Falcaranea maputensis, Haddad & Lyle, 2024

Haddad, Charles R. & Lyle, Robin, 2024, Three new genera of arboreal dark sac spiders from southern Africa (Araneae: Trachelidae), Zootaxa 5399 (5), pp. 451-504 : 483-486

Falcaranea maputensis sp. nov.

Figs 117–128 , 147–149 , 154, 155 , 165–168

Etymology. This species name is derived from the Maputaland ecoregion in northern KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa and southern Mozambique, where most of the specimens were collected.

Diagnosis. Males of F. maputensis sp. nov. can be easily recognized from congeners by the relatively long retrocymbial basal process and the sharp bend near the middle of the embolus ( Figs 165, 166 ). Females share with F. gladius sp. nov. the presence of a long membranous scape in the epigyne, but can be distinguished by the anterior rather than lateral orientation of the copulatory openings (compare Figs 167 and 162 ). The ST I are larger, more spherical, and transversely orientated, while those of F. gladius sp. nov. are smaller and obliquely orientated (compare Figs 168 and 164 ).

Male (holotype, St Lucia, NCA 2012/3958). Measurements: CL 1.34, CW 1.14, AL 1.43, AW 1.05, TL 2.65, FL 0.22, SL 0.75, SW 0.63, AME-AME 0.04, AME-ALE 0.01, ALE-ALE 0.22, PME-PME 0.08, PME-PLE 0.11, PLE-PLE 0.44. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 1.00 + 0.52 + 0.81 + 0.62 + 0.33 = 3.28; II 0.82 + 0.42 + 0.65 + 0.57 + 0.30 = 2.76; III 0.67 + 0.35 + 0.44 + 0.60 + 0.27 = 2.33; IV 1.00 + 0.43 + 0.78 + 0.84 + 0.31 = 3.36.

Carapace bright yellow, with faint grey mottling ( Fig. 154 ); surface finely granulate, more pronounced in slopes; fovea long, distinct, at ⅔ CL.AER slightly procurved; clypeus height slightly less than AME diameter; AME slightly larger than ALE; AME separated by distance equal to ½ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance approximately equal to ⅛ AME diameter; PER recurved, PLE slightly larger than PME; PME separated by distance approximately equal to their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1¼ PME diameter. Chelicerae bright yellow; endites and labium pale yellow-brown, with faint grey mottling. Sternum yellow, with faint black mottling, border brown. Abdomen oval, uniform creamy-grey dorsally and ventrally; two pairs of sigilla, first pair indistinct, pale grey, at ¼ AL; second pair distinct, oval, at midpoint. Legs I yellow, II to IV pale yellow, without mottling or markings. Palp with oval cymbium, tapering distally; embolus originating prolaterally on tegulum with broad base, somewhat S-shaped, initially directed distally, bending almost 90 degrees towards retrolateral side, with another sharp retrolateral bend, with distal section gradually narrowing, with tip directed distally; ventral tibial apophysis forming broad, shallow lobe; dorsal RTA adjacent to ventral, triangular, tooth-like; cymbium with distinct finger-like dorsal basal apophysis ( Figs 147 , 165, 166 ).

Female (paratype, Inhaca, NCA 93/220). Measurements: CL 1.20, CW 0.90, AL 1.38, AW 0.95, TL 2.58, FL 0.10, SL 0.68, SW 0.60, AME-AME 0.05, AME-ALE 0.03, ALE-ALE 0.20, PME-PME 0.08, PME-PLE 0.08, PLE-PLE 0.40. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 0.70 + 0.38 + 0.48 + 0.40 + 0.28 = 2.24; II 0.58 + 0.35 + 0.40 + 0.38 + 0.25 = 1.96; III 0.55 + 0.28 + 0.30 + 0.40 + 0.23 = 1.76; IV 0.83 + 0.35 + 0.48 + 0.63 + 0.25 = 2.54.

