Smeringopus principe new species

Figs. 702–704, 707–708, 725–728, 741–744

Type. Male holotype from São Tomé and Príncipe, Príncipe Island, forest on road to Sundi Plantation, 3.55 air km NW Santo Antonio de Príncipe (1°39.6’N, 7°23.7’E), 195 m a.s.l., sifting leaf litter, 21.iv.2001 (C.E. Griswold), in CAS .

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

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners (other species of the thomensis species group) by dorsal projection on procursus tip (Figs. 725, 742) and much wider pore plates (Figs. 728, 743); also by shape of embolus (only one rounded apophyses arising from embolus; Figs. 726, 727; similar S. mayombe); from S. thomensis also by pair of sclerotized areas on posterior rim of epigynum (Fig. 712). Easily distinguished from all other congeners by distinctive color pattern dorsally on abdomen (figure composed of three black elements on posterior half; in Fig. 703 the frontal part of this figure appears fragmented).

Male (holotype). Total body length 5.8, carapace width 1.9. Leg 1: 51.7 (14.0 + 0.8 + 12.4 + 21.7 + 2.8), tibia 2: 9.5, tibia 3: 6.8, tibia 4: 9.1; tibia 1 L/d: 54. Habitus as in Fig. 703. Carapace ochre-yellow with median dark mark restricted to frontal part, wide lateral marks, clypeus distal half darker, with pair of lines also restricted to distal half, sternum dark brown with small light spots, legs ochre-yellow, femora and tibiae with dark subdistal rings and light tips, abdomen grey with distinctive dorsal pattern, ventrally with dark anterior and posterior plates and three indistinct bands in median section. Distance PME-PME 125 µm, diameter PME 175 µm, distance PME-ALE 70 µm, distance AME-AME 45 µm, diameter AME 135 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with small dark ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae with pair of small distal apophyses as in S. thomensis (cf. Fig. 721). Palps as in Figs. 707 and 708, coxa with distinct retrolateral apophysis, trochanter barely modified, femur with deep retrolateral furrow, proximal rim distinct, procursus with distinctive distal structures including semitransparent dorsal process (Figs. 725, 742), bulb with sclerotized embolus with one rounded dorsal process (Figs. 726, 727, 741). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, without curved hairs, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 3%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1.

Variation. Tibia 1 in 6 other males: 11.1–12.4 (mean 11.9).

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 3 females: 9.5, 10.7, 11.2. Epigynum a simple, roughly triangular plate with pair of pockets and pair of sclerotized areas on posterior rim, with distinct transversal internal structure visible through cuticle, posterior plate semicircular (Figs. 712, 713); internal genitalia as in Figs. 714 and 728.

Distribution. Known from Príncipe Island only (Fig. 718).

Material examined. SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE: Príncipe: forest on road to Sundi Plantation, 3.55 air km NW Santo Antonio de Príncipe: type above; same data, 1♂ 1♀ 1 juv. in CAS ; same data but without “sifting litter”, 4♂ 1♀ + juvs in CAS; same data but beating/sweeping forest understory, 1♀ in CAS . Agua Doctor, degraded forest north of Santo Antonio de Príncipe on road to airport (1°39.3’N, 7°25.0’E), 19.iv.2001 (C.E. Griswold), 1♂ 1♀ + juvs in CAS . 1.72 air km 241° W of Santo Antonio de Príncipe town centre (1°38.0’N, 7°24.4’E), 120 m a.s.l., forest understory, 20.iv.2001 (C.E. Griswold), 1♂ 1♀ 2 juvs in CAS . Portinho, trail to Praia Salgada (1°37.9’N, 7°27.1’E), 16.v.2001 (J.M. Ledford), 1♂ 1♀ 2 juvs in CAS .