A revision of the genus Trachelas L. Koch, 1872 (Araneae: Trachelidae) in the continental Afrotropical Region Author Haddad, Charles R. 0000-0002-2317-7760 Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa haddadcr@ufs.ac.za Author Lyle, Robin 0000-0002-5279-5306 Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of the Free State, Nelson Mandela Drive, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa & Present address: Agriculture Research Council - Plant Health and Protection, Private Bag X 131, Queenswood 0121, South Africa lyler@arc.agric.za text Zootaxa 2025 2025-08-07 5673 4 451 493 https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5673.4.1 journal article 312094 10.11646/zootaxa.5673.4.1 16a496c6-440f-463c-bfb1-4c03bfbe7beb 1175-5326 16982702 50B6968C-49B6-4C3D-905E-2C1C731F25F7 Trachelas chubbi Lessert, 1921 Figs 1 , 6E, F , 10 Trachelas chubbi Lessert, 1921: 435 , figs 74–76 ( Holotype ♂ and allotype ♀ : TANZANIA : Kilimanjaro Region : Kibonoto [ Kibongoto , 03°11'S , 37°06'E ], zone des cultures, IX, MNHG—examined). Diagnosis. This species is most similar to T. sylvae , as males of both species share an embolus that is inverted 6- shaped in lateral view and a small distal patellar apophysis, but it can be recognised by the narrow profile of the embolus in ventral view (broad in T. sylvae ) and the broader proximal bend of the spermophor ( vs narrow) (cf. Figs 10A, B and 19A, B ). The female of this species can be recognised by the almost round atria that are as broad as long (larger and distinctly oval in T. sylvae ) and the small subtriangular secondary spermathecae, vs oval (cf. Figs 10C, D and 19C, D ). Male. Measurements: CL 1.44–2.24, CW 1.20–1.76, AL 1.65–2.40, AW 1.10–1.92, TL 2.60–4.72, FL 0.08– 0.12, SL 0.86–1.10, SW 0.80–1.04, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.04, ALE–ALE 0.37, PME–PME 0.18, PME– PLE 0.12, PLE–PLE 0.65. Length of leg segments: I 5.30 (1.69, 0.73, 1.31, 0.94, 0.63); II 4.71 (1.43, 0.65, 1.12, 0.86, 0.65); III 3.70 (1.12, 0.45, 0.78, 0.94, 0.41); IV 4.92 (1.41, 0.59, 1.10, 1.31, 0.51). Carapace reddish-brown ( Fig. 6E ); eye region reddish-brown, with darkened, almost black rings around eyes; AME and ALE approximately equal; clypeus height equal to 1.2× AME diameter; AME separated by half their diameter; AME separated from ALE by 0.2× AME diameter; PME and PLE equal in size; PME separated by approximately 1.2× their diameter; PME separated from PLE by PLE diameter. Chelicerae reddish-brown, endites and labium brown; three promarginal teeth, proximal tooth largest, distal tooth smallest; two retromarginal teeth, distal tooth largest. Sternum orange, brown towards borders. Abdomen uniform grey dorsally ( Fig. 6E ), rarely with traces of faint grey chevron marking; scutum covering entire dorsum; paired sigilla indistinct; surface covered with fine setae. Legs I to IV pale brown, with incomplete bands; anterior legs more robust, slightly darker than posteriors; femora I and II with distal incomplete band, patellae with none, tibiae with two incomplete bands, one distal and one proximal, metatarsi with one incomplete proximal band, tarsi with none. Palp pale brown to brown in colour; PA small, distal, curved proximally, with sharply pointed tip; CY roughly pear-shaped, distal end subtriangular; TE oval, about 3/5 CY length; SP S-shaped, with strong proximal and distal bends; EM originating prolaterally, proximal