = 5.15; III 1.25 + 0.75 + 0.80 + 0.97 + 0.67 = 4.44; IV 1.66 + 0.98 + 1.28 + 1.30 + 0.85 = 6.07.

Carapace and chelicerae bright orange, chelicerae slightly darker, pits on carapace yellow-orange, giving mottled appearance; sternum and mouthparts yellow-orange, darker around margins; leg I bright yellow-orange, legs II–IV slightly paler, with distal ends of metatarsi and entire tarsi creamy-yellow; abdomen cream dorsally and ventrally. Palpal femora, patellae and tibiae bright yellow-orange, cymbium slightly paler; palpal tegulum with slightly curved embolus, twice as long as broad, directed prolaterally at approximately 10 o’clock; membranous conductor triangular, directed dorsally; embolus and distal lobe of tegular apophysis at nearly right angle to one another; tegular apophysis comprising broad basal lobe distally on tegulum, with triangular distal lobe directed distally at approximately 1 o’clock; tip of tegular apophysis projecting considerably beyond distal tegular margin, clearly more distal than tip of embolus ( Figs 64–66 ).

Female (paratype, NMBA 2128).

Measurements: CL 2.68, CW 2.13, SL 1.60, SW 1.45, AL 4.95, AW 2.75, TL 7.50, CLER 1:0.17.

Length of leg segments, seQuence from femur to tarsus, and total: I 1.86 + 1.05 + 1.30 + 0.98 + 0.55 = 5.74; II 1.60 + 0.95 + 1.10 + 0.95 + 0.55 = 5.15; III 1.35 + 0.78 + 0.85 + 1.00 + 0.65 = 4.63; IV 1.77 + 1.05 + 1.90 + 1.38 + 0.80 = 6.90.

Coloration as in male. Palpal femora, patellae and tibiae yellow-orange, tarsi orange. External genitalia with weakly sclerotised anterior plate, lateral margins nearly parallel anteriorly, sclerotisation extending obliquely from the posterolateral edge, with broad narrow unsclerotised patch in front of paired slightly recurved sclerotised strips ( Fig. 67 ); internal structure as for congeners ( Fig. 68 ); ESTR 1:0.61.

Holotype ♂: SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: Vredenburg, Farm Besters Kraal 38, 32°50'S 17°55'E, leg. L.N. Lotz, 24.x.1987 (under plants and rocks) (NMBA 2128).

Paratype: Together with holotype, 1♀ (NMBA 2128).

Distribution: Known only from the type locality, located between the populations of D. capensis and D. dippenaarae sp. n. on the South African West Coast ( Fig. 63 ).

Figures

Figs 64–66.Left male palp of Diploglena proxila sp. n.in prolateral (64), ventral (65) and retrolateral views (66). Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

Figs 67–68.Digital microscope photographs of female Diploglena proxila sp.n.genitalia in ventral(67) and dorsal view (68). Abbreviations: lt – lateral sieve trachea; mt – anterior branches of paired median tubular tracheae; pb – posterior branches of paired median tubular tracheae; r – seminal receptacle; s – membranous sac extending from seminal receptacle. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Figs 48–53. Left male palps of Diploglena arida sp. n. (48–50) and D. capensis Purcell, 1904 (51–53): (48, 51) prolateral view; (49, 52) ventral view; (50, 53) retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

Figs 60–62.Left male palpof Diploglenamajor Lawrence,1928 in prolateral (60),ventral (61) and retrolateral views (62). Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

Figs14–25.Digital microscope photographsof female Diploglena genitaliain ventral (14–18) and dorsalview (19–25): (14, 19) D. arida sp. n.; (15, 20) D. capensis Purcell, 1904; (16, 21) D. dippenaarae sp. n.; (17, 22, 23) D. karooica sp. n.; (18, 24, 25) D. major Lawrence, 1928. Abbreviations: lt – lateral sieve trachea; mt – anterior branches of paired median tubular tracheae; pb – posterior branches of paired median tubular tracheae; r – seminal receptacle; s – membranous sac extending from seminal receptacle; sd – distance between lateral ends of transverse sclerotised strips; td – distance between lateral ends of posterior tracheal spiracles. Scale bars = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 63. Distribution of Diploglena arida sp. n. (black circles), D. capensis Purcell, 1904 (open circles), D. dippenaarae sp. n. (black squares), D. karooica sp. n. (open squares), D. major Lawrence, 1928 (black triangles), D. proxila sp. n. (white circle) and undetermined Diploglena immatures (open triangles) in southern Africa.