Hexophthalma leroyi, Lotz, 2018

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 : 6-7

Hexophthalma leroyi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3EAAF34D-D7DB-4C5F-84BE- 231233 E064B4

Figs 5 , 24

Diagnosis

Female inner spermathecae consist of two sac-like fingers on each side, with a round sclerotized reduced outer spermatheca ( Fig. 5 ), to a certain extent similar to H. goanikontesensis sp. nov., but with only two inner spermathecae sacs. Male unknown.

Etymology

The specific name is a patronym for John Leroy, collector of the type specimen.

Material examined

Holotype

SOUTH AFRICA: ♀, Northern Cape Province, Augrabies National Park , 28.66° S, 20.42° E, 24 Feb. 1983, J. Leroy leg., LR270 ( PPRI 89/786 ).

Description

Female (n =1)

TL= 12.9; CL= 5.9; CW=6.0; CLL=0.9. AME-LE= 0.65; eye diameter= 0.2. Carapace reddish-brown, cephalic area slightly darker; abdomen and legs yellow-brown. Body and legs with lancet-like curved macrosetae; macrosetae more curved on body than on legs. Inner spermathecae consist of two sac-like fingers on each side, with a round, sclerotized, reduced outer spermatheca ( Fig. 5 ).

Leg measurements:

Natural history

Hexophthalma leroyi sp. nov. was collected in a grassy area in the Nama Karoo biome.

Distribution

Hexophthalma leroyi sp. nov. is known only from the type locality in South Africa ( Fig. 24 ).

Figures

Figs 1–8. Female internal genitalia. 1. Hexophthalma binfordae sp. nov. 2–4. H. goanikontesensis sp. nov. 5. H. leroyi sp. nov. 6–8. H. albospinosa (Purcell, 1908). Scale bar =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).