Drassodella tolkieni, 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 : 32-34

Drassodella tolkieni sp. nov.

Figs 22 , 32, 33 , 40, 42, 45, 47 , 53, 54 , 67 , 83 , 105, 106 , 141–145

Etymology. Named after John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, who was born in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa on 3 rd January 1892 and died on 2 nd September 1973. He is internationally recognised for his authorship of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion, amongst other works. His fictional “Middle Earth” is believed to have been inspired in part by the exceptional natural scenery of Hogsback, the type locality of this species.

Diagnosis. Females of D. tolkieni sp. nov. can be distinguished from others in the D. melana group by the distinctly concave posterior margin of the anterior hood ( Fig. 67 ) and the chevron markings in the posterior half of the abdomen ( Fig. 105 ). Males of D. tolkieni sp. nov. share with males of D. venda sp. nov. the dorsal embolic prong that is larger than the ventral prong, but can be distinguished by the shorter RTA with a slightly curved tip, while the RTA is longer and triangular in D. venda sp. nov. (compare Fig. 145 with Fig. 155 ).

Description. Female (Holotype, Hogsback, NCA 2013 /4616). Measurements: CL 1.92, CW 2.24, AL 3.44, AW 2.24, TL 6.60 (4.90–6.60), FL 0.46, SL 1.64, SW 1.47, CH 0.12, AME-AME 0.07, AME-ALE 0.02, ALE- ALE 0.29, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.09, PLE-PLE 0.48, PERW 0.60, MOQAW 0.23, MOQPW 0.44, MOQL 0.28.

Length of leg segments: I 3.00 + 1.60 + 2.64 + 2.40 + 1.58 = 11.22, II 2.60 + 1.54 + 2.18 + 2.16 + 1.44 = 9.90, III 2.52 + 1.38 + 1.76 + 2.24 + 1.18 = 9.08, IV 3.52 + 1.70 + 2.72 + 3.56 + 1.24 = 12.74.

General appearance as in Fig. 105 . Carapace orange-brown, with black mottling and scattered white feathery setae; upsilon marking indistinct. Clypeus height twice AME diameter; AME smaller than ALE; AME separated by distance slightly larger than their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.33 AME diameter; PME equal to PLE; PME separated by distance equal to 1.66 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1.50 PME diameter. Chelicerae brown; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest, proximal tooth smallest; retromargin with two teeth, distal tooth smaller than proximal tooth. Endites brown, with mediolateral mottling, pale at maxillar hair tuft. Labium brown, as long as wide. Sternum brown, with dark brown mottling on surface. Legs with dark brown proximal segments, distal segments orange. Leg spination: femora: I do 2, II do 2, III pl 1 do 2 rl 2, IV do 3; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, III pl 4 rl 4 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 4 rl 4 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; palpal spination: femora do 3; patellae do 1; tibia pl 3 do 3 rl 3; tarsi pl 1 do 2 rl 2. Abdomen dark brown; dorsum with white patch anteriorly, stretching to half abdomen length, with four white lateral markings, posterior half with faint dark grey chevrons, white marking on anal tubercle ( Fig. 105 ); lateral sclerites above booklungs narrow; venter brown; lateral sclerites small, post-epigastric sclerites absent; double rows of tiny sclerites from booklungs to spinnerets. Spinnerets cream. Epigyne with deep anterior hood, anterior margin convex, posterior margin strongly concave, lateral ends tapering abruptly to sharp point; lateral hoods curved, close to copulatory openings; ST II yellow, connecting ducts and ST I yellow-brown; ST I and II similar in size, ST II elongate-oval ( Figs 67 , 141, 142 ).

Male (Paratype, Hogsback, NCA 2013 /4541). Measurements: CL 1.78, CW 1.40, AL 1.96, AW 1.08, TL 3.84 (3.80–5.24), FL 0.21, SL 1.00, SW 0.80, CH 0.10, AME-AME 0.05, AME-ALE 0.01, ALE-ALE 0.17, PME- PME 0.06, PME-PLE 0.08, PLE-PLE 0.33, PERW 0.38, MOQAW 0.14, MOQPW 0.16, MOQL 0.14.