section looping behind TA, distal section short, twisting with rounded tip; inverted 6-shaped in lateral view, somewhat laterally compressed in ventral view ( Fig. 10A, B ). FIGURE 10. Genitalic morphology of Trachelas chubbi : A Male palp, ventral view; B Same, retrolateral view; C Epigyne, ventral view; D Same, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: AT—atrium; CD—copulatory duct; Cd—connecting duct; CO—copulatory opening; EM—embolus; FD—fertilization duct; PA—patellar apophysis; SP—sperm duct; ST I— primary spermatheca; ST II—secondary spermathecae; TA—tegular apophysis. Female. Measurements: CL 1.18–1.92, CW 0.98–1.16, AL 1.84–3.04, AW 1.41–2.08, TL 2.70–4.88, FL 0.01– 0.06, SL 0.76–1.08, SW 0.69–1.02, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.04, ALE–ALE 0.37, PME–PME 0.14, PME– PLE 0.12, PLE–PLE 0.65. Length of leg segments: I 4.59 (1.41, 0.71, 1.02, 0.86, 0.59); II 4.59 (1.37, 0.67, 1.10, 0.90, 0.55); III 3.76 (0.94, 0.59, 0.90, 0.86, 0.47); IV 4.60 (1.49, 0.63, 1.10, 1.06, 0.32). Carapace surface reddish-brown; eye region brown, with black rings around eyes ( Fig. 6F ); AME larger than ALE; clypeus height equal to twice AME diameter; AME separated by approximately 0.5 their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.25 ALE diameter; PME slightly larger than PLE; PME separated by distance equal to 1.4 their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to PME diameter. Chelicerae brown, endites and labium yellow-brown; three promarginal teeth, median tooth largest, distal tooth smallest; two retromarginal teeth, distal tooth largest. Sternum orange, brown towards border. Abdomen with mottled grey dorsum, with faint traces of chevron marking; paired sigilla indistinct. Legs I to IV pale yellow to pale brown, with incomplete bands; anterior legs pairs more robust, slightly darker than posteriors; femora I and II with incomplete distal band, patellae without bands, tibiae with two incomplete bands, one distal and one proximal, metatarsi with one incomplete proximal band, tarsi with none. Genital area relatively strongly sclerotised, brown to dark brown; AT almost circular, as long as wide, with CO at anterior margin; CD looping anteriorly, then mesally and posteriorly before entering adjoining transverse oval ST II near centre of epigyne; Cd very short, entering small subtriangular ST II on their anteromesal margin; ST I separated by less than 1/2 their width ( Fig. 10C, D ). Other material examined: BURUNDI : Forêt de Rwegura , 02°55'S , 29°31'E , 2200 m a.s.l. , 10. IV .2002 , leg. B. Nzigidahera (versant est, by hand), 1♀ ( MRAC 214149 ). CAMEROON : Northwest Province : Menchum Division , Near Lake Oku , 06°12'N , 10°27'E , ca. 2150 m a.s.l. , leg. C. Griswold et al. , 7–13.II.1992 (litter, forest), 1♀ ( ZMUC ). D. R . CONGO : Bikara , 18 km S of Lubéro , Lubéro-Goma Road , 00°15'S , 29°12'E , 2100 m a.s.l. , XII.1976 , leg. M. Lejeune (feuilles sèches de lobélies), 1♂ ( MRAC 159934 ); Same locality, XII.1976 , leg. M. Lejeune (dans vieilles tiges de lobélies), 1♀ ( MRAC 221588 ); Same locality, 1200 m a.s.l, XII.1976 , leg. M. Lejeune (littière), 1♂ ( MRAC 159810 ); Kivu , Mt. Lubwe , S.E. de Butembo , 00°02'N , 29°18'E , 2400 m a.s.l. , 13. IV .1971 , leg. M. Lejeune (dans mousse), 1♂ ( MRAC 138905 ); Kivu , volcan Karisimbi Rweru [ 01°30'S , 29°26'E ], 2700 m a.s.l. , leg. R .P.M. Lejeune (dans bambusetum), 1♀ ( MRAC 138498 ); 9.VIII.1970 , Rutshuru , 01°11'S , 29°27'E , V .1937, leg. J. Ghesquière , 1♀ ( MRAC 174313 ). KENYA : 1.5 km S of Castle Forest Lodge , 00°23'S , 37°18'E , 1985 m a.s.l. , 21. IV .2004 , leg. R . Jocqué et al. (mountain forest, beating), 2♂ 2♀ 2 imm. ( MRAC 215131 ), 1♂ 1♀ ( MRAC 215136 ); Kakamega Forest , Ileho , 00°13'N , 34°54'E , 22. IX .2002 , leg. D. Shilabira Smith ( Malaise trap ), 1♀ ( MRAC 220199 ); Same data but 14. IX .2002 , 1♀ ( MRAC 220239 ); Same data but 28. IX .2002 , 1♀ ( MRAC 220255 ); Same data but 22. VI .2002 , 1♀ ( MRAC 220261 ); Same data but 29. VI .2002 , 1♀ ( MRAC 220483 ); Same data but 20. VI .2002 , 1♀ ( MRAC 220502 ); Nairobi , Karura Forest , 01°14'S , 36°49'E , 8.XII.1979 , leg. P. Reavell (dense edge trees and climbers), 1♀ ( NMSA 13405 ). TANZANIA : Arusha Region : Hanang Mountain , south slope, 04°26'S , 35°24'E , 2200–2300 m a.s.l. , 24–25. V .1957 , leg. P. Basilewsky & N. Leleup (forêt avec Cupressus , gorge du Himit ), 1♀ ( MRAC 111723 ). Iringa Region : Uzungwa Mountains , Mufindi , Kigogo Forest Reserve [ 08°35'S , 35°17'E ], 1700 m a.s.l. , 8–10.X.1984 , leg. N. Scharff ( pitfall traps , montane rain forest), 1♂ ( ZMUC ); Uzungwa Mountains , Uzungwa Scarp Forest Reserve , 11 km SE of Masisiwe , Kihanga Stream , 08°22'05.7"S , 35°58'41.6"E , 1800 m a.s.l. , 17–27. V .1997 , leg. ZMUC & USNM expedition (understory), 5♀ ( ZMUC ); Same data but canopy, 4♂ 3♀ ( ZMUC ). Kilimanjaro Region : Kilimanjaro : Marangu , 03°17'S , 37°31'E , 1550 m a.s.l. , 27.II.1956 , leg. N. Leleup & J. Leleup , 1♀ ( MRAC 112233 ); Mkomazi Game Reserve , 03°58'S , 37°48'E , 1.II.1996 , leg. A. Russell-Smith (roadside, in grass litter), 2♀ ( BMNH ); Same locality, top of Ibaya Hill , 04°00'S , 38°00'E , 29.I.1996 , leg. A. Russell-Smith (dry Spirostachys forest), 2♂ ( MRAC 211322 ). Morogoro Region : Uluguru Mountains , Lupanga , West [ 06°52'S , 37°42'E ], 1900 m a.s.l. , 1.VII.1981 , leg. M. Stoltze & N. Scharff , 1♀ ( ZMUC ); Same data but I–VII.1981 ( pitfall trap ), 1♂ ( ZMUC ). Tanga Region : East Usambara Mountains , Amani , 05°05'S , 38°37'E , 1000 m a.s.l. , 20.VII.1980 , leg. M. Scholtze & N. Scharff , 1♂ 4♀ ( ZMUC ); East Usambara Mountains , Amani Forest , 05°05.7'S , 38°38.0'E , 950 m a.s.l. , 27.X–9.XI.1995 , leg. C.E. Griswold et al. , 8 imm. 2♂ 4♀ ( CAS ); East Usambara Mountains , Amani , Mbomole Hill , 05°05.7'S , 38°37.0'E , 1000 m a.s.l. , 5–8.XI.1995 , leg. C.E. Griswold et al. , 28 imm. 10♀ ( CAS ); East Usambara Mountains , Dodwe Stream [ 05°05.3'S , 38°36.3'E ], 900 m a.s.l. , 10.VII.1980 , leg. M. Stoltze & N. Scharff , 1♂ ( ZMUC ); East Usambara Mountains , Sangarawe Forest , 05°06.5'S , 38°35.7'E , 990 m a.s.l. , 5–6.XI.1995 , leg. C.E. Griswold et al. , 2 imm. 1♂ ( CAS ); West Usambara Mountains , Lushoto District , Mazumbai Forest Reserve , 04°49'S , 38°31'E , 1370–1435 m a.s.l. , 4.XII.1995 , leg. S. McKamey et al. (fog 31), 4♂ ( ZMUC ); Same locality, 04°49'S , 38°30'E , 1400–1800 m a.s.l. , 10–20.XI.1995 , leg. C.E. Griswold et al. , 24 imm. 4♂ 5♀ ( CAS ); Same locality, 04°49'S , 38°29'E , 1800–1900 m a.s.l. , 10–20.XI.1995 , leg. C.E. Griswold , N. Scharff & D. Ubick , 12 imm. 1♂ 2♀ ( CAS ); West Usambara Mountains , Mazumbai , 04°49'S , 38°31'E , 1600 m a.s.l. , 1.VIII.1980 , leg. M. Stoltze & N. Scharff , 1♂ ( ZMUC ). Distribution. Widely distributed in equatorial Africa, as far west as Cameroon ( Fig. 9 ).