Thysanina capensis, Lyle & Haddad, 2006

Lyle, Robin & Haddad, Charles R., 2006, A revision of the Afrotropical tracheline sac spider genus Thysanina Simon, 1910 (Araneae: Corinnidae), African Invertebrates 47, pp. 95-116 : 105-107

Thysanina capensis sp. n.

Figs 21–25

Etymology: This species name is taken from Western Cape Province, South Africa, where the type series was collected.

Diagnosis: This female can be recognised by the V-shaped spermathecae and well sclerotised copulatory openings, at 45 degrees medially in the epigyne. The male can be recognised easily by the short, peg-like embolus distally on the tegulum.

Description:

Female.

Measurements: CL 1.6–1.65, CW 1.4–1.43, AL 2.6–2.65, AW 1.8–1.93, TL 4.2–4.3, FL 0.08, SL 0.95–0.97, SW 0.78–0.83, AME–AME 0.09, AME–ALE 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.34, PME–PME 0.14, PME–PLE 0.10, PLE–PLE 0.53. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 1.73+0.73+1.3+1.08+0.73=5.57; II 1.38+0.65+1.08+0.9+0.73=4.74; III 0.98+0.5+0.68+0.85+0.38=3.39; IV 0.5+0.73+ 1.35+1.4+0.53=4.51.

Carapace raised slightly to midpoint; relatively steep decline at two-thirds its length; surface smooth, covered in short setae; fovea small, distinct, at two-thirds carapace length; carapace bright orange, paler in colour posterior to midpoint. Ocular region dark orange with black rings around eyes; AER slightly procurved, lateral eyes slightly larger than medians; clypeus height equal to 0.75 PME diameter; AME separated by distance equal to their diameter; AME separated from ALE by 0.5 AME diameter; PER slightly recurved, median eyes slightly larger than laterals; PME separated by distance 1.5 times their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to PME diameter. Chelicerae bright orange, pale near fang bases; scattered setae on anterior surface; three promarginal teeth; two near fang base, distal tooth largest; third tooth small, far from fang base on promargin; three retromarginal teeth on single base, median tooth largest. Sternum pale orange to light brown, short fine, dark setae scattered throughout. Abdomen broader anteriorly, truncated posteriorly, with branched grey chevron; dorsum mottled, with grey to creamy white undertones; fine setae scattered throughout dorsum. Legs I to IV uniform pale yellow; incomplete grey bands distinct on femora to metatarsi; relatively dense dark setae on metatarsi and tarsi; remaining leg segments with scattered fine, light coloured setae; legs I to IV with uniform incomplete grey bands; femora with two close distal bands, patellae covered almost entirely by band, tibiae and metatarsi with single distal and proximal bands. Regular leg spines, cusps absent; palpal spination: patellae pl 1 do 1, tibiae pl 3 do 1, tarsi plv 2. Genital area sclerotised, light to dark brown; copulatory opening’s ridges at 45º to epigastric fold; spermathecae large, V-shaped ( Figs 21, 22 ).

Male.

Measurements: CL 1.8, CW 1.5, AL 2.08, AW 1.27, TL 3.55, FL 0.13, SL 1.02, SW 0.82, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.35, PME–PME 0.13, PME–PLE 0.15, PLE–PLE 0.6. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 1.58+0.82+1.29+1.05+0.6=5.34; II 1.28+0.69+1.0+0.85+0.52=4.34; III 0.84+0.48+0.6+0.8+0.52=3.24; IV 1.5+0.7+1.43+1.4+0.41=5.44.

General appearance similar to female; male more robustly built, colouration darker; indistinctive grey chevron on dorsum. AER slightly procurved, lateral eyes larger than medians; clypeus height equal to AME diameter; AME separated by slightly less than their diameters;AME separated from ALE by 0.5AME diameter; PER slightly recurved, eyes similar in size; PME separated by 1.25 their diameter; PME separated from PLE by 1.5 times PME diameter. Chelicerae granular with a few scattered long, dark setae over surface; three well separated promarginal teeth, subequal in size, distal tooth smallest, median tooth largest; three retromarginal teeth, close together but not on single base, large and subequal in size, distal tooth slightly smaller than others. Legs I to IV uniform yellow, without distinctive bands; more compact and stout than those of female. Leg spination: metatarsi: I plv 6, rlv 2 cusps; tarsi: I plv 1 rlv 1cusps ( Fig. 23 ); regular leg spines absent; palpal spination: femora pl 1 do 3, patellae pl 2 rl 1, tibiae pl 2 rl 1 plv 1. Palp pale orange throughout; small subtriangular retrolateral tibial apophysis present; tegulum tapering distally, with small, peg-like embolus originating prolaterally at distal end ( Figs 24, 25 ).

Holotype: ^‘ Lebanon Pine Plantation / Grabouw, W. Cape / Jun.1986 / J.K. Winstanley / Pine / AcCA 1466 // Araneae / Corinnidae / Trachelinae / Thysanina / capensis HOLOTYPE ^/ 86/468 det. R. Lyle //’ (NCA # 86/468).

Allotype: ơ ‘S. Africa: C.P., Ladismith, Gans Kop 136 / 3339S/2101E, Ent. Staff / Various methods, 28 Oct. 1987 // new nr. NMBA 02338 // Araneae / Corinnidae / Trachelinae / Thysanina capensis / ALLOTYPE //’ (NMBA # 02338).

Paratype: 1^‘ Lebanon, Western Cape / viii.1985 / J.K. Winstanley / Small pine trees //’ ( NCA # 86 /155). Distribution: Endemic to Western Cape Province , South Africa ( Fig. 41 ).

Natural history: Specimens were collected from pine plantations and Karoo habitats. This species is likely to occur also in fynbos habitats in Western Cape.

Figures

Figs 21–25. Thysanina capensis sp. n.: (21, 22) female: (21) epigyne, ventral view, (22) vulva, dorsal view; (23–25) male: (23) schematic representation of cusp arrangement on legs I and II, (24) left palp, ventral view, (25) left palp, retrolateral view. Scale bar (Figs 21, 22, 24, 25) = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 41. Distribution of Thysanina in the Afrotropical region.