Thysanina scopulifer ( Simon, 1896 ), 2025

Thysanina scopulifer ( Simon, 1896) comb. nov.

Figs 20 View FIGURE 20 , 21 View FIGURE 21

Trachelas scopulifer Simon, 1896: 412 View in CoL (Holotype ♀: SOUTH AFRICA: Cape, MNHN 16638 About MNHN —examined).

Diagnosis. Males can be easily distinguished from all congeners by the very long flattened embolus that forms three broad coils, with the tip directed proximally ( Figs 20B, C View FIGURE 20 , 21B, C View FIGURE 21 ), whereas the embolus is not coiled in the other species ( Lyle & Haddad 2006). Females of this species can be distinguished by the broad, transversely oval posterior atrium containing the copulatory openings and the unique long copulatory ducts that spiral several times towards the anterior ST II, with the connecting duct bending back medially along the spiral axis before entering the posterolateral ST I ( Figs 20E View FIGURE 20 , 21D, E View FIGURE 21 ). In other Thysanina species, the atria containing the copulatory openings are paired and the copulatory ducts do not comprise multiple spirals (see Lyle & Haddad 2006).

Remarks. The transfer of this species to Thysanina is supported by the dense ventral scopulae on the anterior legs of females, the presence of ventral cusps on the tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi I and II of the males, the absence of leg spines, the smooth carapace texture and the characteristic abdominal chevron markings of the specimens examined. The female is redescribed and illustrated and the male described and illustrated for the first time here.

Male. Measurements: CL 1.37–1.40, CW 1.16–1.19, AL 1.49–1.58, AW 1.02–1.10, TL 2.63–2.73, FL 0.09– 0.10, SL 0.78–0.81, SW 0.66–0.68, AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.01, ALE–ALE 0.24, PME–PME 0.08, PME– PLE 0.10, PLE–PLE 0.44. Length of leg segments: I 4.06 (1.22, 0.56, 0.97, 0.79, 0.52); II 3.51 (1.08, 0.48, 0.78, 0.71, 0.46); III 2.79 (0.78, 0.41, 0.56, 0.67, 0.37); IV 4.08 (1.19, 0.43, 0.98, 1.08, 0.40).

Carapace deep yellow-brown, with mottled grey stripe along midline and radiating striae directed from fovea towards palps and legs, all but that directed at leg IV ending in dark transverse blotch ( Fig. 20A View FIGURE 20 ); surface finely wrinkled, covered in sparse short erect white setae; eye region slightly darker between median eyes, with black rings around eyes; clypeus height equal to AME diameter; AER slightly procurved, ALE slightly larger than AME; AME separated by 0.8× their diameter; AME separated from ALE by 0.15× AME diameter; PLE slightly larger than PME; PME separated by slightly more than their diameter; PME separated from PLE by PLE diameter. Chelicerae yellow-brown, with distinct boss; anterior surface quite rugose, with scattered long, fine setae; three slightly separated promarginal teeth, proximal tooth smallest, median tooth largest; two adjacent retromarginal teeth, proximal tooth slightly larger. Sternum yellow-brown, with darker borders and dense grey mottling, paler along midline and in stripes radiating from centre towards coxae, forming star-shaped paler marking; surface smooth, covered in scattered short, fine setae; precoxal triangles present; intercoxal sclerites present between all coxal pairs. Abdomen cream dorsally, with faint yellow scutum covering entire dorsum; two pairs of sigilla present, at 1/4 and 1/2 abdomen length; dorsum with black stripe along midline, undulating and partly broken in posterior half, accompanied by eight pairs of mediolateral black chevron markings in posterior half ( Fig. 20A View FIGURE 20 ); sides cream, with continuous broad black line from anterior margin to spinnerets; venter cream, with pair of mediolateral black stripes from epigastric furrow to spinnerets. Legs I and II pale yellow-brown, III and IV yellow; all femora and patellae with broad distal black band; all tibiae and metatarsi with narrow black band at 1/4 their length and broad black band distally; tarsi without markings; anterior legs more robust, surface covered with short, fine setae; moderately dense scopulae on metatarsi and tarsi of all legs; ventral cusps present on tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi I and II ( Fig. 21A View FIGURE 21 ); all legs spineless. Palp pale yellow-brown; femur and patella without apophyses, tibia with simple triangular RTA, directed dorsolaterally in ventral view and dorsally in lateral view; CY oval; TE round, providing base for very long, flattened EM, forming three complete coils radiating outwards from point of origin near centre of TE, with tip directed at palpal patella; TE mainly obscured by EM in ventral view; SP clearly visible along entire length of EM in lateral view ( Figs 20B, C View FIGURE 20 , 21B, C View FIGURE 21 ).