Carapace orange-brown ( Fig. 155 ); surface texture granular, covered with short, fine setae; fovea short, distinct, at two thirds CL. AER slightly recurved; clypeus height equal to approximately ½ AME diameter; AME and ALE equal in size; AME separated by distance equal to ⅖ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance equal to ⅖ AME diameter; PER recurved, PLE slightly larger than PME; PME separated by distance equal to their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to PME diameter. Chelicerae orange, anterior surface scattered with long, fine setae; three promarginal teeth, proximal tooth largest, distal tooth smallest; two retromarginal teeth, distal tooth largest. Sternum pale brown, darker at border. Abdomen pale yellow with pale grey median line dorsally, extending towards midpoint, mottled grey posteriorly ( Fig. 155 ); two pairs of distinct brown sigilla, one pair anterior to midpoint and other pair posterior to midpoint of abdomen; abdomen broad anteriorly, tapering posteriorly. Legs I to IV uniform pale yellow. Epigyne with large, tongue-like hood extending over almost entire length of epigyne; copulatory openings anterolaterally situated, directed anteriorly with spermathecal ducts at 60º angle to epigastric fold; ST II small, subtriangular, anterolaterally situated; ST I larger, oval, near proximal end of epigynal hood ( Figs 149 , 167, 168 ).

Type material. Holotype ♁: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, St Lucia , 28°23'02.3''S, 32°24'25.7''E, 21 m a.s.l., 13.V.2012, leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 4, coastal forest, Trichilia dregeana ) ( NCA 2012 /3958);

Paratypes: MOZAMBIQUE: Inhaca Island, Village Hotel , 26°00'S, 32°55'E, 23.XII.1992,leg. T.Steyn, 1♀ ( NCA 93 /220) . SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, St Lucia, 28°23'02.3''S, 32°24'25.7''E, 21 m a.s.l., 13.V.2012, leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 4, coastal forest, T. dregeana ), 2♁ 3♀ ( NCA 2012 /4260); Kosi Bay, 26°53'S, 32°52'E, 28.X.1987, leg. M. Filmer (bush beating), 1♀ ( NCA 88 /506); Ndumo Game Reserve , Staff housing, 26°54.660'S, 32°17.930'E, 130 m a.s.l., 5.XII.2018, leg. C. Haddad, R. Booysen & J. Neethling (canopy fogging, Commiphora neglecta ), 3♁ 1♀ ( NCA 2019 /758); Same locality, Nyamiti Pan, 26°53.409'S, 32°17.576'E, 35 m a.s.l., 3.XII.2019, leg. C. Haddad & V. Swart (canopy fogging, Pappea capensis ), 8♀ ( NCA 2020 /309) . ZIMBABWE: Harare, Highlands, 18 Walmer Drive [17°48'S, 31°05'E], 4.I.2006, leg. M. Cumming (running up trunk of Acacia sieberiana ), 1♁ ( BMNH) ; Lowveld, Triangle , 2131A2, 24.X.1979, leg. M. Saunders, 1♀ (NMZ/A890) .

