Drassodella trilineata, Mbo & Haddad, 2019

Mbo, Zingisile & Haddad, Charles R., 2019, A revision of the endemic South African long-jawed ground spider genus Drassodella Hewitt, 1916 (Araneae: Gallieniellidae), Zootaxa 4582 (1), pp. 1-62 : 53-54

Drassodella trilineata sp. nov.

Figs 76 , 169 , 197–202

Etymology. A combination of the Latin words tri (three) and lineatus (striped), referring to the narrow white median carapace stripe and pair of narrow white dorsolateral abdominal stripes.

Diagnosis. Females of D. trilineata sp. nov. are similar to those of D. septemmaculata , but can be recognised by anterior hood that has a broadly rounded anterior apex and the posterior half of the median septum that is almost parallel-sided ( Figs 76 , 197 ), while in D. septemmaculata the anterior hood takes the form of an equilateral triangle and the posterior half of the median septum is heart-shaped ( Figs 75 , 193 ). Male unknown.

Description. Female (Holotype, Baviaanskloof, NCA 2010 /111). Measurements: CL 3.64, CW 2.88, AL 5.56, AW 2.94, TL 8.90 (8.10–8.90), FL 1.08, SL 1.90, SW 3.48, CH 0.14, AME-AME 0.09, AME-ALE 0.05, ALE-ALE 0.35, PME-PME 0.13, PME-PLE 0.14, PLE-PLE 0.62, PERW 0.71, MOQAW 0.12, MOQPW 0.33, MOQL 0.38.

Length of leg segments: I 2.60 + 1.40 + 2.00 + 1.92 + 1.40 = 9.32, II 2.44 + 1.32 + 1.76 + 1.80 + 1.44 = 8.76, III 2.28 + 1.18 + 1.64 + 2.08 + 1.24 = 8.42, IV 3.32 + 1.28 + 2.44 + 3.44 + 1.62 = 12.10.

General appearance as in Fig. 169 . Carapace dark brown, with dense black mottling; upsilon marking of white feathery setae from carapace anterior margin, running to fovea, diverging behind it, branches not quite reaching posterior margin. Clypeus height equal to 1.40 AME diameter; AME smaller than ALE; AME separated by distance slightly less than their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance half AME diameter; PME smaller

than PLE; PME separated by distance equal to 1.30 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1.40 PME diameter. Chelicerae dark-brown anteriorly, orange at base of fang; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest, proximal and distal teeth subequal; retromargin with two teeth, distal tooth larger. Endites yellow orange-brown, with brown line along margins, cream anteriorly at maxillar hair tuft. Labium dark brown, anterior margin orange, broader than long. Sternum orange-brown, setae spread evenly across surface. Legs with proximal segments dark orange-brown, with dense black mottling, distal segments uniformly deep orange-brown. Leg spination: femora: I do 2 rl 1, II do 2 rl 1, III do 4, IV do 4 rl 1; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I plv 2 rlv 2, II plv 2, III pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I spineless, II plv 1 rlv 1, III pl 4 do 1 rl 4 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 3 do 1 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; palpal spination: femora do 4; patellae do 1 rl 1; tibiae do 2 rl 3; tarsi pl 1 do 2 rl 2 plv 1 rlv 1. Abdomen black, with white feathery setae forming two narrow white dorsolateral stripes from anterior margin to just above spinnerets, white spot of feathery setae above spinnerets ( Fig. 169 ); venter yellow, covered by fine feathery setae; elongate sclerite on lateral sides above booklungs; two paired rows of tiny sclerites from epigastric fold to spinnerets. Spinnerets pale. Epigyne with shallow anterior hood, broad arch with rounded median apex, lateral ends forming start of median septum; lateral margins of median septum initially directed mesally, curving in sharp C-shape, midsection parallel-sided, posterior quarter converging at epigastric furrow; ST I and ST II pale orange-brown, connecting ducts dark orange-brown; ST II teardrop-shaped, separated by slightly more than their width, nearly three times as large as oval ST I ( Figs 76 , 197, 198 ).

Type material. Holotype ♀: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province: Keurkloof, Farm Ferndale, Baviaanskloof , 33°45’S, 24°48’E, 21–24.III.2008, leg. A.S. Honiball & S. Hohowsky (pitfalls, river bank) ( NCA 2016 /2821).

Paratypes: Same data as holotype, 2♀ ( NCA 2010/111).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 203 ).

Figures

FIGURE 203. Distribution of Drassodella salisburyi Hewitt, 1916 (circles), D. septemmaculata (Strand, 1909) (stars), D. trilineata sp. nov. (square) and D. vasivulva Tucker, 1923 (triangles) in southern Africa. Insert shows the distribution of D. septemmaculata and D. vasivulva on the Cape Peninsula.

FIGURES 60–77. Female epigynes of Drassodella species in the D. melana species group (60–68) and D. salisburyi species group (69–77) in dorsal view: 60 D. flava sp. nov.; 61 D. guttata sp. nov.; 62 D. lotzi sp. nov.; 63 D. maculata sp. nov.; 64 D. melana Tucker, 1923; 65 D. montana sp. nov.; 66 D. tenebrosa Lawrence, 1938; 67 D. tolkieni sp. nov.; 68 D. transversa sp. nov.; 69 D. venda sp. nov.; 70 D. amatola sp. nov.; 71 D. aurostriata sp. nov.; 72 D. purcelli Tucker, 1923; 73 D. quinquelabecula Tucker, 1923; 74 D. salisburyi Hewitt, 1916; 75 D. septemmaculata (Strand, 1909); 76 D. trilineata sp. nov.; 77 D. vasivulva Tucker, 1923. Abbreviations: AH—anterior hood; FD—fertilisation duct; MS—median septum; STspermatheca(e). Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 157–171. Dorsal habitus photographs of Drassodella species in the salisburyi species group: 157, 158 female and male of D. amatola sp. nov.; 159, 160 female and male of D. aurostriata sp. nov.; 161 male of D. baviaans sp. nov.; 162 female of D. purcelli Tucker, 1923; 163, 164 female and male of D. quinquelabecula Tucker, 1923; 165, 166 female and male of D. salisburyi Hewitt, 1916; 167, 168 female and male of D. septemmaculata (Strand, 1909); 169 female of D. trilineata sp. nov.; 170, 171 female and male of D. vasivulva Tucker, 1923. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 197–202. Genitalic morphology of Drassodella trilineata sp. nov. (197, 198) and D. vasivulva Tucker, 1923 (199– 202): 197, 199 female epigyne, ventral view; 198, 200 same, dorsal view; 201 male palp, ventral view; 202 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25mm.

FIGURES 193–196. Genitalic morphology of Drassodella septemmaculata (Strand, 1909): 193 female epigyne, ventral view; 194 same, dorsal view; 195 male palp, ventral view; 196 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25mm.