Female. Measurements (eye and leg measurements from second largest specimen): CL 1.60–1.70, CW 1.33– 1.53, AL 2.38–2.50, AW 1.68–1.95, TL 3.98–4.20, FL 0.08–0.13, SL 1.00–1.08, SW 0.87–0.88, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.30, PME–PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.10, PLE–PLE 0.48. Length of leg segments: I 4.84 (1.48, 0.68, 1.13, 0.95, 0.60); II 4.16 (1.25, 0.63, 0.95, 0.83, 0.50); III 3.24 (1.00, 0.48, 0.65, 0.73, 0.38); IV 4.77 (1.45, 0.53, 1.18, 1.13, 0.48).

Carapace brown ( Fig. 20D View FIGURE 20 ); first two thirds of carapace rounded, with steep decline in last third; surface texture smooth, covered with short, fine setae; fovea short, distinct, at two thirds CL; eye region brown with black rings around eyes; AER slightly recurved, almost straight; ALE larger than AME; clypeus height about AME diameter; AME separated by their diameter; AME separated from ALE by 0.4× AME diameter; PME and PLE equal in size; PME separated by their diameter; PME separated from PLE by PME diameter. Chelicerae brown, anterior surface covered with scattered fine, dark, long setae; three promarginal teeth, proximal tooth largest, distal tooth smallest; two retromarginal teeth, equal in size. Sternum light brown, darker towards border, shield-shaped; surface smooth, covered in scattered short, fine setae. Abdomen dorsum pale yellow, with grey chevron; chevron with dark grey median line, extending to 2/3 abdomen length, with several branches extending laterally ( Fig. 20D View FIGURE 20 ); abdomen broad anteriorly, tapering posteriorly. Legs uniform pale brown, with distinct, incomplete grey bands on femora to metatarsi; femora with two closed distal bands, patellae covered almost entirely by single band; tibiae and metatarsi with single distal and proximal bands; relatively dense dark scopulae ventrally on metatarsi and tarsi; remaining leg segments with scattered fine, pale setae; regular leg spines, cusps absent. Epigyne weakly sclerotised, with transversely oval posterior AT, with CO situated anteriorly therein; CD broad, spiralling anteriorly, forming four complete spirals before entering anterior finger-like ST II; Cd directed posteriorly along spiral axis, diverging posteriorly before entering small, oblique elongate ST I posterolaterally, separated by 2× their width; CD with clublike transverse accessory gland after one complete coil ( Figs 20E View FIGURE 20 , 21D, E View FIGURE 21 ).

Other material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape: Cederberg Wilderness Area , near Driehoek, 23 km 38° NE of Citrusdal, 32°25.741'S, 19°09.921'E, 945 m a.s.l., 10.X.2011 GoogleMaps , leg. L. Almeida et al. (general collecting, shaded moist cliff in fynbos), 2♂ 1♀ ( CAS, CASENT 9043358 ); Hermanus, Fernkloof Nature Reserve , 34°23.815'S, 19°16.256'E, 29. IX GoogleMaps .2007, leg. R. Lyle (beats, fynbos), 1♀ ( NCA 2007 /3837); Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve , 1.79 km 238° WSW of Paarl, 33°44.109'S, 18°56.755'E, 404 m a.s.l., 7.X.2011 GoogleMaps , leg. L. Almeida et al. (fynbos, general collecting), 4♀ ( CAS, CASENT 9043262 ); Riversdale, Spioenkop Nature Reserve , 34°00.127'S, 21°24.420'E, 365 m a.s.l., 8.X.2022 GoogleMaps , leg. C. Haddad et al. (sifting litter, fynbos), 1♀ ( NMBA 19325 View Materials ); Vredendal, Farm Grootfontein 105, 32°04'S, 18°39'E, 21.X.1987 GoogleMaps , leg. L. Lotz (beating), 1♀ ( NMBA 1991 View Materials ) .

Distribution. Only known from the Western Cape Province, South Africa ( Fig. 22 View FIGURE 22 ).