Length of leg segments: I 1.28 + 0.62 + 0.98 + 0.96 + 0.96 = 4.80, II 1.18 + 0.56 + 0.88 + 0.98 + 0.72 = 4.32, III 1.04 + 0.48 + 0.76 + 1.04 + 0.66 = 3.98, IV 1.68 + 0.64 + 1.24 + 1.76 + 0.82 = 6.14.

General appearance as in Fig. 106 . Carapace uniformly dark brown, with radiating black mottling; white feathery setae scattered; upsilon marking indistinct but thick white line composed of feathery setae diverging behind fovea to posterior margin. Clypeus height equal to 1.43 times AME diameter; AME smaller than ALE; AME separated by distance slightly smaller than their diameter, AME almost touching ALE; PME equal to PLE; PME separated by distance equal to 1.16 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1.33 PME diameter. Chelicerae brown; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest, proximal tooth smallest; retromargin with two teeth, distal tooth smaller than proximal tooth. Endites brown, pale at maxillar hair tuft. Labium brown, slightly longer than wide. Sternum brown. Legs brown to dark-brown. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1 do 2, II do 2, III do 3, IV pl 1 do 2 rl 1; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, III pl 4 do 1 rl 4 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 4 rl 4 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; palpal spination: femora do 3; patellae do 1; tibiae spineless; tarsi do 1. Abdomen dark-brown, markings similar to female, but with less dense white feathery setae ( Fig. 106 ); dorsal scutum and anterior marginal sigilla absent; venter creamy-yellow; laterally with two large distinct oval sclerites; two pairs of tiny sclerites running from epigastric furrow to spinnerets; small ante- and post-epigastric sclerites present. Spinnerets cream. Palp yellowbrown; RTA short, protruding retrolaterally, not obscured in ventral view by retrolateral heel of cymbium, tip slightly curved; in retrolateral view subtriangular, with broad base and slightly curved tip; cymbium broad, 1.60 times longer than wide, distal end broadly rounded; ventral and dorsal embolic prongs spike-like, dorsal prong larger in prolateral view; dorsal prong distinctly bent away from tegulum in ventral view; median apophysis stout, hook-shaped ( Figs 83 , 143–145 ).

Type material. Holotype ♀: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province: Amatola Mountains, Hogsback, Amatola Forestry Company , 32°37.671'S, 26°58.311'E, 1210 m a.s.l., 25–30.III.2013, leg. C. Haddad & J. Neethling (pitfall traps, fynbos) ( NCA 2016 /2819).

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province: Same data as holotype, 5♂ (NCA 2016/2823), 6♂ 5♀ ( NCA 2013/4541); Amatola Mountains, Hogsback, Amatola Forestry Company, Robinson Dam, 32°37.279'S, 26°58.196'E, 1190 m a.s.l., leg. C. Haddad & J. Neethling (pitfall traps, fynbos), 4♂ 1♀ ( NCA 2013/4616).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa ( Fig. 156 ).

Figures

FIGURE 156. Distribution of Drassodella tolkieni sp. nov. (circle), D. transversa sp. nov. (stars) and D. venda sp. nov. (squares) in southern Africa.

FIGURES 18–26. Scanning electron microscope photographs of Drassodella guttata sp. nov. female (18–21, 24–26) and male (23), and D. tolkieni sp. nov. female (22): 18 posterior half of carapace, dorsal view, indicating fovea, erect and feathery setae, and rebordered concave posterior margin; 19 eye region, dorsal view; 20 feathery setae on posterior carapace margin and coxa IV; 21 same, feathery setae enlarged; 22 chelicerae, ventral view; 23 chelicerae teeth; 24 endites and labium, ventral view; 25 serrula on endites, ventral view; 26 sternum. Abbreviations: CES—promarginal escort seta; ES—erect setae; FS—feathery setae; MHT—maxillar hair tuft.

FIGURES 27–38. Scanning electron microscope photographs of male (27, 28, 35–38) and female (29–31, 34) Drassodella guttata sp. nov. and female D. tolkieni sp. nov. (32, 33). 27 femur I, curved long ventral setae, lateral view; 28 femur IV, curved long ventral setae, lateral view; 29 leg II, patellar indentation, retrolateral view; 30 same, detail of lyriform organ; 31 lyriform organ at distal end of tibia II, retrolateral view; 32 metatarsus III with spine, feathery and chemosensory setae, and trichobothria, dorsal view; 33 distal end of metatarsus III, dorsal view; 34 metatarsus III, scopula, prolateral view; 35 distal end of tarsus I, dorsal view; 36 tarsus III, trichobothrium; 37 tarsus I, chemosensory seta; 38 same, tarsal organ. Abbreviations: CS—chemosensory setae; FS—feathery setae; MS—metatarsal stopper; SP—spine; SS—slit sensilla; TC—tarsal claws; TOtarsal organ; TR—trichobothria.

