Trachelas canariensis Wunderlich, 1987

Trachelas canariensis Wunderlich, 1987 View in CoL

Figs 2–5 View FIGURE 2 View FIGURE 3 View FIGURE 4 View FIGURE 5 , 6A, B View FIGURE 6 , 8 View FIGURE 8

Trachelas canariensis Wunderlich, 1987: 238 View in CoL , figs 636–639 (♂ ♀) (Holotype ♂, together with 3♂ 6♀ paratypes: CANARY ISLANDS: La Gomera, Valle Gran Rey, near beach in Barran Co, VII.1985, leg. J. Wunderlich [detritus in reeds], SMF— not examined); Bosselaers et al. 2009: 22, figs 4, 16–21 (♂ ♀); Bosselaers 2010: 23, figs 10–13, 21 (♂); Wunderlich 2012: 20, figs 11–14 (♂ ♀).

Diagnosis. The male of this species is most similar to that of T. humus sp. nov. in sharing an embolus with a long slender distal section but can be distinguished by the narrower proximal section (almost as broad as the tegulum in T. humus sp. nov.) and the tip of the embolus being directed at 1 o’clock as opposed to 11 o’clock in the latter species (cf. Figs 8A View FIGURE 8 and 13A View FIGURE 13 ). The female of this species can be distinguished from other Afrotropical congeners by the funnel-shaped copulatory ducts that rapidly narrow after the copulatory opening ( Fig. 8C, D View FIGURE 8 ).

Male. Measurements: CL 1.00–1.60, CW 0.83–1.38, AL 1.00–2.50, AW 0.80–1.38, TL 1.90–3.60, FL 0.03– 0.13, SL 0.65–0.90, SW 0.58–0.90, AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.35, PME–PME 0.25, PME– PLE 0.08, PLE–PLE 0.55. Length of leg segments: I 4.23 (1.30, 0.55, 1.05, 0.80, 0.53); II 3.98 (1.13, 0.55, 0.95, 0.83, 0.52); III 2.81 (0.85, 0.38, 0.60, 0.65, 0.33); IV 3.99 (1.13, 0.48, 0.98, 1.00, 0.40).

Carapace reddish-orange; eye region darker, with brown rings around eyes ( Fig. 6A, B View FIGURE 6 ); AME and ALE approximately equal in size; clypeus height equal to approximately AME diameter; AME separated by about one diameter; AME separated from ALE by about 0.2× AME diameter; PLE slightly larger than PME; PME separated by approximately 1.25× their diameter; PME separated from PLE by approximately 0.5× PME diameter. Chelicerae orange, pale orange towards fang base, endites and labium slightly lighter; three promarginal teeth, median tooth largest, distal tooth smallest; two retromarginal teeth, distal tooth largest. Sternum pale yellow, light brown towards borders. Abdomen creamy white to pale yellow dorsally, mottled brown over last 3/4 of abdomen ( Fig. 6A, B View FIGURE 6 ); first pair of sigilla pale brown, anterior to midpoint, second pair slightly darker, posterior to midpoint of abdomen. Legs pale yellow to pale brown; legs I and II more robust, slightly darker than III and IV. Palp pale yellow to brown; retrolateral PA large, triangular, slightly curved; CY pear-shaped; TE oval, slightly more than 1/2 CY length; SP gradually curved, with sharp proximal bend; EM originating prodistally, with proximal section approximately half the width of TE, distal section long, curving clockwise, prodistally from its base, with tip directed at 1 o’clock ( Figs 5A–E View FIGURE 5 , 8A, B View FIGURE 8 ).

Female. Measurements: CL 1.25–1.75, CW 1.10–1.48, AL 1.70–2.40, AW 1.20–1.80, TL 2.95–4.15, FL 0.05– 0.10, SL 0.78–0.90, SW 0.73–0.83, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.28, PME–PME 0.13, PME– PLE 0.08, PLE–PLE 0.45. Length of leg segments: I 3.56 (1.11, 0.48, 0.83, 0.62, 0.52); II 3.28 (1.00, 0.50, 0.78, 0.60, 0.40); III 2.68 (0.80, 0.38, 0.55, 0.65, 0.30); IV 3.97 (1.13, 0.48, 0.98, 0.98, 0.40).

Carapace reddish-brown; eye region brown, dark brown to black rings around eyes ( Fig. 6B View FIGURE 6 ); AME and ALE equal in size; clypeus height equal to approximately AME diameter; AME separated by distance equal to 0.4× their diameter; AME separated from ALE by approximately 0.2× AME diameter; PME slightly larger than PLE; PME separated about one diameter; PME separated from PLE by about 0.7× PME diameter. Chelicerae pale brown, endites and labium slightly lighter; three promarginal teeth, median tooth largest, distal tooth smallest; two retromarginal teeth, distal tooth largest. Sternum pale brown, darker towards border. Abdomen with pale yellow to pale grey dorsum, with pale brown mottling over surface, darker posteriorly above spinnerets [in Ethiopian specimens, with grey sides and chevrons in posterior half; Fig. 6C, D View FIGURE 6 ]. Legs I to IV uniform pale yellow to pale brown; anterior legs slightly more robust, slightly darker than posteriors. Epigyne weakly sclerotised, with broad, arched, anteriorly directed AT housing CO; CD directed anteriorly, bending back sharply before entering large, circular, medially situated ST II, separated by 3/4 their diameter; Cd directed mesally, then posteriorly along midline, making complete loop in thickened posterior section before diverging posterolaterally, entering oval ST I near epigastric fold on their anteromesal margins; ST I separated by about their diameter ( Figs 5F View FIGURE 5 , 8C, D View FIGURE 8 ).

