Smeringopus kalomo new species

Figs. 564–565, 571, 580–581, 600–601, 655–662, 667–672

“ Smeringopus peregrinus Strand ” (misidentification): Kraus 1957: 223–224, figs. 11–16.

Type. Male holotype from Zambia, Southern Province, Kalomo (17°02’S, 26°29’E), 8.–9.iii.1995 (W.J. Pulawski), in CAS .

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, prolateral flap; Figs. 655–657; similar S. chibububo), shape of embolus (Figs. 658–660; distinctive prolateral 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. 600).

Male (holotype). Total body length 6.0, carapace width 2.0 (slightly deformed). Leg 1: 56.3 (14.7 + 0.9 + 15.1 + 22.9 + 2.7), tibia 2: 10.3, tibia 3: 7.7, tibia 4: 10.3; tibia 1 L/d: 66. Habitus as in Fig. 564. Carapace ochre-yellow with brown median and lateral marks, clypeus with pair of dark stripes, sternum brown with light marks near bases of coxae 2–4 and medially, legs light brown, femora and tibiae with lighter tips and subdistal dark rings, abdomen ochre-gray with distinct dorsal and ventral pattern. Distance PME-PME 185 µm, diameter PME 160 µm, distance PME-ALE 90 µm, distance AME-AME 55 µm, diameter AME 160 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in S. peregrinus (cf. Figs. 614, 615), with one pair of distal apophyses, each provided with one modified hair at tip (Fig. 667). Palps as in Figs. 580 and 581, coxa with distinct retrolateral apophysis and shallow wide furrow, trochanter barely modified, femur with retrolateral furrow with distinct rim proximally, procursus with distinctive distal elements (prolateral membranous flap; Figs. 655–657), bulb with distinctively shaped prolateral process on embolus (Figs. 658–660). 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 (Fig. 670); ALS with eight spigots each (Fig. 671).

Variation. In the male from Bulawayo, the proximal part of the distal procursus spine (arrow in Fig. 655) is slightly more projecting. In the males from Madagascar, both sclerotized projections of the bulb (arrows in Fig. 658) are slightly shorter. Tibia 1 in 24 males: 10.1–16.7 (mean 12.9).

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 46 females: 8.8–15.2 (mean 11.0). Epigynum very similar S. peregrinus (Figs. 600, 672); frontal ‘valve’ in internal genitalia less curved (Figs. 601, 661, 662; very similar S. chibububo, S. similis).

Distribution. Widely distributed in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique; apparently introduced to Madagascar (Fig. 608).

Material examined. ZAMBIA: Southern Prov.: Kalomo: 1♂ type above; same data, 1♂ 10♀ in CAS . Eastern Prov.: Kacholola (14°46’S, 30°36’E), 110 km E Petauke, 16.iii.1995 (W.J. Pulawski), 8♂ 7♀ in CAS . Lusaka Prov.: Lusaka [25°25’S, 28°17’E], in house, 20.iii.1982, collector not given, 1♂ in AMNH . 25 km E Lusaka (15°21’S, 28°30’E), 3.iii.1995 (W.J. Pulawski), 2♀ in CAS . Central Prov.: 6 km W Mumbwa (15°02’S, 27°00’E), 30.iii.1995 (W.J. Pulawski), 1♂ 3♀ in CAS . Broken Hill [=Kabwe, 14°27’S, 28°27’E], 20.iv.1911 (P. Timm), 1♂ 1♀ in ZMH . 8 mi NE Kapiri Mposhi [13°54’S, 28°46’E], 1280 m a.s.l., 10.ii.1958 (E.S. Ross, R.E. Leech), 1♀ in CAS .

ZIMBABWE: Bulawayo Prov.: Bulawayo [20°10’S, 28°35’E], xi.1964 – i.1965 (S. Bucklin), 1♂ 1♀ in MRAC (128095) . Matabeleland North: Victoria Falls (17°56’S, 25°50’E), 19.–22.xii.1995 (W. Pulawski), 3♂ 3♀ in CAS ; same locality, 29.xi.1996 (W. Pulawski, V. Ahrens), 4♂ 11♀ in CAS . Mashonaland West: Kariba [16°31’S, 28°51’E], 16.x.1990 (V. D. & B. Roth), 1♀ in CAS . Harare Prov.: Harare (17°49’S, 31°05’E), in store-room, ii.1999 (M. Cumming), 1♀ in ZFMK .

MOZAMBIQUE: Sofala: Nova Choupanga [near Chemba?, ~ 17°10’S, 34°53’E], leg. P. Lesne, date not given, 2♂ 4♀ in MHNG ; same data, 2♂ 3♀ in SMF (9811/5) . Manica: Vila Pery [=Chimoio, 19°07’S, 33°28’E], leg. P. Lesne, date not given, 3♂ 7♀ in MHNG .

MADAGASCAR: Toamasina: 70 km E Antananarivo [18°54.0’S, 48°06.7’E], zoo, 23.ix.1999 (P. Horak) 1♂ in CPH (Ma 99-96). Tamatave, Foulpointe [17°41’S, 49°31’E], iii.1993 (A. Pauly), 1♀ in MRAC (200075). Foulpointe, forêt, 28.vii.1993 (A. Pauly), 1♂ 2♀ in MRAC (206271); Foulpointe, forêt d’Analalava, i.1995 (A. Pauly), 1♂ in MRAC (207264) .