Ranops tharinae, Jocqué & Henrard, 2020

Jocqué, Rudy & Henrard, Arnaud, 2020, Three new species of the genus Ranops (Araneae: Zodariidae) from southern Africa, Zootaxa 4899 (1), pp. 186-200 : 190-194

Ranops tharinae sp. nov.

Figures 4 A–D, 5A–C, 6A–C

Diagnosis. Males of R. tharinae sp. nov. are recognized by the shape of the MA, with a widened incurved tip ( Figs 5A , 6A ), and a long distal tegular apophysis accompanying the E. The female is characterized by the epigyne without a sclerotized central plate ( Figs 5 C–D, 6C).

Etymology. The species name is a matronym for Tharina Bird (Pretoria, South Africa), in recognition of her work on Solifugae and for her collections in remote areas of Namibia and Botswana, allowing the discovery of this new species.

Description. Male (Holotype, NCA 2020/541). Total length: 2.24. Carapace: length 1.25, width 1.06, height 0.58.

Colour ( Figs 4 A–B). Carapace medium brown, darker along margin and with dark, inverted arrowhead mark in front of fovea; eye region black; chelicerae, labium and endites brown; sternum medium brown; legs: cx and tr yellow, Fe brown, remaining leg parts yellowish brown; palps yellowish brown; abdomen with dark grey dorsum with two faint brownish blotches in centre, followed by brownish transverse bars, venter medium brown.

Carapace ( Fig. 4A ). Cephalic area with cover of silvery setae; thoracic area with setae cover less dense.

Eyes. ALE 0.11; AME 0.10; PLE 0.06; PME 0.06; ALE-AME 0.05; AME-AME 0.03; PME-PME 0.12; MOQ 0.30 wide in front, 0.33 wide at posterior end, 0.21 long. Clypeus 0.12 high.

Sternum ( Fig. 4B ). 0.64 long, 0.70 wide, shield shaped, with straight anterior margin, lateral margins with intracoxal triangular sclerites.

Legs. With dense cover of flattened incised setae. Fe with one dorsal spine near base.

Leg measurements.

Abdomen ( Figs 4 A–B). Oval, venter slightly sclerotized.

Palp ( Figs 5 A–B, 6A–B): Cymbium flat, with small patch of chemosensitive setae, one distal spine and one prolateral modified seta; RTA thin triangle, with large base and down-curved, tapered, blunt tip; subtegulum large, visible over entire length of bulbus; MA massive, strongly curved, distal part widened, directed backward, with tip mesally concave; tegulum at base of E with short, blunt projection; E parallel-sided, slightly curved outward; distal tegular apophysis as long as E, hook-shaped at tip.

Female (Paratype, NCA 2020/542). Total length 3.39. Carapace: length 1.60, width 1.28, height 0.64.

Colour ( Figs 4 C–D). Carapace brown, with darker radiating striae; eye region black; chelicerae brown, sternum medium brown with darker margin; legs: cx and tr yellow, Fe medium brown with paler proximal end, remainder yellowish brown; palp femora medium brown, remaining segments yellowish brown; abdomen dorsum dark grey with pair of roundish brown spots followed by pair of adjacent spots, 5 transverse bars and pale patch around anal tubercle; venter pale, light grey to cream anteriorly, gradually darkened towards dark grey sides; spinnerets pale.

Carapace ( Fig. 4C ). Pear-shaped, with sparse cover of dark setae.

Eyes. ALE 0.10; AME 0.15; PLE 0.10; PME 0.08; ALE-AME 0.03; AME-AME 0.08; PME-PME 0.23; MOQ 0.38 wide in front, 0.39 wide at posterior end, 0.39 long. Clypeus 0.15 high.

Sternum ( Fig. 4D ). 1.10 long and 0.94 wide, roughly shield-shaped, straight at anterior margin, with black setae at margins but without setae centrally.

Legs. Densely covered with flattened incised setae. Fe with one dorsal spine near base.

Leg measurements

Abdomen ( Figs 4 C–D). Ovoid, with short uniform black setae throughout, only marginally longer at posterior end.

Epigyne ( Figs 5 C–E, 6C). Posterior median lobe twice as wide as long, widest at lateral midpoint. Vulva: spermathecae twisted cylindrical provided internally with spiral of 3 turns. Anterior median duct of spermathecae converging slightly forward at anterior apex.

Type material. Holotype ³: BOTSWANA: Central District : Palapye, BIUST campus (staff housing), 22°35’21.68”S, 27°07’19.89”E, 986 m a.s.l., leg. T.L. Bird, 13.XII.2018 (by hand at night, TB 18/320b) ( NCA 2020 /541).

Paratypes: BOTSWANA: Central District : Palapye, BIUST campus (staff housing), 22°35’21.68”S, 27°07’19.89”E, 986 m a.s.l., leg. T.L. & C. Bird, X.2017 (by hand at night, TB 17/135), 1♀ ( NCA 2020 /542); As preceding (TB 17/136), 1♀ ( NCA 2020 /543); As preceding (TB 18/333), 23.XII.2018, 1♀ ( NCA 2020 /545); As preceding (TB 18/301), leg. T.L. Bird, 18.XI.2018, 2♀ ( NCA 2020 /544) .

Distribution. Ranops tharinae sp. nov. is only known from the type locality in south-western Botswana ( Fig. 9 ).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Ranops tharinae sp. nov. habitus, A–B Male holotype (NCA 2020/541), C–D Female paratype (NCA 2020/543). A, C Dorsal view; B, D Ventral view. Scales = 1 mm.

FIGURE 5. Ranops tharinae sp. nov. genitalia, A–B Male holotype (NCA 2020/541), C–E Female paratype (NCA 2020/543). A Left palp, ventral view; B Idem, retrolateral view; C Epigyne, ventral view; D Idem, digested; E Vulva, dorsal view. Scales = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 6. Ranops tharinae sp. nov. genitalia drawings, A–B Male holotype (NCA 2020/541), C Female paratype (NCA 2020/543). A Left palp, ventral view; B Idem, retrolateral view; C Epigyne, ventral view. Abbreviations: E—embolus; MAmedian apophyis; ST—subtegulum; TA—tegular apophysis. Scales = 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 9. Distribution map of Ranops species.