Corresponding author: Robin Lyle (
Academic editor: B.A. Huber
The genus
Khoza TT, Lyle R (2019) Four new species of the sac spider genus
The family
Current status of the mainland Afrotropical
Genus | Author | Number of species |
---|---|---|
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Lyle & Haddad, 2010 | 16 |
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Haddad & Lyle, 2008 | 6 |
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Haddad & Lyle, 2008 | 3 |
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Lyle & Haddad, 2018 | 7 |
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Simon, 1897b | 2 |
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Lyle & Haddad, 2010 | 3 |
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Lyle & Haddad, 2009 | 3 |
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Haddad & Lyle, 2008 | 4 |
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Haddad, 2006 | 5 |
|
Simon, 1910 | 6 |
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L. Koch, 1872 | 6 |
|
|
Within the family, the presence and absence of leg spines and cusps vary greatly among the genera. For example,
Previous taxonomic studies have shown how in need of revision this family is (e.g.
Specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol and studied using a Nikon light microscope C-W 10XB/22. Photographs of the specimens were taken on the Zeiss Axio Zoom.V16 microscope and images were Z-stack using the ZEN Pro 12 software. Body measurements were taken for all the specimens and expressed in millimetres (mm). Eyes and legs measurements were only taken for the largest male and female. The epigynes of selected female paratypes were dissected with a 0-size pin. A Branson 3200 ultrasonic was used to clear the dissected epigynes, after which they were boiled in hydrogen peroxide solution and ammonia. The cleaned epigynes were soaked overnight in acid fuchsin in lactophenol stain to improve pigmentation (
The following abbreviations are used in the descriptions:
Material used in this study was obtained from the following collections (curators or collection managers are sited in brackets):
Type material will be clearly indicated, in separated vails when returned to the collections they were loaned from.
As described in
The species name is derived from the Latin word ‘
This species has a similar habitus as other
Male.
Digital automontage photograph of somatic morphology of
Genitalic morphology of
Female.
HOLOTYPE ♀ and ALLOTYPE ♂.
PARATYPES.
Species is known from the Isangi forest, Kona (Itimbiri), Mbangi and Monzé (Engengele) (Fig.
Due to the nature in which the specimens were collected, this species is considered arboreal.
The species is named in honour of Dr Charles Richard Haddad, who collected the type specimen of this species.
For this species, males can be recognised by the large ladle-like femoral apophysis that ends in a rounded apex. This apophysis extends almost the entire length of the femoral segment, dorsally directed (Fig.
Genitalic morphology of
Male.
Female.
HOLOTYPE ♀, ALLOTYPE ♂ and PARATYPE ♀.
Species is only known from the type locality (Fig.
Due to the nature in which the specimens were collected, this species is considered arboreal.
The species is named in honour of Dr Rudy Jocqué in recognition of his contribution to the field of Arachnology in the Afrotropical region throughout his career.
The males of this species can be recognised by the large ladle-like femoral apophysis that ends in a sharply curved point (Fig.
Genitalic morphology of
Male.
Female.
HOLOTYPE ♀ and ALLOTYPE ♂.
PARATYPES.
Species is only known from the type locality (Fig.
Due to the nature in which the specimens were collected, this species is considered arboreal.
The species is named after Mr Jan Andries Neethling who collected the type specimen.
Males of this species can be recognised by the contorted femoral apophysis that extends the length of the femoral apophysis (Fig.
Genitalic morphology of
Male
Female.
HOLOTYPE ♀.
ALLOTYPE ♂.
PARATYPES.
Known only from the type locality (Fig.
Distribution of the four new species
Due to the nature in which the specimens were collected, this species is considered arboreal.
1 | Males |
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– | Females |
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2 | Anterior legs with short, fine paired ventral leg spines on tibiae and metatarsi fig. 22 in |
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– | Anterior leg spines absent; palp with dorsal femoral apophysis, patellar and tibial apophysis absent |
|
3 | Palp with short femoral apophysis, not extending entire length of femur segment, usually ending in a bilobed point (e.g. Fig. |
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– | Palp with large dorsal femoral apophysis, usually entire almost entire length of femur segment (e.g. Fig. |
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4 | Femoral apophysis that ends in a sharp, narrowing point (fig. 16, p 95 in |
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– | Femoral apophysis that appears ladle-like or with broadly rounded point |
|
5 | Apophysis ending in a broad, rounded point; appears with a fold midway on apophysis length (Fig. |
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– | Palp with large ladle-like femoral apophysis |
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6 | Apophysis with sharply curved tip, directed toward femur segment (Fig. |
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– | Apophysis ending in blunt rounded point (Fig. |
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7 | Apophysis comprising two sharply pointed denticles; embolus simple, slightly curved (fig. 20 in |
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– | Palp with small, dorsal femoral apophysis comprising two blunted denticles (Fig. |
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8 |
|
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– |
|
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9 |
|
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– |
|
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10 | Elongated sausage-shaped |
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– | Elongate, sausage-shaped |
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11 |
|
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– | Obovate-shaped |
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12 |
|
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– |
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This study increases the number of species of the genus
Additionally, this paper highlights a typical historical sampling gap. Extensive sampling has been carried out in central Africa, through institutions such as the Royal Museum of Central Africa. In South Africa, concentrated efforts have been made to collect samples with the South African National Survey of
We would like to thank the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) for support; the National Research Foundation (NRF) for NRF NEP Grant Biosystematics Microscopy Imaging Systems used at the Agricultural Research Council (Grant number: EQP13100452023); the curators of the collections and the collectors of the specimens. The authors would also like to thank the editor: Dr Bernhard A. Huber, reviewers: Dr Ivan L. F. Magalhaes and one anonymous reviewer for their valuable contribution. The following people are thanked for their assistance: Mr Ian Miller; Mrs Elsa van Niekerk; Ms Elizma Fouché; Ms Daleen Maree, Mr Lufuno Makwarela and Ms Yolande Steenkamp.