Calommata megae Fourie, Haddad & Jocque

Rene, Fourie, Charles R., Haddad & Rudy, Jocque, 2011, A revision of the purse-web spider genus Calommata Lucas, 1837 (Araneae, Atypidae) in the Afrotropical Region, ZooKeys 95, pp. 1-28 : 6-7

Calommata megae Fourie, Haddad & Jocque sp. n. Figs 11253-55

Type material. Holotype male.

ZIMBABWE: Harare, Highlands [17°48'S, 31°05'E], 13.I.2003, on soil, by hand, M. Cumming (NCA 2004/362).

Other material examined.

ZIMBABWE: 1imm.: same locality as holotype, 21.II.2000, in garden, M. Cumming (NCA 2004/1361).

Diagnosis.

The male of this species is recognised by the conductor that narrows and makes a half twist before broadening distally, and the obliquely orientated embolus and conductor (Figs 53-55). This species shares with Calommata tibialis sp. n. the carapace that is subequal in length and width (longer than wide in the other four species).

Etymology.

The specific epithet is a patronym in honour of the collector of the holotype, Meg Cumming, in recognition of her contributions to African arachnology, particularly in Zimbabwe.

Description.

Male holotype. Measurements: CL 2.00, CW 2.05, AL 2.95, AW 1.80, TL 7.00. Length of leg segments, and total: I 2.40 + 0.90 + 1.70 + 1.90 + 1.70 = 8.60; II 2.15 + 0.95 + 1.40 + 2.20 + 2.15 = 8.85; III 1.80 + 0.95 + 1.00 + 2.15 + 3.55 = 9.45; 2.35 + 1.10 + 1.28 + 2.50 + 4.35 = 11.58. Carapace index 0.98; patella-tibia index 1.30.

Carapace and chelicerae brown in colour (Fig. 1). Carapace flat and robust. Median ocular tubercle raised, darker in colour.Chelicerae with a single row of small teeth, increasing in size from fang base to base of chelicerae, with a few denticles near base of chelicerae (Fig. 12). Sternum and coxae light brown, remainder of legs dark brown, fading to light yellow-brown at tarsi. Legs weakly covered with bristles; prolateral side of patellae, tibiae and metatarsi of legs II–IV covered with spinules (thicker and shorter than bristles). Abdomen dark brown, with an irregular brown scutum present anteriorly (Fig. 1). Palpal cymbium short with rounded distal margin; embolus and conductor orientated obliquely, pointing retrolaterally towards base of chelicerae; conductor narrow, making a half twist before broadening distally, with single small curved tooth on its dorsal surface distally; embolus short and straight, slightly curved near tip (Figs 53-55).

Female. Unknown.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 73).

Biology.

Poorly known. The holotype male was collected in mid-summer on the soil surface. The second instar juvenile specimen was captured while ballooning and landing on the porch of a house (M. Cumming, pers. comm.). Amongst atypids, ballooning has previously been recorded in both Atypus and Sphodros (Wiehle 1953 cited in Pedersen and Loeschcke 2001, Coyle 1983, Coyle et al. 1985).