Other material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Crocodile Centre, 28°21'24.4''S, 32°25'11.0''E, 24 m a.s.l., 12.V.2012, leg. J.A. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 1, indigenous bush, Trichilia emetica ), 1♁ 1♀ ( NCA 2012 /4267); Same locality, Meersig, 28°14'07.5''S, 32°29'21.0''E, 14 m a.s.l., 14.V.2012, leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 6, coastal forest, Syzigium cordatum ), 2♁ 6♀ ( NCA 2012 /4262); Same locality, near Mission Rocks Beach, 28°15'53.1''S, 32°28'52.8''E, 83 m a.s.l., 12.V.2012, leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging, Albizia adianthifolia , indigenous bush), 3♁ 4♀ ( NCA 2013 /7); Same locality, St Lucia, 28°23'03.9''S, 32°24'25.4''E, 24 m a.s.l., 13.V.2012, leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 3, coastal forest, T. dregeana ), 1♁ 1♀ (MACN-Ar 44910); Ithala Game Reserve , Doornkraal Camp, 27°30.735'S, 31°12.231'E, 28.I.2014, leg. C. Haddad & Z. Mbo (canopy fogging, mixed trees), 1♁ ( NCA 2013 /5271); Ndumo Game Reserve , Nyamiti Pan, 26°53.409'S, 32°17.576'E, 35 m a.s.l., 3.XII.2019, leg. C. Haddad & V. Swart (canopy fogging, Pappea capensis ), 3♁ 3♀ (S.E.M. preparations); Ophathe Game Reserve , 28°22.135'S, 31°23.363'E, 560 m a.s.l., 28.IX.2008, leg. C. Haddad (active search, overgrazed savanna), 1♀ ( NCA 2008 /4133); Pongolapoort Nature Reserve , N 2 roadside, 27°27'21.6''S, 31°54'37.7''E, 207 m a.s.l., 20.V.2012, leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging, Vachellia karroo , bushveld), 2♁ 1♀ ( NCA 2012 /3985) . Limpopo: Makhado, Medike Mountain Reserve, 22°59.650'S, 29°36.822'E, 815 m a.s.l., 11.XI.2012, leg. J. Neethling (canopy fogging, Cassia abbreviata , montane bushveld), 2♁ 1♀ ( NCA 2013 /1984); Vivo, Lajuma Mountain Retreat, 23°02'S, 29°26'E, 1300 m a.s.l., 10.XI.2012, leg. J. Neethling (canopy fogging, Afromontane forest ), 3♀ ( NCA 2013 /2008), 3♁ 4♀ ( NCA 2013 /2009) .

Distribution. Known from various localities from southern Mozambique, north-eastern South Africa and eastern Zimbabwe ( Fig. 169 ).

Figures

FIGURE 169. Distribution of Falcaranea amatola sp. nov. (red circles), F. gladius sp. nov. (blue triangles) and F. maputensis sp. nov. (green triangles) in southern Africa.

FIGURES 117–128. Scanning electron micrographs of Falcaranea maputensis sp. nov. female (117–119, 122) and male (120, 121, 123–128). 117. Carapace, dorsal view; 118. Detail of carapace setae; 119. Eye region, dorsal view. 120. Mouthparts; 121. Sternum; 122. Ventral abdominal setae; 123. Patella IV, ventrolateral view, arrow indicating lyriform organ at distal end of patellar indentation; 124. Detail of previous; 125. Tibia I, dorsal view; 126. Detail of dorsal setae; 127. Dorsodistal end of tibia I, arrows indicating slit sensilla; 128. Metatarsus I, detail of dorsal setae.

FIGURES 141–149. Scanning electron micrographs of Falcaranea gladius sp. nov. male (141–143) and female (144–146) and F. maputensis sp. nov. male (147, 148) and female (149). 141, 142. Right palp, dorsal (141) and prolateral (142) views; 143, 147. Left palp, ventral view; 144, 145, 149. Epigyne, ventral view; 146. Detail of copulatory opening. 148. Right palpal patella, white and black arrows indicating pro- and retrolateral lyriform organs, respectively.

FIGURES 150–155. Digital microscope photographs of dorsal habitus of Falcaranea spp. 150, 151. F. amatola sp. nov., male (150) and female (151); 152, 153. F. gladius sp. nov., male (152) and female (153); 154, 155. F. maputensis sp. nov., male (154) and female (155). Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURES 165–168. Falcaranea maputensis sp. nov. male (165, 166) and female (167, 168). 165. Left palp, ventral view; 166. Same, retrolateral view; 167. Epigyne, ventral view 168. Same, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

FIGURES 160–164. Falcaranea gladius sp. nov. male (160, 161) and female (162–164). 160. Left palp, ventral view; 161. Same, retrolateral view; 162, 163. Epigyne, ventral view, showing variations in scape lengths, whole (162) and broken off (163); 164. Same, dorsal view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.