Trachelas smithi, Haddad & Lyle, 2025

Trachelas smithi sp. nov.

Figs 7F View FIGURE 7 , 18 View FIGURE 18

Etymology. This species is named after Dominic Shilabira Smith, who collected the entire type series.

Diagnosis. This species resembles T. falsus sp. nov. in the structure of the epigyne, particularly the adjacent oval atria that extend approximately half the length of the epigynal plate, but it can be distinguished by the distinct chevron markings on the abdomen (vs uniformly coloured with grey posterior patch; cf. Figs 6H View FIGURE 6 and 7F View FIGURE 7 ) and the bilobed secondary spermathecae ( Fig. 18 View FIGURE 18 ), vs round (cf. Figs 18 View FIGURE 18 and 11C, D View FIGURE 11 ). Male unknown.

Female. Measurements: CL 1.60–1.73, CW 1.48–1.65, AL 2.18–2.40, AW 1.68–1.95, TL 3.80–4.28, FL 0.05– 0.10, SL 0.90–1.03, SW 0.93–1.05, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.35, PME–PME 0.15, PME– PLE 0.10, PLE–PLE 0.38. Length of leg segments: I 5.33 (1.65, 0.65, 1.25, 1.08, 0.70); II 4.81 (1.40, 0.63, 1.25, 0.93, 0.60); III 3.66 (1.00, 0.53, 0.75, 0.93, 0.45); IV 5.21 (1.55, 0.53, 1.25, 1.38, 0.50).

Carapace reddish-brown ( Fig. 7F View FIGURE 7 ); eye region darker, with black rings around eyes; AME slightly larger than ALE; clypeus height slightly less than AME diameter; AME separated by 0.5× their diameter; AME separated from ALE by 0.2× AME diameter; PLE slightly larger than PME; PME separated by 1.2× their diameter; PME separated from PLE by 0.7× PME diameter. Chelicerae brown, endites and labium yellow-brown; two promarginal teeth, distal tooth largest; two retromarginal teeth, distal tooth largest. Sternum mottled brown, darker towards borders.Abdomen pale creamy-yellow, with dark grey chevron markings dorsally and longitudinal patches laterally, connected in posterior half of abdomen ( Fig. 7F View FIGURE 7 ); both pairs of sigilla pale brown, either side of midpoint. Legs pale brown, femora darker; legs I and II slightly more robust, darker than legs III and IV. Epigyne with adjacent oval AT anteriorly, extending almost half length of epigynal plate; CD following path of AT, entering bilobed mediolateral ST II on anterior margin; ST II separated by about 1/3 their width; Cd running along midline of epigyne, thickened and looping back posteriorly, then laterally, entering oval ST I on anteromesal margins; ST I separated by their width ( Fig. 18 View FIGURE 18 ).

Type material. Holotype: ♀: KENYA: Kakamega Forest , 00°13'N, 34°54'E, 1654 m a.s.l., leg. D. Shilabira Smith, 3–10.III.2002 (Malaise trap) ( MRAC 212720 View Materials ). GoogleMaps

Paratypes: KENYA: Kakamega Forest , 00°13'N, 34°54'E, 1654 m a.s.l., leg. D. Shilabira Smith, 27. IV GoogleMaps .2002 (Malaise trap), 1♀ ( MRAC 220271 View Materials ); Same locality , leg. D. Shilabira Smith, 13. IV .2002 (pitfall traps), 1♀ ( MRAC 220547 View Materials ).

Other material examined. None.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality ( Fig. 16 View FIGURE 16 )