Smeringopus koppies new species

Figs. 245–246, 258–259, 280–281, 305–309

Type. Male holotype from South Africa, Free State, Koppiesdam Nat. Res. (27°13’S, 27°42’E), 1400 m a.s.l., 28.ix.1993 (L.N. Lotz), in NMBA (6609 part) .

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

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners (other species of the natalensis group, especially S. natalensis, S. florisbad, S. lesnei, S. blyde, S. harare, S. badplaas) by shapes of bulbal processes (Figs. 307, 308); from other close relatives by absence of process near palpal tarsal organ (Fig. 305), relatively straight procursus (ventrally), absence of prolateral process on procursus tip, and three black lines ventrally on abdomen (versus two; compare Fig. 246 with Figs. 248 and 250).

Male (holotype). Total body length 6.4, carapace width 2.0. Leg 1: 42.4 (11.3 + 0.8 + 11.1 + 16.7 + 2.5), tibia 2: 7.7, tibia 3: 5.9, tibia 4: 8.3; tibia 1 L/d: 51. Habitus as in Figs. 245 and 246. Carapace ochre-yellow with distinct dark pattern (median, lateral, and submarginal marks), clypeus with pair of dark marks widening distally, sternum brown with light marks, legs with barely visible darker rings subdistally on femora and tibiae, abdomen dorsally with distinct dark pattern, ventrally with three dark lines in median part (median line narrow but distinct). Distance PME-PME 175 µm, diameter PME 175 µm, distance PME-ALE 70 µm, distance AME-AME 45 µm, diameter AME 150 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with very indistinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in S. badplaas (cf. Figs. 314, 315; just slightly larger). Palps as in Figs. 258 and 259, coxa without retrolateral apophysis, trochanter barely modified, femur with retrolateral furrow with distinct rim proximally, cymbium without projection near tarsal organ, procursus ventrally almost straight, without prolateral process at tip (Figs. 305, 306), bulb with three distinctively shaped processes (Figs. 307, 308). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs on tibiae and metatarsi 1 and 2, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 3%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1. Gonopore with two epiandrous spigots.

Variation. Tibia 1 in 5 other males: 11.1–12.4 (mean 11.6).

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 8 females: 7.7–14.0 (mean 10.3). Epigynum a simple plate without pockets (Fig. 280), variable in shape and coloration and thus possibly not clearly distinguishable from close relatives ( S. natalensis, S. florisbad, S. lesnei, S. blyde, S. harare, S. badplaas); internal genitalia as in Figs. 281 and 309 (also similar to close relatives).

Distribution. Known from several localities in northern South Africa and southern Botswana (Fig. 299).

Material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Free State: Koppiesdam Nat. Res.: 1♂ holotype above; same data, 1♂ 1♀ in NMBA (6609 part) . Farm Lusthof, Edenville [27°32’S, 27°39’E], 5.iv.1967 (N. Genis), 1♂ 1♀ 1 juv. in NCP (76/2018) . Northern Cape Province: Kimberley [28°44’S, 24°46’E], “Hebrou”, no date (E. Simon), E. Simon collection 15271, 1♂ in MNHN (AR 10353) . Northwest Province: Mafeking [=Mafikeng, 25°51’S, 25°38’E], ii.1905 (Schultze), 1♂ 6 juvs in ZMB (1132).

BOTSWANA: South-East: Gaborone [24°40.0’S, 25°56.7’E], Museum yard, iii.1974 (J.K. Ullberg), 5♂ 6♀ + juvs in ZMT (3532); Gaborone, 16.vii.1973 (R. Hakanen), 1♀ 1 juv. in ZMT (3381); Gaborone, inside house, 4.vii.1973 (R. Hakanen), 4♀ 2 juvs in ZMT (3382).