Smeringopina kribi, Huber, Bernhard A., 2013

Huber, Bernhard A., 2013, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Guineo-Congolian spider genus Smeringopina Kraus (Araneae, Pholcidae, Zootaxa 3713 (1), pp. 1-160 : 45-46

Smeringopina kribi new species

Figs. 658–662 , 690–691 , 700 , 785–790

Type. ♂ holotype from Cameroon, South Region, between Kribi and Campo, “site 2” (2°40.4’N, 9°51.4’E), 15 m a.s.l., near ground, 10.iv.2009 (B.A. Huber), in ZFMK (Ar 10298).

Other material examined. CAMEROON: South Region: between Kribi and Campo, same data as holotype, 1♂ 1♀ in ZFMK (Ar 10299); same data, 1♀ 1 juv. in pure ethanol, in ZFMK (Cam 89). Between Kribi and Campo, “site 1” (2°42.2’N, 9°51.8’E), 10 m a.s.l., near ground, 10.iv.2009 (B.A. Huber), 1♂ 3♀ in ZFMK (Ar 10300); same data, 2♀ 2 juvs. in pure ethanol, in ZFMK (Cam 79). 25 miles inland of Kribi [~ 2°49’N, 10°16’E], 27.vi.1907 (?) (G.L. Bates), 1♂ in BMNH.

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

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners (large species with long abdomen, cone-shaped modified hairs on male chelicerae, embolus with sclerotized proximal part, transversal light element ventrally on abdomen) by combination of: shape of massive procursus with pointed ventral branch (Figs. 785–786; ventral branch smaller than in S. sahoue ); modified clypeus (with tiny cone-shaped hairs; similar to S. ebolowa , S. simintang , S. bwiti ); shape of sclerotized proximal part of embolus (Fig. 788; similar to S. sahoue ); distribution of modified hairs on male chelicerae (Fig. 787; similar to S. sahoue ); absence of frontal projections on male chelicerae; and anterior epigynal plate evenly curved in lateral view ( Fig. 691 ).

Male (holotype). Total body length 7.0, carapace width 1.7. Leg 1: 67.1 (15.9 + 0.7 + 15.3 + 32.0 + 3.2), tibia 2: 9.7, tibia 3: 6.8, tibia 4: 9.2; tibia 1 L/d: 86. Distance PME-PME 160 µm, diameter PME 195 µm, distance PME- ALE 70 µm, distance AME-AME 45 µm, diameter AME 170 µm. Carapace ochre-yellow with wide brown lateral margins and brown mark posteriorly connected with brown ocular area, clypeus brown except below eyes, sternum dark brown; legs light brown, dark rings subdistally on femora and tibiae and in patella area, tips of femora and tibiae whitish; abdomen ochre-gray with distinct dark pattern dorsally, laterally, and ventrally. Habitus as in Figs. 658–659 , ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with distinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; clypeus with three small cone-shaped hairs on each side on barely elevated humps; deep thoracic pit and pair of shallow furrows diverging behind pit. Chelicerae as in Fig. 787, with lateral proximal apophyses and long distal apophyses, the latter and frontal cheliceral face provided with several modified (cone-shaped) hairs. Palps as in Figs. 660–662 ; coxa unmodified; trochanter with simple retrolatero-ventral apophysis; femur proximally with ventral pocket bordered retrolaterally by strong sclerotized ridge, with small retrolateral apophysis, without prolateral modification; prolateral femur-patella joint very prominent and strongly shifted toward ventrally; tarsus with some stronger hairs dorsally; procursus with hinge between proximal and distal part, distal part with ventral branch (Figs. 785–786); bulb with widened and sclerotized proximal part of embolus (Fig. 788). Legs without spines and curved hairs, with few vertical hairs, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 1.5%; prolateral trichobothrium present on all tibiae; pseudosegments barely visible.

Variation. Number of cone-shaped hairs on clypeus variable (about 4–14). Tibia 1 in 3 other males: 16.7, 17.3, 19.3.

Female. In general similar to male but clypeus unmodified. Tibia 1 in 4 females: 11.9, 12.5, 13.5, 13.6. Epigynum large, consisting of wide, roughly triangular anterior plate evenly curved in lateral view and large posterior plate ( Figs. 690–691 , 789); internal genitalia as in Figs. 700 and 790.

Natural history. At “site 1” between Kribi and Campo, this species was found together with the superficially very similar S. africana . Both seemed to occupy the same microhabitat, i.e. sheltered spaces close to the ground.

Distribution. Known from three localities in southwestern Cameroon ( Fig. 627 ).

Figures

FIGURE 627. Known distribution of the beninensis species group.

FIGURES 658 – 667. Smeringopina kribi n. sp. (658 – 662) and S. sahoue n. sp. (663 – 667). 658 – 659, 663 – 664. Males, dorsal and ventral views. 660 – 662, 665 – 667. Left male palps, prolateral, dorsal, and retrolateral views.

FIGURES 678 – 693. Female abdomens in ventral and lateral views, beninensis group. 678 – 679. Smeringopina ebolowa n. sp. 680 – 681. S. essotah n. sp. 682 – 683. S. mayebout n. sp. 684 – 685. S. simintang n. sp. 686 – 687. S. belinga n. sp. 688 – 689. S. beninensis Kraus. 690 – 691. S. kribi n. sp. 692 – 693. S. sahoue n. sp.

FIGURES 694 – 702. Cleared female genitalia in dorsal view, beninensis group. 694. Smeringopina ebolowa n. sp. 695. S. essotah n. sp. 696. S. mayebout n. sp. 697. S. simintang n. sp. 698. S. belinga n. sp. 699. S. beninensis Kraus. 700. S. kribi n. sp. 701. S. sahoue n. sp. 702. S. tchimbele n. sp.