Cheiramiona mkhambathi, 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 : 83-85

Cheiramiona mkhambathi sp. nov.

Figs 55–60 , 100

Type material. Holotype ♂, SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape, Mkhambathi Nature Reserve, 31º16’S, 30º02’E, 29.I.2008, KwaZulu-Natal University leg. ( NCAP 2014/3146); Allotype ♀, SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape, Mkhambathi Nature Reserve, 31º16’S, 30º02’E, 29.I.2008, KwaZulu-Natal University leg. ( NCAP 2014/3147); Paratypes: 1♂, SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape, Mkhambathi Nature Reserve, 31º18’S, 29º57’E, 1.II.2008, KwaZulu-Natal University leg. ( NCAP 2014/3148).

Etymology. The name is a noun in apposition from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Females of Cheiramiona mkhambathi sp. nov. can be differentiated by the copulatory openings entering into a single central chamber, from which the copulatory ducts emerge laterally ( Figs 56–57 ). Males are differentiated by the hook-shaped EM apex, the broad basal half of the TA and broad scoop-shaped RTA with a small rounded lobe at the base ( Figs 59–60 ).

Description. Female (n = 1): TL = 6.4; CL = 2.5; CW = 1.9; OAL = 0.35; OAW = 1.2; CLL = 0.05. Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; PMT:RMT = 4:4 ( Fig. 55 ). Measurements: AME–AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.20; AME diameter 0.15; PME–PME 0.20; PME–PLE 0.30; PME diameter 0.15; MOQAW 0.40; MOQPW 0.50; CI (CL/CW) 1.32; LL:CL unknown, leg I missing; STL 1.3; STW 1.1. Leg measurements (both legs I missing): I =?; II—1.9+0.9+1.5+1.8+0.7 = 6.8; III—1.6+0.7+1.2+1.5+? =?; IV—2.4+0.9+1.9+2.2+0.7 = 8.1; Palp— 1.0+0.4+0.6+1.0 = 3.0. Leg spines: I—?; II—0, 0-2 v1 p-0, 2v- 1p -1 v1 p1r; III—0-0-1r, 0-1p1r-0, 2v- 1p1r-3 v1 p1r; IV—0, 0- 1 v-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 56–57 ): wider than long, with small V-shaped, posterior, median depression; copulatory openings situated anteriorly in depression; epigastric fold forming lip-like extension; internally, copulatory openings enter into single median chamber, from which copulatory ducts emerge laterally; copulatory ducts proceed laterally before ending medially in SPER; fertilization tubes enter SPER posteriormedially.

Male (n = 2): TL = 4.70 (4.6–4.8); CL = 2.10 (2.1–2.1); CW = 1.50 (1.5–1.5); OAL = 0.30 (0.3–0.3); OAW = 0.80 (0.8–0.8); CLL = 0.04 (0.03–0.05). Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; PMT:RMT = 4:4 ( Fig. 58 ). Measurements: AME–AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.10; AME diameter 0.10; PME–PME 0.15; PME–PLE 0.15; PME diameter 0.10; MOQAW 0.30; MOQPW 0.35; CI (CL/CW) 1.40; LL:CL 5.24; STL 1.0; STW 0.8. Leg measurements: I—2.8+0.8+2.9+3.0+1.5 = 11.0; II—1.9+0.7+1.7+1.9+0.8 = 7.0; III—1.5+0.6+1.1+1.5+0.6 = 5.3; IV—2.4+0.7+2.1+2.4+0.8 = 8.4; Palp—0.9+0.3+0.3+0.9 = 3.0. Leg spines: I—0, 2v-2v- 0, 2v- 2v-1v; II—0-0-1p, 1v-2v- 1p, 2v-2 v1 p- 3v; III—0-0-1p1r, 1v- 1r-1p1r, 2v-1 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r; IV—0-0-1r, 1r- 1v- 0, 2v-1 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen: similar to female. Palp ( Figs 59–60 ): cymbium elongate, three times as long as tibia length; tibia with broad RTA with small rounded ventral lobe and rounded, but concave, apex; TA slightly sclerotized, curved towards EM at tip, but broader in first half than in other species; EM short, thick at base, narrowing towards apex, with apex slightly hooked; CON distinct but not sclerotized, lying adjacent to EM tip.

Distribution. Only known from Mkhambathi Nature Reserve, South Africa ( Fig. 100 ).

Habitat. Collected with pan traps in grassland.

Figures

FIGURES 49 – 60. 49 – 54 Cheiramiona malawiensis sp. nov.: 49 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 50 epigynum, ventral view; 51 same, dorsal view; 52 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 53 male palp, ventral view; 54 same, retrolateral view. 55 – 60 C. mkhambathi sp. nov.: 55 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 56 epigynum, ventral view; 57 same, dorsal view; 58 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 59 male palp, ventral view; 60 same, retrolateral view.

FIGURES 97 – 100. Known distribution of Cheiramiona species: 97 C. baviaan sp. nov. (diamond); C. boschrandensis sp. nov. (circle); C. debeeri sp. nov. (star); C. haddadi sp. nov. (triangle); C. hlathikulu sp. nov. (square). 98 C. hogsbackensis sp. nov. (circle); C. ibayaensis sp. nov. (triangle); C. jakobsbaaiensis sp. nov. (square); C. kirkspriggsi sp. nov. (diamond). 99 C. kivuensis sp. nov. (triangle); C. lajuma Lotz, 2002 (diamond); C. lamorali sp. nov. (square); C. lindae sp. nov. (circle). 100 C. malawiensis sp. nov. (triangle); C. mkhambathi sp. nov. (circle); C. mlawula Lotz, 2002 (diamond).