Drassodella salisburyi Hewitt, 1916

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 : 48-50

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4582.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9DC61794-4BD7-4F6D-BB8C-84D9855C8151
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/B74F87AB-9E4E-4010-53B3-CD9867419807
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Drassodella salisburyi Hewitt, 1916
status

Treatment

Drassodella salisburyi Hewitt, 1916 View in CoL

Figs 74 View FIGURES 60–77 , 90 View FIGURES 78–92 , 165, 166 View FIGURES 157–171 , 189–192 View FIGURES 189–192

Drassodella salisburyi Hewitt, 1916: 209 View in CoL , fig. 9A–E (♀ lectotype, here designated, and 4♂ paralectotypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province: Grahamstown, forest above Albany Hospital [ca. 33°18'S, 26°30'E], leg. J. Hewitt, II.1915, AMG—examined); Tucker, 1923: 313.

Remarks. The male specimen used for the current study was relatively old and degraded, and the colour was faded. Although the type specimens were originally deposited in the AMG, the entire type collection was later sent on permanent loan to the NMSA, where Reginald Lawrence served as the curator. During that time, the lectotype designated here (NMSA 14616) and the paralectotypes (NMSA 14614) received NMSA accession numbers. In 2015 the types were returned to the original institution of deposition, AMG.

Diagnosis. Females and males of D. salisburyi can be easily recognised by the broad pale median band on the abdominal dorsum, flanked by black lateral bands ( Figs 165, 166 View FIGURES 157–171 ). Females can be recognized from others in the D. salisburyi group by the broad anterior hood, which resembles an isosceles triangle. Males can be easily recognized by the unique arrangement of the palpal structures: the slightly curved oblique prolaterally-directed median apophysis lies over the oblique retrolaterally-directed embolus, forming an X ( Fig. 191 View FIGURES 189–192 ).

Description. Female (Asante Sana Game Reserve, NCA 2012/2404). Measurements: CL 3.00, CW 2.24, AL 3.44, AW 2.24, TL 6.60 (6.58-6.60), 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: CL 3.00, CW 2.24, AL 3.44, AW 2.24, TL 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.

General appearance as in Fig. 165 View FIGURES 157–171 . Carapace dark red-brown, with radiating black mottling; upsilon-shaped marking originating from PME, diverging just after fovea, terminating near posterior margin. Clypeus height equal to 1.20 AME diameter; AME larger than ALE; AME separated by distance equal to 0.70 their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.20 AME diameter; PME equal to PLE; PME separated by distance equal to 1.25 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1.13 PME diameter. Chelicerae darkbrown anteriorly, red-brown posteriorly, orange at fang base; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest, proximal and distal teeth subequal; retromargin with two widely separated teeth, proximal tooth larger. Endites dark brown medially and laterally, light brown posteriorly, orange-cream anteriorly, light brown at maxillar hair tuft. Labium dark brown posteriorly, light brown anterolaterally, slightly longer than wide. Sternum brown, with setae concentrated on lateral margins. Legs deep orange-brown, with dense black mottling; tarsi orange. Leg spination: femora: I do 2 rl 1, II do 2 rl 2, III pl 2 do 4 rl 1, IV do 3 rl 1; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I plv 2 rlv 2, II plv 1 rlv 1, III pl 4 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 1, IV pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 2 vt 1; metatarsi: I pl 1 do 2 rl 2, II rl 1, III pl 4 do 3 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 1, IV pl 2 do 2 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; palpal spination: femora do 3 rl 1; patellae do 1 rl 1; tibiae do 1 rl 2; tarsi do 1 rl 1. Abdomen with broad white median stripe, diverging gradually towards posterior, sides of abdomen black; median marking with faint black mottling along midline in anterior half of abdomen; venter grey, darker in front of spinnerets; elongate sclerite on lateral sides above booklungs; post-epigastric sclerites small; two paired rows of tiny sclerites from epigastric furrow to spinnerets, median row shorter. Epigyne with shallow anterior hood, forming broad isosceles triangle, lateral ends terminating abruptly; lateral margins of median septum initially directed mesally, bending towards posterior, midsection parallel-sided, posterior half heartshaped, converging at epigastric furrow; ST II yellow-orange, connecting ducts and ST I orange-brown; ST II spherical, directed anteriorly, separated by slightly less than their width, nearly twice the diameter of spherical ST I ( Figs 74 View FIGURES 60–77 , 189, 190 View FIGURES 189–192 ).

