Cheiramiona saniensis, Lotz, L. N., 2015

Lotz, L. N., 2015, New species of the Afrotropical spider genus Cheiramiona Lotz & Dippenaar- Schoeman (Araneae: Eutichuridae), Zootaxa 3981 (1), pp. 71-94 : 90-91

Cheiramiona saniensis sp. nov.

Figs 85–90 , 102

Type material. Holotype ♂, SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal, Sani Pass, 29º36.20’S, 29º17.472’E, 10.IX.2009, D. Prentice leg. ( NCAP 2014/3149); Allotype ♀, SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal, Cathedral Peak Nature Reserve, Rainbow Gorge, 28º57’S, 29º14’E, 19.I.2011, C. Haddad leg. ( NMBA 15884); Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: 1♀, Drakensberg, Injasuti, Delmhlwaziwo Valley, ca. 29º12’S, 29º22’E, 10.II.1982, P. Reavell leg. ( NMSA 14079); 1♀, Cathedral Peak State Forest, Ukhahlamba Research Station, 28º58’S, 29º14’E, 23–26.II.1984, T. & C. Griswold leg. ( NMSA); 1♂, Sani Pass, 29º36.20’S, 29º17.472’E, IX.2009, D. Prentice leg. ( NCAP 2014/3150).

Etymology. The specific name is an adjective taken from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Females of Cheiramiona saniensis sp. nov. are similar to those of C. baviaan sp. nov., C. florisbadensis Lotz, 2002 and C. lejeunei Lotz, 2002 , in the general shape of the SPER and the length and direction of the copulatory ducts, but are differentiated by the funnel-shaped epigynal depression, and by the SPER touching medially, while at least slightly separated in the other three species ( Figs 2–3 , 86–87 , see Lotz 2002: figs 63–64, 118–119). Males are similar to C. regis Lotz, 2002 in the short thick RTA, but can be differentiated by the shorter and straighter EM ( Figs 89–90 , see Lotz 2002: figs 144–145).

Description. Female (n = 3): 7.10 (6.4–7.8); CL = 2.60 (2.6–2.6); CW = 2.03 (2.0–2.1); OAL = 0.40 (0.4–0.4); OAW = 1.18 (1.15–1.20); CLL = 0.05 (0.05–0.05). Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; PMT:RMT = 4:3 ( Fig. 85 ). Measurements: AME–AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.20; AME diameter 0.15; PME–PME 0.20; PME–PLE 0.25; PME diameter 0.15; MOQAW 0.40; MOQPW 0.50; CI (CL/CW) 1.30; LL:CL 4.96; STL 1.3; STW 1.2. Leg measurements: I—3.4+1.1+3.5+3.4+1.5 = 12.9; II—2.2+1.0+2.0+2.0+0.7 = 7.9; III—1.7+0.9+1.3+1.6+0.6 = 6.1; IV—2.7+1.0+2.4+2.5+0.7 = 9.3; Palp—1.1+0.5+0.7+1.1 = 3.4. Leg spines: I—0, 0- 1 v-0, 2v- 2v-1v; II—0, 0, 2v-2v -1v; III—0, 0-0-1p1r, 2v-1 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r; IV—0, 0-0-1r, 2v-2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen: creamy-yellow with heart mark and two longitudinal rows of dark marks posterior to heart mark. Epigynum ( Figs 86–87 ): wider than long, with funnel-shaped posterior median depression; copulatory openings positioned laterally in depression; internally, copulatory ducts proceed anteriorly before ending medially in SPER; SPER with slight posterior-lateral extension; fertilization tubes enter SPER posterior-medially.

Male (n = 2): TL = 6.45 (6.3–6.6); CL = 3.00 (2.9–3.1); CW = 2.40 (2.4–2.4); OAL = 0.35 (0.35–0.35); OAW = 1.15 (1.1–1.2); CLL = 0.08 (0.05–0.10). Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; cheliceral fang furrow with five to six teeth, PMT:RMT = 4:1 to 5:1, RMT bifid ( Fig. 88 ). Measurements: AME–AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.20; AME diameter 0.15; PME–PME 0.20; PME–PLE 0.20; PME diameter 0.15; MOQAW 0.40; MOQPW 0.50; CI (CL/ CW) 1.21; LL:CL 3.69; STL 1.3; STW 1.1. Leg measurements: I—2.9+1.1+2.6+3.0+1.1 = 10.7; II— 2.4+1.0+2.0+2.3+0.9 = 8.6; III—2.0+0.9+1.4+2.0+0.7 = 7.0; IV—2.6+1.0+2.1+2.7+0.9 = 9.3; Palp— 1.4+0.5+0.5+1.5 = 3.9. Leg spines: I—0-0-1p, 2v-2v- 0, 2v- 2v-1v; II—0-0-1p, 2v-2v- 0, 2v-2v-3 v1 p; III—0-0-1p1r, 2v- 0-1p1r, 2v-2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r; IV—0-0-1p1r, 2 v1 r-0-1 v1 p1r, 2v-2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen: similar to female. Palp ( Figs 89–90 ): cymbium elongate, three times as long as tibia length; tibia with broad, truncated, spoon-shaped RTA with rounded, almost flat, apex; TA long, slightly sclerotized, curved towards EM at tip; tegulum with prolateral bulg, slightly overlapping EM at TA base; EM short, thick, narrowing towards the sharply pointed apex; CON finger-like, distinct but not sclerotized.

Distribution. Only known from the western parts of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, along the border with Lesotho ( Fig. 102 ).

Habitat. Collected in pit traps and by hand under low-growing plants in mountain grassland.

Figures

FIGURES 85 – 96. 85 – 90 Cheiramiona saniensis sp. nov.: 85 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 86 epigynum, ventral view; 87 same, dorsal view; 88 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 89 male palp, ventral view; 90 same, retrolateral view. 91 – 93 C. tembensis sp. nov.: 91 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 92 male palp, ventral view; 93 same, retrolateral view. 94 – 96 C. upperbyensis sp. nov.: 94 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 95 epigynum, ventral view; 96 same, dorsal view.

FIGURES 101 – 102: Known distribution of Cheiramiona species: 101 C. mohalensis sp. nov. (circle); C. musosaensis sp. nov. (triangle); C. nyungwensis sp. nov. (square); C. plaatbosensis sp. nov. (diamond). 102 C. qachasneki sp. nov. (square); C. robinae sp. nov. (diamond); C. saniensis sp. nov. (circle); C. tembensis sp. nov. (triangle); C. upperbyensis sp. nov. (star).

FIGURES 1 – 12. 1 – 3 Cheiramiona baviaan sp. nov.: 1 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 2 epigynum, ventral view; 3 same, dorsal view. 4 – 6 C. boschrandensis sp. nov.: 4 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 5 epigynum, ventral view; 6 same, dorsal view. 7 – 9 C. debeeri sp. nov.: 7 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 8 male palp, ventral view; 9 same, retrolateral view. 10 – 12 C. haddadi sp. nov.: 10 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 11 male palp, ventral view; 12 same, retrolateral view.