FIGURES 39–50. Scanning electron microscope photographs of female (39, 41, 44, 46, 48–50) and male (43) Drassodella guttata sp. nov., and female D. tolkieni sp. nov. (40, 42, 45, 47): 39 tarsus III, scopula, ventrolateral view; 40 tarsus II, claws and scopulate setae, lateral view; 41 detail of scopulate setae, ventral view; 42 same, lateral view; 43 tarsus III, detail of tarsal claws and associated setae, arrow indicating tenant setae forming claw tuft; 44 dorsal abdominal feathery setae, arrow indicating white patch composed of dense modified feathery setae; 45 ventral abdominal feathery setae; 46, 47 spinnerets, general view; 48 left ALS, ventral view; 49 left PMS, ventral view; 50 left PLS, ventral view. Abbreviations as follows: Acaciniform gland spigot(s); Cy—cylindrical gland spigot(s); maAmp—major ampullate gland spigot(s); miAmp—minor ampullate gland spigot(s); nu—nubbin(s); Pi—piriform gland spigot(s).

FIGURES 51–59. Scanning electron microscope photographs of female (51, 52) and male (55–59) Drassodella guttata sp. nov., and female D. tolkieni sp. nov. (53, 54): 51 epigyne, slightly ventrolateral view; 52 detail of epigynal muscle sigilla; 53 epigyne, dorsal view; 54 detail of glandular pores on spermathecal head; 55 right palp, prolateral view; 56 same, distal end of palp and cymbial scopula; 57 left palp, ventral view; 58 detail of distal end of tegulum, right palp, prolateral view; 59 same, left palp, ventral view. Abbreviations: AH—anterior hood; CD—copulatory duct; CO—copulatory opening; CS—cymbial scopula; DP—dorsal embolic prong; EM—embolus; EMS—epigynal muscle sigilla; LH—lateral hood; MA—median apophysis; MSmedian septum; ST—spermathecae; VP—ventral embolic prong.

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 78–92. Male palps of Drassodella species of the D. melana species group (78–85) and D. salisburyi species group (86–92) in ventral view: 78 D. flava sp. nov.; 79 D. guttata sp. nov.; 80 D. melana Tucker, 1923; 81 D. montana sp. nov.; 82 D. tenebrosa Lawrence, 1923; 83 D. tolkieni sp. nov.; 84 D. transversa sp. nov.; 85 D. venda sp. nov.; 86 D. amatola sp. nov.; 87 D. aurostriata sp. nov.; 88 D. baviaans sp. nov.; 89 D. quinquelabecula Tucker, 1923; 90 D. salisburyi Hewitt, 1916; 91 D. septemmaculata (Strand, 1909); 92 D. vasivulva Tucker, 1923. Abbreviations as follows: DP—dorsal embolic prong; EMembolus; MA—median apophysis; RTA—retrolateral tibial apophysis; VP—ventral embolic prong. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 93–110. Dorsal habitus photographs of Drassodella species in the melana species group: 93, 94 female and male of D. flava sp. nov.; 95, 96 female and male of D. guttata sp. nov.; 97 female of D. lotzi sp. nov.; 98 female of D. maculata sp. nov.; 99, 100 female and male of D. melana Tucker, 1923; 101, 102 female and male of D. montana sp. nov.; 103, 104 female and male of D. tenebrosa Lawrence, 1938; 105, 106 female and male of D. tolkieni sp. nov.; 107, 108 female and male of D. transversa sp. nov.; 109, 110 female and male of D. venda sp. nov. Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 141–145. Genitalic morphology of Drassodella tolkieni sp. nov.: 141 female epigyne, ventral view; 142 same, dorsal view; 143 male palp, prolateral view; 144 same, ventral view; 145 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 151–155. Genitalic morphology of Drassodella venda sp. nov.: 151 female epigyne, ventral view; 152 same, dorsal view; 153 male palp, prolateral view; 154 same, ventral view; 155 same, retrolateral view. Scale bars = 0.25 mm.