Toxoniella taitensis Warui & Jocqué, 2002 (by original designation).

Holotype Kenya • ♂; Tharaka Nithi County, Chogoria Town, Mount Kenya National Park, Chogoria Forest (bamboo vegetation); 00.1896°S, 37.4717°E; 2601 m; 20 August 2018; Oketch A.D. & Kioko G. leg. Paratypes Kenya • 4 ♂, 3 ♀; same data as holotype.

Figure 1. 

Toxoniella tharaka sp. nov., habitus, female paratype (A–C) and male holotype (D–F) A, D dorsal B, E ventral C, F lateral. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Kenya • 1 ♂, 4 ♀; Nakuru County, Lake Nakuru National Park, Nganyoi KWS Camp; 00.4903°S, 036.1858°E; 1856 m; 11 August 2018; Kioko G. & Joshua S. leg.

Males of Toxoniella tharaka sp. nov. resemble T. taitensis and T. rogoae in general appearance but differ from both by having a short, blunt, slightly slanted RTA and a claw-like embolus. The epigyne resembles that of T. rogoae by having short cul de sacs but differs by having anteriorly directed cul de sacs (laterally directed in T. rogoae) and a wider epigynal groove (closed medially in T. rogoae). Additionally, the new species has a medially invaginated anterior epigynal margin instead of a smoothly recurved epigynal margin found in both T. taitensis and T. rogoae (Fig. 2A, B; Warui and Jocqué 2002, figs 4–6, 11, 12).

Figure 2. 

Toxoniella tharaka sp. nov., epigyne, female paratype A ventral B dorsal. Abbreviations: CDS cul de sac, EG epigynal groove, FD fertilization duct, SP spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

Male. Total length 4.59. Carapace 2.60 long, 1.73 wide, yellowish brown with lines of grey setae radiating from fovea. Fovea thin, dark brown, longitudinal. Clypeus about two times the diameter of AME. All eyes have a dark ring around each of them. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME: 0.16, ALE: 0.12, PME: 0.10 and PLE: 0.12, AME–AME: 0.04, AME–ALE: 0.03, MOQ: AW: 0.15, PW: 0.18, Length: 0.18. Chelicerae elongated, brown, reddish orange in some areas. Sternum longer than wide, heart shaped, brown with conspicuous pre-coxal triangles and sparse setae. Labium longer than wide and colored as sternum. Endites longer than wide, about twice the length of labrum. Dorsally, abdomen with grey setae, reddish anteriorly, two pairs of brown sigilla and small brown dots fading towards spinnerets. Venter pale yellowish brown with mottling. Leg measurements: I 7.04 (1.90, 0.85, 1.82, 1.37, 1.10), II 6.06 (1.60, 1.00, 1.40, 1.16, 0.90), III 4.20 (0.68, 0.60, 1.12, 1.10, 0.70), IV 7.14 (1.90, 1.00, 1.50, 1.70, 1.04). Tibiae, metatarsi, and tarsi of anterior leg pairs have long, curved setae (trichobothria) dorsally that increase in length distally. The tarsi bases have 5–6 pairs of slender tenant setae. Leg spination I: P–T v1–2–2 Mt v2–2–1; II: P–T v1–1–2 Mt v2–2; III: F P–T pl2, d2, rl2, v2–2–1 Mt 11; IV: F pl1, d1, rl1 P v1 T pl2, d1, rl2, v2–2–2. Palp as in Fig. 3A–C. Moderately elongated with blunt, stout, and slightly slanted RTA. Sperm duct U-shaped in ventral view. Embolus claw-like, tegulum apically membranous. Median apophysis small.

Figure 3. 

Toxoniella tharaka sp. nov., right palp, male holotype A dorso-retrolateral showing the RTA B ventral C prolateral. Abbreviations: E embolus, MA median apophysis, RTA retrolateral tibial apophysis, TA tegular apophysis. Scale bar: 0.25 mm.

Female coloration as in male, with abdomen slightly darker. General body appearance as in Fig. 1A–C. Total length 5.72. Carapace 2.86 long, 1.93 wide between leg pairs II and III, pale yellow-brown, narrow at pars cephalica. Fovea as in male. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME: 0.17, ALE: 0.12, PME: 0.10 and PLE: 0.12, AME–AME: 0.04, AME–ALE: 0.03, MOQ: AW: 0.16, PW: 0.18, Length: 0.18. Chelicerae and sternum as in males. Leg measurements: I 6.40 (1.80, 0.80, 1.60, 1.20, 1.00), II 6.12 (1.40, 0.80, 1.20, 0.92, 0.80), III 4.90 (1.30, 0.60, 0.90, 1.10, 1.00), IV 7.20 (1.80, 0.90, 1.60, 1.80, 1.10). Long, curved setae dorsally on anterior leg pairs, and tenent setae as in males. Leg spination I: P–T v0–2–2 Mt v2–2–2; II: P–T v0–1–2 Mt v2–2; III: F P–T pl2, d2, rl2, v2–2–1 Mt 10; IV: P v1 T pl2, d1, rl2, v2–2–2. Epigyne (Fig. 2A, B) sclerotized, yellowish brown and medially invaginated on the anterior epigynal margin. Median groove wide, separating two pairs of globular spermathecae. Spermathecae outline visible through the epigynal plate. Cul de sacs are short.

