Menemerus foordi, Haddad & Wesołowska, 2024

Haddad, Charles Richard & Wesołowska, Wanda, 2024, On some new and poorly-known Chrysillini from arid western South Africa (Araneae, Salticidae), African Invertebrates 65 (2), pp. 127-159 : 127-159

Menemerus foordi sp. nov.

Figs 12 C, F , 15 , 16

Material examined.

Holotype: South Africa • ♂; Northern Cape Province; Richtersveld National Park, Kokerboomkloof ; 28 ° 18.434 ' S, 17 ° 17.476 ' E; 15 Sep 1994; A. Leroy leg.; on grass; NCA 2007 / 2503.

Other material.

South Africa • Northern Cape Province; 1 subadult ♂; Richtersveld National Park, Akkedis Pass ; 28 ° 10.577 ' S, 17 ° 02.069 ' E; 645 m a. s. l.; 9 Jul 2021; C. Haddad et al. leg.; under rocks, west-facing slope; NMBA 19095 .

Diagnosis.

The palpal organ of this species is similar to that of Menemerus lesnei Lessert, 1936 but differs by the presence of a ventral apophysis (absent in M. lesnei ), narrower retrolateral apophysis and the shape of the embolus (with small membranous conductor in M. foordi sp. nov., while with a distal lamella in M. lesnei ). Compare Fig. 16 A with fig. 162 in Wesołowska (1999).

Description.

Male: Measurements: Cephalothorax length 2.8, width 2.2, height 1.0. Abdomen length 2.8, width 1.7. Eye field length 1.2, anterior width 1.6, posterior width 1.8. General appearance of live subadult male as in Fig. 12 C, F , of adult male in alcohol as in Fig. 15 A . Carapace dark brown, eye field black, with wide streaks composed of white hairs along lateral margins. Clypeus with white hairs. Mouthparts dark brown, only tips of endites pale. Sternum dark brown. Abdomen black, with broad white streaks laterally, venter dark brown, spinnerets black. Legs brown, hairy. Palps dark brown, femur and tibia clothed in white hairs. Palpal tibia with two long apophyses; retrolateral blunt and ventral sharpened (Figs 15 B, C , 16 A, B ). Bulb oval, tegular furrow wide, embolus short, with small membranous functional conductor (Figs 15 B , 16 A ).

Female: Unknown.

Etymology.

The new species is a patronym in honour of the late Stefan Hendrik Foord, in recognition of his distinguished career and contributions to the development of arachnology in Africa.

Distribution.

Only known from the type locality.

Figures

Figure 12. Dorsal habitus (A – C) and anterior view (D – F) of living Icius pulchellus Haddad & Wesołowska, 2013 female (A, D) and male (B, E) and Menemerus foordi sp. nov. subadult male (C, F).

Figure 15. Menemerus foordi sp. nov., male, holotype: A general appearance of male B palpal organ, ventral view C same, retrolateral view.

Figure 16. Menemerus foordi sp. nov., male, holotype: A palpal organ, ventral view B same, retrolateral view.