Male (Kentani, NMSA 22450). Measurements: CL 3.86, CW 2.86, AL 3.72, AW 2.12, TL 7.32 (5.90–7.32), FL 0.54, SL 1.98, SW 1.71, CH 0.18, AME-AME 0.09, AME-ALE 0.04, ALE-ALE 0.38, PME-PME 0.13, PME- PLE 0.14, PLE-PLE 0.60, PERW 0.73, MOQAW 0.30, MOQPW 0.31, MOQL 0.41.

Length of leg segments: I 2.98 + 1.30 + 2.20 + 2.16 + 1.62 = 10.26, II 2.60 + 1.36 + 1.84 + 2.02 + 1.60 = 9.42, III 2.50 + 1.26 + 1.62 + 2.18 + 1.64 = 9.20, IV 3.24 + 1.50 + 2.62 + 3.64 + 1.80 = 12.80.

General appearance as in Fig. 166 View FIGURES 157–171 . Carapace red-brown, with black mottling; white feathery setae forming upsilon marking, originating from eye region towards posterior margin, diverging behind fovea. Clypeus height equal to 1.80 AME diameter; AME smaller than ALE; AME separated by distance equal to 0.90 their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.40 AME diameter; PME equal to 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 orange; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest, proximal and distal teeth subequal; median tooth close to proximal tooth, widely separated from distal tooth; retromargin with two widely separated teeth, distal tooth proximal tooth larger. Endites orange, cream at maxillar hair tuft. Labium orange-brown, cream anteriorly. Sternum orange-brown, with setae concentrated near margins, few medially. Legs with red-brown proximal segments, distal segments orange; femora with dense black mottling. Leg spination: femora: I do 2 rl 1, II do 2 rl 1, III pl 2 do 4 rl 1, IV do 3 rl 1; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I plv 2 rlv 2, II plv 1 rlv 1, III pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 1, IV pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 2 vt 1; metatarsi: I plv 1 rlv 1, II rl 1, III pl 4 do 3 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 1, IV pl 4 do 2 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; palpal spination: femur: do 2 rl 1; patella: do 1 rl 1; tibia: do 1 rl 2; tarsus: do 1 rl 1. Abdomen with broad white parallel-sided median stripe, sides of abdomen black ( Fig. 166 View FIGURES 157–171 ); venter creamy-grey, grey in front of spinnerets; elongate sclerite on lateral sides above booklungs; post-epigastric sclerites small; two paired rows of tiny sclerites from epigastric furrow to spinnerets. Palp yellow-brown; RTA long, largely obscured in ventral view by retrolateral heel of cymbium; in retrolateral view triangular, with broad base, narrowing to sharp tip; cymbium moderately narrow, 1.92 times longer than wide, narrowed to rounded point distally; embolus originating prolaterally, oblique, directed retrodistally, with sharp tip; median apophysis crossing over embolus, weakly sclerotized, narrow, elongate, with distally-directed hook-shaped tip ( Figs 90 View FIGURES 78–92 , 191, 192 View FIGURES 189–192 ).

Additional material examined. SOUTH AFRICA GoogleMaps : Eastern Cape Province: Asante Sana Game Reserve GoogleMaps , buttress between Waterkloof and Zuurkloof, 32°16.920'S, 24°58.800'E, 15.III .2010 , leg. J. Midgley (pitfall traps, Acacia thicket, stony ground), 1♀ ( NCA 2012 /2404); Same locality, 23.X.2010, leg. J. Midgley (pitfall traps, tussock grass), 2♀ ( NCA 2012 /4159); Asante Sana Game Reserve , 32°17.400'S, 25°00.240'E GoogleMaps , 15.IV .2010 GoogleMaps , leg. J. Midgley (pitfall traps, high altitude tussock grassland, few shrubs), 1♀ ( NCA 2012 /2395); Grahamstown GoogleMaps , 33°19'S, 26°32'E, IX.1917, leg. J. Hewitt, 1♂ ( SAMC ENW-B003332 ) ; Kentani [32°30'S, 28°19'E], 1904, leg. Abernathy, 1♂ ( NMSA 22450 About NMSA ); Vanstadens , 33°55'S, 25°13'E GoogleMaps , 20.IV .1958 , leg. E.S. Ross & R. E. Leech, 1♀ (CAS, CASENT 9058577 ).