The species is named after type locality; noun in apposition.

Only known from Kenya.

Holotype Kenya • ♂; Nyeri County, Naro Moru Town, Mount Kenya National Park, Naro Moru Gate; 00.1742°S, 37.1162°E; 2465 m; 26 Jul. 2017; Zhao Q. & Kioko G. leg. Paratypes Kenya • 2 ♂, 3 ♀; same data as holotype.

Figure 4. 

T. waruii sp. nov., habitus, male holotype (A, B) and female paratype (C, D) A, C dorsal B, D ventral. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Males of Toxoniella waruii sp. nov. resemble T. taitensis and T. rogoae by having a ridge-like RTA but can be distinguished from T. taitensis by an apically pointed, posterior tegular extension well-separated from the anterior tegular extension and a bent embolus with a membranous sclerite and from T. rogoae by having a flat, distally pointed median apophysis (Fig. 6A–C; Warui and Jocqué 2002: fig. 10). Females of T. waruii sp. nov. resemble T. taitensis by the fairly elongate epigyne with a wide groove but can be distinguished by a postero-laterally directed pair of anterior spermathecae, cul de sacs do not reach the anterior epigynal margin, and ‘bursae’ absent (Fig. 5A, B; Warui and Jocqué 2002: figs 7, 8).

Figure 5. 

Toxoniella waruii sp. nov., epigyne, female paratype A ventral B dorsal. Abbreviations: CDS cul de sac, EG epigynal groove, FD fertilization duct, SP spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

Male. Total length 7.20. Carapace 3.40 long, 2.52 wide, brownish orange, narrow at pars cephalica. Setae sparse, grey laterally with grey radiations from fovea. Cephalic area lacks pattern. Clypeus short, chelicerae, endites, and labium colored as carapace. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.16, ALE 0.13, PME 0.09 and PLE: 0.11, AME–AME: 0.04, AME–ALE: 0.03, PME–PME: 0.07, PME–PLE: 0.07, MOQ: AW: 0.13, PW: 0.18, Length: 0.16. Sternum longer than wide, heart shaped, colored as carapace, with strongly pointed post-coxal triangles. Abdomen with dense, grey setae, reddish brown near carapace. Venter pale yellow with two pairs of intermittent lines from epiandrum towards spinnerets. Leg measurements: I 6.57 (1.76, 0.82, 1.58, 1.24, 1.17), II 5.08 (1.30, 0.79, 1.20, 0.90, 0.89), III 4.96 (1.30, 0.60, 0.91, 1.13, 1.02), IV 7.59 (1.80, 0.95, 1.64, 1.86, 1.34). Anterior leg pairs have long curved setae, three on tarsus are longer. Tenent setae in 5–6 pairs. Leg spination I P–T v1–2–2 Mt v2–2–2; II: P–T v0–1–2 Mt v2–2; III: F P–T pl2, d2, rl2, v2–2–1 Mt 8; IV: P v1 T pl2, d1, rl2, v2–2–2. Palp (Fig. 6A–C). RTA a curved ridge, wrench shaped posteriorly (Fig. 6C). Embolus bent, with a membranous, looping sclerite, anterior and posterior tegular extensions distinct. Median apophysis flat and distally pointed (Fig. 6B).

Figure 6. 

Toxoniella waruii sp. nov., left palp, male holotype A prolateral B ventral C retrolateral. Abbreviations: ATE anterior tegular extension, E embolus, MA median apophysis, PTE posterior tegular extension, RTA retrolateral tibial apophysis. Scale bar: 0.25 mm.

Figure 7. 

Toxoniella nyeri sp. nov., habitus, male holotype (A, B) and female paratype (C, D) A, C dorsal B, D ventral. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Female. Similar to male in coloration except darker and larger. Total length 7.20. Carapace 3.40 long, 2.20 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.17, ALE 0.13, PME 0.10 and PLE: 0.11, AME–AME: 0.04, AME–ALE: 0.03, PME–PME: 0.07, PME–PLE: 0.07, MOQ: AW: 0.13, PW: 0.18, Length: 0.16. Leg measurements: I 6.61 (1.78, 0.82, 1.58, 1.23, 1.20), II 5.06 (1.30, 0.80, 1.20, 0.90, 0.86), III 4.97 (1.29, 0.60, 0.93, 1.14, 1.01), IV 7.63 (1.80, 0.98, 1.64, 1.87, 1.34). Tenent setae pairs and leg spination as in males. Abdomen grey, wider than in males. Epigyne (Fig. 5A, B). Ventrally sclerotized, brown and dark in some areas. Outline of spermathecae in dorsal view is visible through epigynal plate. Anterior epigynal margin smoothly curves downwards (Fig. 5A). Two pairs of spermathecae, posterior pair larger than anterior pair which are slightly postero-laterally directed. Epigynal groove longer than wide. Cul de sacs about anterior margin of the epigyne.

