Smeringopus dundo, Huber, 2012

HUBER, BERNHARD A., 2012, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Afrotropical endemic genus Smeringopus Simon, 1890 (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 3461 (1), pp. 1-138 : 110-111

Smeringopus dundo new species

Figs. 584–585 , 604–605 , 679–685

Type. Male holotype from Angola, Luanda Norte Province, 6 km NW of Dundo [7°20’S, 20°47’E], 24.ix.1946 (A. de Barros Machado), in SMF ( Ang 38.6 ) .

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

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners by tip of procursus (distinctive sclerotized and membranous elements; Figs. 679–681 ), shape of embolus ( Figs. 682–684 ; distinctive dorsal view); from S. peregrinoides also by longer and more downward directed cheliceral apophyses (similar S. peregrinus ; cf. Figs. 614, 615 ) and absence of v-shaped or u-shaped structure frontally in female internal genitalia ( Fig. 604 ).

Male (holotype). Total body length 5.5, carapace width 1.8. Leg 1: 35.5 (9.6 + 0.8 + 9.1 + 14.0 + 2.0), tibia 2: 6.5, tibia 3: 4.9, tibia 4: 6.9; tibia 1 L/d: 47. Habitus similar S. moxico (cf. Fig. 569 ). Color pattern in general similar S. peregrinoides but rather indistinct (light colors apparently artificially darkened). Distance PME-PME 150 µm, diameter PME 140 µm, distance PME-ALE 60 µm, distance AME-AME 45 µm, diameter AME 140 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae with pair of distal apophyses as in S. peregrinus (cf. Figs. 614, 615 ). Palps as in Figs. 584 and 585 , coxa with distinct retrolateral apophysis and shallow wide furrow, trochanter barely modified, femur with retrolateral furrow with distinct rim proximally, procursus with distinctive distal membranous and sclerotized elements ( Figs. 679–681 ), bulb with distinctively shaped prolateral process on embolus ( Figs. 682–684 ). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs ventrally on tibiae and metatarsi 1 and 2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 3%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1.

Variation. Tibia 1 in 4 other males: 9.1, 9.2, 9.2, 9.7.

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 7 females: 7.1–8.5 (mean 7.7). Epigynum a simple plate with pair of pockets about 1.5–2 pocket-diameters apart ( Fig. 604 ); internal genitalia as in Figs. 605 and 685 .

Distribution. Known from four localities in northeastern Angola and southern Congo D.R. ( Fig. 608 ).

Material examined. ANGOLA: Luanda Norte Prov.: 6 km NW of Dundo: 1♂ type above ; same data, 4♂ 6♀ (2 vials) in SMF .

CONGO D.R.: Lualaba Prov. : Sandoa [=Sanduwa, 9°42’S, 22°53’E], date not given, leg. G.F. Overlaet, 1♂ in MRAC (26922–27 part). Haut-Lomami Prov. : Nyonga [8°35’S, 26°18’E], v.1925 (G.F. de Witte), 2♂ 2♀ 1 juv. in MRAC (25661–65). Sankuru Prov. : Mwanza, Kabamba [5°14’S, 23°42’E?], v.1937 (A. Bayet), 1♂ in MRAC (26864).

Figures

FIGURE 608. Known distribution of the peregrinus group. S. butare and S. peregrinus are represented by triangles in order to facilitate distinction from S. peregrinoides. Squares: further undescribed species.

FIGURES 584–591. Smeringopus peregrinus group, left male palps, prolateral and retrolateral views, epigynum, and cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. 584–585. S. dundo. 586–587. S. similis. 588–591. S. moxico.

FIGURES 592–607. Smeringopus peregrinus group, epigyna, ventral views and cleared female genitalia, dorsal views. 592–593. S. peregrinus. 594–595. S. peregrinoides. 596–597. S. butare. 598–599. S. katanga. 600–601. S. kalomo. 602–603. S. chibububo. 604–605. S. dundo. 606–607. S. similis.

FIGURES 679–685. Smeringopus dundo. 679. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 680–681. Left procursus, dorsal and prolateral views. 682–684. Left embolus, prolateral, dorsal, and ventral views. 685. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.

FIGURES 609–616. Smeringopus peregrinus. 609. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 610. Left procursus, prolateral view. 611–613. Left embolus, prolateral, dorsal, and ventral (slightly prolateral) views (arrow points to variable structure; see text). 614–615. Male chelicerae, frontal and lateral views. 616. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.

FIGURES 558–571. Smeringopus peregrinus group, habitus and male prosomata, oblique frontal views. 558–559. S. peregrinus, male, dorsal and ventral views. 560–561. S. peregrinoides, female, dorsal view and male, ventral view. 562. S. butare, male dorsal view. 563. S. similis, male, dorsal view. 564–565. S. kalomo, male and female, dorsal views. 566–567. S. chibububo, male, dorsal view and female, ventral view. 568. S. katanga, male, dorsal view. 569. S. moxico, male, dorsal view. 570. S. chibububo. 571. S. kalomo.