Scelidocteus taitave Oketch & Li, 2020

Oketch, Ambata D., Zonstein, Sergei, Kioko, Esther N. & Li, Shuqiang, 2020, Description of a new genus and three new species of the family Palpimanidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from Kenya, African Invertebrates 61 (2), pp. 93-106 : 93

Scelidocteus taitave Oketch & Li sp. nov. Figs 3 , 4

Type material.

Holotype ♂, Kenya, Taita Taveta County, Taita Hills, Mbololo Forest, 30°26.85'E, 03°20.36'S, 1631 m, 2.VIII.2018, Ambata Oketch leg. Paratypes 1 ♂, 2 ♀, same data as holotype.

Etymology.

The specific name is a combination of Taita and Taveta, the county from which the specimens were collected; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

Males of this species differ from those of other members of Scelidocteus by the uniquely spiral-shaped embolus (Fig. 3C-E cf. Pocock 1903, fig. 3; de Lessert 1930, fig. 4; Jézéquel 1964, figs 2A, B, 4a, b). Females of S. taitave sp. nov. differ from those of other species by the structure of the endogyne; the orientation of sac-like receptacles (touching medially, with a space below them) mounted on oval, membranous receptive chambers and the outline of a rigid extension of the posterior wall of the epigastric fold (Fig. 4C, D ; Jézéquel 1964, figs 1, 3).

Description.

Male. Fig. 3A, B . Total body length 3.90. Color in alcohol: carapace and chelicerae orange-red, legs I, endites, sternum and labium orange, legs II-IV lighter, yellowish. Carapace 1.88 long, 1.50 wide at leg II, oval in dorsal view, finely granulate, cephalic part slightly elevated behind eye area. Thoracic fovea a longitudinal, deep slit, approximately 0.10 long. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.06, PLE 0.06, PME 0.06, AME-AME 0.05, AME-ALE 0.08, PME-PME 0.09, AME-PLE 0.04, ALE-PLE <0.01, PLE-PME 0.24. AER slightly procurved, almost straight, PER strongly recurved. Chelicerae flattened anteriorly towards the fangs, 1.60 long, cheliceral furrow with several peg-like teeth. Stridulatory mound absent. Clypeus approximately 2 times shorter than length of chelicerae. Sternum 1.09 long, 0.86 wide at leg II; shield shaped, rebordered, finely granulate. Endites almost D-shaped, labium notch 0.13 long, about a quarter of labium length. Leg I: coxa, patella and tibia possess dark, thorn-like outgrowths and well developed prolateral scopula on tibia and metatarsus. Tarsus I with weakly developed scopula. Leg and palp measurements as in Table 2 . Abdomen oval with short, grey setae, dorsal portion of epigastric scutum very small, pedicel short, spinnerets short and unsegmented. Palp (Fig. 3C-E ): tibia, as long as wide, approximately 2.5 times wider than femur. Cymbium long and thin, tapering distally. “Conductor” bifurcate; embolus long and spiral, obscuring some parts of tegulum. Embolus ends with a bleached, claw-like structure at apex.

Female. General appearance as in Fig. 4A, B . Coloration as in male. Total length 4.88. Carapace 2.19 long, 1.72 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.13, ALE 0.06, PLE 0.06, PME 0.06, AME-AME 0.05, ALE-AME 0.08, ALE-PLE <0.01, PLE-PME 0.20, PME-PME 0.7. Sternum 1.25 long, 1.00 wide, labium 0.5 long, 0.44 wide at the base, labium notch 1/3 length of labium. Vulva with fine, thread-like structures and 3 pairs of stalked, grape-shaped glands attached to a pair of relatively ovate and membranous receptive chambers.

Distribution.

This species is currently known only from the type locality.

Figures

Figure 3. Scelidocteus taitave sp. nov., male holotype A, B dorsal and ventral habitus respectively C-E palp: C prolateral D ventral E retrolateral aspects. Abbreviations: am - accompanying membrane, cl - claw like extension, co - " conductor ", em - embolus, cy - cymbium rt - retrolateral thorns, sco scopula. Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B), 0.2 mm (C-E).

Figure 4. Scelidocteus taitave sp. nov., female paratype A, B habitus C endogyne ventral D same, ventral E same, enlarged F leg I. Abbreviations: ch - receptive chamber, Ft - fine threads, Gr - grape-shaped glands, Re - rigid extensions of posterior wall of epigastric fold, Sr - sac like receptacle. Scale bars: 1 mm (A, B).