The species name is dedicated to Dr Charles Warui, a Kenyan ecologist who established and described the genus and two species; noun (name) in genitive case.

Known only from the type locality.

Figure 8. 

Toxoniella nyeri sp. nov., epigyne, female paratype A ventral B dorsal. Abbreviations: CDS cul de sac, CO copulatory opening, FD fertilization duct (interfered with during manipulation), SP spermatheca. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

Holotype Kenya • ♂; Nyeri County, Naro Moru Town, Mount Kenya National Park, Naro Moru Gate, Metrological station; 00.1702°S, 37.214°E; 3000 m; 6 Aug. 2018; Kioko G. & Oketch A.D. leg. Paratypes Kenya • 1 ♂, 3 ♀; same data as holotype.

Diagnosis. Males of Toxoniella nyeri sp. nov. can be distinguished from other congeners by the talon-like RTA, the large, pointed embolus, and the apically membranous median apophysis (Fig. 9A–C). Females are similar to other members of this genus by having two pairs of spermathecae, with the posterior pair larger than the anterior pair. However, they can be differentiated from the other species as the cul de sacs are longer in T. nyeri sp. nov. than in T. waruii sp. nov. and T. tharaka sp. nov. In addition, T. nyeri sp. nov. have a patterned carapace that forms a Ψ-shape with the fovea in both males and females (Fig. 7A, C).

Figure 9. 

Toxoniella nyeri sp. nov., left palp, male holotype A prolateral B ventral C retrolateral. Abbreviations: E embolus, RTA retrolateral tibial apophysis, T tegulum. Scale bar: 0.25 mm.

Male. Total length 6.83. Carapace 3.20 long, 2.34 wide, orangish brown with dark net-like pattern; with two dark lines towards either of the posterior median eyes. Fovea dark brown. Clypeus vertical and short, yellowish brown, as are chelicerae. Eye diameters and interdistances AME: 0.15, ALE: 0.12, PME: 0.13, PLE: 0.13, AME–AME: 0.05, AME–ALE: 0.04, PME–PME: 0.12, PME–PLE: 0.11, MOQ: AW: 0.26, PW: 0.34, Length: 0.27. All eyes have dark pigment around them. Sternum pale yellow, heart shaped, longer than wide. Pre-coxal triangle weakly pointed. Labium longer than wide, approximately twice the length of endites. Abdomen dorsally grey with thick, short setae. Venter greyish. Leg measurements: I 6.42 (1.70, 0.73, 1.59, 1.20, 1.20), II 5.10 (1.30, 0.75, 1.27, 0.87, 0.91), III 4.97 (1.32, 0.66, 0.90, 1.10, 0.99), IV 7.49 (1.76, 0.91, 1.64, 1.81, 1.37). Anterior leg pairs have long, curved setae. Tenent setae in 5–6 pairs. Leg spination; most of the spines have been detached; III: P–T pl2, d2, rl2, v2–2–2 Mt 10; IV: P v1 T pl2, d1, rl2, v2–2–2. Palp (Fig. 9A–C), RTA ridged; dorsal talon-like; ventral blunt, mound-like. Embolus large, curving, originating at 9 o’clock position. Membranous median apophysis obscuring some parts of embolus in retrolateral view. Sperm duct forms a V-shape.

Female. Slightly larger and darker than male. Total length 6.90. Carapace length 3.41, width 2.59, color and pattern as in male. Eye diameters and interdistances AME: 0.15, ALE: 0.12, PME: 0.13, PLE: 0.12, AME–AME: 0.05, AME–ALE: 0.04, PME–PME: 0.13, PME–PLE: 0.12, MOQ: AW: 0.26, PW: 0.34, Length: 0.27. Sternum pale brown. Pre-coxal triangles as in male. Leg measurements: I 6.36 (1.70, 0.71, 1.59, 1.20, 1.16), II 5.10 (1.30, 0.75, 1.27, 0.87, 0.91), III 4.98 (1.32, 0.66, 0.90, 1.10, 1.00), IV 7.46 (1.74, 0.91, 1.64, 1.80, 1.37). Tarsal tenent setae as in males. Leg spination III: P–T pl2, d1, rl2, v2–2–2 Mt 11; IV: P v1 T pl2, d1, rl2, v2–2–2. Epigyne (Fig. 8A, B) dark reddish brown and strongly sclerotized. Copulatory openings small, relatively close together. Cul de sacs quite elongated, anterior spermathecae very small, approximately three times the diameter of the posterior pair. Epigynal groove wide.

The species is named after type locality; noun in apposition.

Known only from the type locality.