Smeringopina lekoni, Huber, Bernhard A., 2013

Huber, Bernhard A., 2013, Revision and cladistic analysis of the Guineo-Congolian spider genus Smeringopina Kraus (Araneae, Pholcidae, Zootaxa 3713 (1), pp. 1-160 : 18-19

Smeringopina lekoni new species

Figs. 27 , 138–142 , 168, 178 , 246–252

Type. ♂ holotype from Gabon, Haut Ogooué , forest at Lékoni River (1°10.7’S, 13°32.3’E), 305 m a.s.l., 18.viii.2011 (B.A. & S.R. Huber), in ZFMK (Ar 10203).

Other material examined. GABON: Haut Ogooué : forest at Lékoni River, same data as holotype, 2♂ 5♀ in ZFMK (Ar 10204); same data, 1♀ 3 juvs. in pure ethanol, in ZFMK (Gab 214).

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

Diagnosis. Easily distinguished from congeners by distinctive modification of clypeus (long median apophysis projecting downwards from rim; Fig. 246 ) and frontal apophyses on male chelicerae ( Fig. 250 ; similar S. mohoba but much longer) and by triangular anterior epigynal plate with cone-shaped median process ( Figs. 168 , 251 ).

Male (holotype). Total body length 3.7, carapace width 1.3. Leg 1: 42.4 (10.0 + 0.4 + 10.0 + 20.0 + 2.0), tibia 2: 6.2, tibia 3: 4.2, tibia 4: 6.4; tibia 1 L/d: 98. Distance PME-PME 135 µm, diameter PME 125 µm, distance PME- ALE 60 µm, distance AME-AME 45 µm, diameter AME 100 µm. Carapace ochre-yellow with brown triangular mark posteriorly and brown lateral margins; ocular area posteriorly brown, clypeus with brown pattern, sternum dark brown; legs light brown, femora with dark rings subdistally, tibiae with dark rings proximally and subdistally and additional indistinct ring medially; abdomen ochre-gray with dark pattern dorsally, laterally, and ventrally, ventral dark bands with lateral constriction. Habitus as in Figs. 138–139 , ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with indistinct ‘pseudo-lenses’; clypeus with long median apophysis projecting downwards from rim ( Fig. 246 ); deep thoracic pit and pair of shallow furrows diverging behind pit. Chelicerae as in Fig. 250 , with lateral apophyses in very distal position, with distinctive, strongly ridged frontal apophyses, without modified hairs. Palps as in Figs. 140–142 ; coxa with retrolateral apophysis; trochanter with strong but simple ventral apophysis; femur with large retrolateral apophysis directed toward ventrally, proximally accompanied by two sclerotized humps, without prolateral modification, with weakly sclerotized slender ventral projection distally; prolateral femur-patella joint strongly shifted toward ventrally; tarsus with some longer and slightly stronger hairs dorsally; procursus as in Figs. 247–248 , with complex membranous and sclerotized structures ventrally, without hinge; bulb with simple weakly sclerotized process ( Fig. 249 ; sperm duct apparently opens at basis of this process). Legs without spines and curved hairs, with few vertical hairs; retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 2%; prolateral trichobothrium present on all tibiae; pseudosegments barely visible.

Variation. Tibia 1 in 2 other males: 8.5, 9.5.

Female. In general similar to male; clypeus unmodified. Tibia 1 in 5 females: 6.1–6.9 (mean 6.7). Epigynum anterior plate triangular with cone-shaped median process flanked by pair of shallow depressions ( Figs. 168 , 251 ); posterior plate laterally with overhanging folds ( Fig. 251 ); internal genitalia as in Figs. 178 and 252 .

Natural history. Litter-dwelling species that shares the microhabitat at type locality with a superficially similar Pholcus species ( Pholcus cf. moca Huber, 2011).

Distribution. Known from type locality only ( Fig. 114 ).

Figures

FIGURE 114. Known distribution of the lekoni species group. Question marks denote females of undescribed species (in MRAC and MCZ) that may belong to this species group.

FIGURES 17 – 31. Smeringopina, webs and alive specimens in their natural habitats. 17. S. guineensis, web (Diéké, Guinea). 18. S. kribi, web with nematocerous flies (S Kribi, Cameroon). 19. S. kala, male (Mt. Kala, Cameroon). 20. S. bamenda, pair (Bamenda, Cameroon). 21 – 22. S. nyasoso, male and female with eggsac (Mt. Koupé, Cameroon). 23. S. mbouda, male (near Lake Oku, Cameroon). 24. S. attuleh, female with eggsac (Essotah, Cameroon). 25. S. kinguele, female with juveniles (Monts de Cristal, Gabon). 26. S. tebe, male (N Tébé, Gabon). 27. S. lekoni, female with eggsac (at Lekoni River, Gabon). 28. S. moudouma, mating pair (Moudouma, Gabon). 29 – 30. S. fang, male (Djidji, Gabon) and female with eggsac (Mayebout, Gabon). 31. S. ankasa, female with eggsac (Ankasa N. P., Ghana).

FIGURES 133 – 142. Smeringopina tebe n. sp. (133 – 137) and S. lekoni n. sp. (138 – 142). 133 – 134, 138 – 139. Males, dorsal and ventral views. 135 – 137, 140 – 142. Left male palps, prolateral, dorsal, and retrolateral views.

FIGURES 163 – 183. Female abdomens, ventral views, and cleared female genitalia, dorsal views, lekoni species group. 163, 173. Smeringopina kinguele n. sp. 164, 174. S. mohoba n. sp. 165 – 166, 175 – 176. S. fang n. sp. from Djidji (165, 175) and Ndjolé (166, 176). 167, 177. S. tebe n. sp. 168, 178. S. lekoni n. sp. 169, 179. S. iboga n. sp. 170, 180 – 181. S. moudouma n. sp. from Moudouma (170, 180) and Iboundji (181). 171, 182. S. ndjole n. sp. 172, 183. S. kikongo n. sp. Arrows point at lateral constriction of dark band (165) and at laterally overhanging fold (180).

FIGURES 246 – 252. Smeringopina lekoni n. sp. 246. Male clypeus and ocular area, oblique frontal view. 247 – 248. Left procursus, prolateral and retrolateral views. 249. Left bulbal process, prolateral view. 250. Male chelicerae, frontal view. 251. Epigynum, ventral view; arrow points at overhanging fold. 252. Cleared female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale lines: 0.2 (249), 0.5 (246 – 248, 250 – 252).