Smeringopus saruanle, 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 : 41-43

Smeringopus saruanle new species

Figs. 175–176, 182 , 190–191 , 200–201 , 231–237

Type. Male holotype from Somalia, Sar Uanle [~ 0°29’S, 42°25’E], 30.x.1971 “S.B.S. (P.L.)”, in MZF .

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

Diagnosis. Easily distinguished from similar congeners (other species of the arambourgi species group) by procursus (short thick shaft, details of tip; Figs. 231–233 ), shapes of bulbal processes ( Figs. 234, 235 ), and epigynum shape ( Fig. 200 ; similar S. arambourgi and S. oromia ).

Male (holotype). Total body length 3.6, carapace width 1.2. Leg 1: 25.5 (6.9 + 0.5 + 6.4 + 10.3 + 1.4), tibia 2: 4.5, tibia 3: 3.5, tibia 4: 5.3; tibia 1 L/d: 56. Habitus as in Fig. 175 . Carapace ochre-yellow, without dark pattern, clypeus with distinct pair of dark marks, sternum light brown with large light marks, legs monochromous ochreyellow, abdomen ochre-gray, dorsally only above spinnerets some dark marks, ventrally with pair of black lines in front of spinnerets. Distance PME-PME 135 µm, diameter PME 125 µm, distance PME-ALE 45 µm, distance AME-AME 45 µm, diameter AME 105 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with barely visible ‘pseudo-lenses’; small thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in Fig. 236 , with pair of small distal apophyses. Palps as in Figs. 190 and 191 , coxa without retrolateral apophysis, trochanter barely modified, femur with retrolateral furrow, proximal rim slightly more distinct, cymbium without projection near tarsal organ, procursus short and thick, with distinctive tip ( Figs. 231–233 ), bulb with sclerotized embolus and slender partly sclerotized dorsal process ( Figs. 234, 235 ). Legs with two rows of spine-like ventral hairs distally on femora 1, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs ventrally on tibiae and metatarsi 1–2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 3%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1.

Variation. Tibia 1 in 3 other males: 6.1, 6.3, 8.1.

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 2 females: 5.0, 7.6. Epigynum a simple flat plate without pockets, lateral whitish areas separated from median part by black marks, posterior part with indistinct darker areas ( Fig. 200 ); internal genitalia as in Figs. 201 and 237 .

Distribution. Only known from type locality in southern Somalia ( Fig. 204 ).

Material examined. SOMALIA: Sar Uanle: 1♂ holotype above; same locality, 2.vi.1973, 1♂ in MZF ; 18.vi.1973, 1♂ in MZF ; 19.x.1971, 1♀ in MZF .

Dubious locality (or mislabeled specimens): “Le Para (Mth)”, E. Simon collection 2587, 1♂ 1♀ in MNHN ( AR 10352 ).

Figures

FIGURE 204. Known distribution of the arambourgi group. Note that two localities are not shown: the unspecified locality of S. arambourgi in Somalia, and “Massoua” (for S. lineiventris). Square: further undescribed species.

FIGURES 169–183. Smeringopus arambourgi group, habitus and male prosomata, oblique frontal views. 169–170. S. arambourgi, male, dorsal view and female, ventral view. 171–172. S. turkana, male, dorsal view and female, ventral view. 173–174. S. oromia, male, dorsal and ventral views. 175–176. S. saruanle, male, dorsal view and female, ventral view. 177–178. S. lineiventris, male, dorsal view and female, ventral view. 179. S. arambourgi. 180. S. turkana. 181. S. oromia. 182. S. saruanle. 183. S. lineiventris.

FIGURES 184–193. Smeringopus arambourgi group, left male palps, prolateral and retrolateral views. 184–185. S. arambourgi. 186–187. S. turkana. 188–189. S. oromia. 190–191. S. saruanle. 192–193. S. lineiventris.

FIGURES 194–203. Smeringopus arambourgi group, epigyna, ventral views and cleared female genitalia, dorsal views. 194–195. S. arambourgi. 196–197. S. turkana. 198–199. S. oromia. 200–201. S. saruanle. 202–203. S. lineiventris.

FIGURES 231–237. Smeringopus saruanle. 231. Left cymbium and procursus, retrolateral view. 232–233. Left procursus, dorsal and prolateral views. 234–235. Left bulbal processes, dorsal and prolateral views. 236. Male chelicerae, frontal view. 237. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.3 mm.