Hexophthalma dolichocephala ( Lawrence, 1928 )

Lotz, Leon N., 2018, An update on the spider genus Hexophthalma (Araneae: Sicariidae) in the Afrotropical region, with descriptions of new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 424, pp. 1-18 : 10-11

Hexophthalma dolichocephala ( Lawrence, 1928)

Figs 10 , 20 , 25

Sicarius dolichocephalus Lawrence, 1928: 222 .

Sicarius dolichocephalus – Newlands 1986: 49. — Lotz 2012: 8.

Hexophthalma dolichocephala – Magalhaes et al. 2017: 850.

Diagnosis

Female inner spermathecae consist of one finger-like sac on each side, with a very short outer spermatheca ( Fig. 10 ). Male embolus apical part thin, blunt and slightly twisted and flattened, unlike the other species where the apical part is thin and pointed ( Fig. 20 ).

Material examined

Lectotype

NAMIBIA: ♀, Kaoko Otavi [18°18′ S, 13°40′ E], Apr. 1926 ( SAMC 6937 ).

Other material

NAMIBIA: 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 1 imm., Kaokoland, Opuwo, 17°24′20.34″ S, 14°13′01.20″ E, 18 Aug. 2005, G. Binford leg. ( NMNW 45843 ) ; 1 ♀, Kaokoland, Opuwo, Baynes Mountain, Epembe , 17°04′32.9″ S, 13°02′08.5″ E, 20 Apr. 2006, EduVentures 8 leg. ( NMNW 47266 ) ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Munutum River [18°17′ S, 12°04′ E], 19 Oct. 1988, H. Kleinhans leg. ( NMNW 40863 ) ; 1 ♂, Okahama water point , 17°10′34.1″ S, 12°59′54.7″ E, 25 Apr. 2006, EduVentures 8 leg. ( NMNW 47271 ) ; 1 ♂, Möwe Bay , 19°20′ S, 12°40′ E, 1990, D. and J. Bartlett leg. ( NMNW 42684 ) ; 1 ♂, Ruacana, 17°25′ S, 14°19′ E, 25–27 Aug. 1973, State Museum leg. ( NMNW 35801 ) .

Description

Male (n=5)

TL= 19.5 (11.6–28.7); CL=4.98 (4.7–5.6); CW= 4.94 (4.7–5.6); CLL= 0.59 (0.50–0.65). AME- LE= 0.5; eye diameter=0.2. Carapace reddish-brown, cephalic area slightly darker; abdomen and legs yellow-brown. Body and legs with lancet-like curved macrosetae, more strongly curved on body than on legs. Embolus thick over most of the length, tapered apically, point blunt and slightly twisted at base of thinner part ( Fig. 20 ).

Leg measurements:

Natural history

Hexophthalma dolichocephala have been collected in Desert, Nama Karoo and Savanna biomes, by pitfall traps and by hand from under rocks.

Distribution

Hexophthalma dolichocephala is distributed in the northwestern corner of Namibia ( Fig. 25 ).

Figures

Figs 9–16. Female internal genitalia. 9. Hexophthalma damarensis (Lawrence, 1928). 10. H. dolichocephala (Lawrence, 1928). 11–15. H. hahni (Karsch, 1878). 16. H. spatulata (Pocock, 1900). Scale bar =1mm.

Figs 17–23. 17–22. Male palps (right side prolateral). 17. Hexophthalma albospinosa (Purcell, 1908). 18. H. goanikontesensis sp. nov. 19. H. damarensis (Lawrence, 1928). 20. H. dolichocephala (Lawrence, 1928). 21. H. hahni (Karsch, 1878). 22. H. spatulata (Pocock, 1900). 23. H. spatulata, enlarged femoral seta (not to scale). Scale bars=1 mm.

Figs 24–25. Distribution maps for species of Hexophthalma Karsch, 1879. 24. H. goanikontesensis sp. nov., H. binfordae sp. nov. and H. leroyi sp. nov. 25. H. albospinosa (Purcell, 1908, H. damarensis (Lawrence, 1928), H. dolichocephala (Lawrence, 1928) and H. spatulata (Pocock, 1900).