Material examined. ANGOLA: Centro de Estudes de Cela [11°12'S, 15°18'E] GoogleMaps , 16. IV .1972 , leg. M.K.P. Meyer (strawberries), 1♂ ( NCA 76 /1887). BOTSWANA: Maun, Boronyane, 19°55'S, 23°25'E GoogleMaps , 6. IX .1975 GoogleMaps , leg. A. Russell-Smith (in rushes in shallow water), 1♂ 1♀ ( BMNH); Maun, Government Camp, House   GoogleMaps 36, 19°59'S, 23°25'E, I–II.1977, leg. A. Russell-Smith, 1♂ 1♀ ( BMNH); Maun, Island Safari Lodge , 19°55'S, 23°31'E GoogleMaps , 29. IX .1975 GoogleMaps , leg. A. Russell-Smith (riverine forest), 2♀ ( BMNH); Maun, Maphaneng Pan   GoogleMaps , 19°56'S, 23°25'E, III .1976 GoogleMaps , leg. F. Wanless & A. Russell-Smith (edge of riverine woodland, ground layer), 3♂ 3♀ ( BMNH); Maun   GoogleMaps , N of Maphaneng Pan, 19°56'S, 23°25'E, 21.II.1976, leg. F. Wanless & A. Russell-Smith (riverine wood, ground layer), 1♀ ( BMNH); Maun, Okavango, side of Thalamakane River , 19°59'S, 23°30'E GoogleMaps , 24.VIII.1975, A. Russell-Smith, 1♀ ( BMNH); Maun, Thamalakane River , 19°59'S, 23°30'E, III GoogleMaps .1976, leg. F. Wanless & A. Russell-Smith (floodplain grassland), 5♂ 2♀ ( BMNH); Same locality , 13. III .1971 , leg. A. Russell-Smith ( Setaria grassland), 11♂ ( BMNH), 1♂ ( BMNH); Same locality, 5.II.1976, leg. A. Russell-Smith ( Setaria grassland), 2♂ 1♀ ( BMNH); Same locality , 11. IX .1976 , leg. A. Russell-Smith ( Setaria grassland), 1♂ 1♀ ( BMNH); Same locality, 25.VII.1975, leg. A. Russell-Smith (grazed Setaria grassland), 13♂ 12♀ ( BMNH); Same locality , 7. III .1976 GoogleMaps , leg. F. Wanless & A. Russell-Smith, 2♂ 5♀ ( BMNH); Maxwee, Okavango Delta   GoogleMaps floodplain, 19°28'S, 23°39'E, 1. IV .1975 GoogleMaps , leg. A. Russell-Smith (grassland), 1♂ 1♀ ( BMNH); Mbomba Lagoon, Okavango Delta   GoogleMaps , 19°10'S, 23°18'E, 19.XI.1972, leg. A. Russell-Smith (moist Hyparrhenia grassland), 2♀ ( BMNH); Moremi Lagoon , 19°11'S, 23°16'E GoogleMaps , 30. VI .2003 GoogleMaps , leg. A. Russell-Smith (sweep net), 1♀ ( BMNH); Pom Pom, Okavango Delta   GoogleMaps , 19°35'S, 22°50'E, 18.VIII.2001, leg. M. Dangerfield (dry riparian vegetation, pit trap 4), 1♂ ( NCA 2001 /419). D. R . CONGO: Bikara, 18 km S of Lubero, Lubéro-Goma Road , 00°15'S, 29°12'E, 2100 m a.s.l. GoogleMaps , XII.1976, leg. M. Lejeune (dans vieilles tiges de lobélies), 1♂ ( MRAC 159839 View Materials ); Face N du Ruwenzori, camp de Kikura, 00°35'N, 29°57'E, 2000 m a.s.l. GoogleMaps , VII–VIII.1974, leg. M. Lejeune, 1♂ ( MRAC 154732 View Materials ); Kivu, Kambaila , 00°10'N, 29°10'E, VI GoogleMaps .1973, leg. M. Lejeune, 1♂ ( MRAC 145812 View Materials ); Route Lubero-Butembo, région de Lukanga, forêt de Vukengete , 05°01'S, 14°18'E, 2210 m a.s.l. GoogleMaps , XII.1974 – I.1975, leg. M. Lejeune (mousses couverte de graminés), 1♂ ( MRAC 168091 View Materials ); Sake , 01°34'S, 29°02'E, V GoogleMaps .1937, leg. J. Ghesquière, 2♂ 2♀ 1 imm. ( MRAC 174292 View Materials ) . ETHIOPIA: 16 km S of Addis Ababa [ca. 08°50'N, 38°46'E], leg. A. Russell-Smith GoogleMaps , 20. VI .1987 GoogleMaps (grass tussocks, stream course), 1♀ ( BMNH); Wondo Genet, near Awassa   GoogleMaps [ca. 07°04'N, 38°37'E], 21.I.1984, leg. A. Russell-Smith (marshy area near hot springs), 1♀ ( BMNH) . KENYA: Mt. Kenya , Sirimon track, 00°10'S, 37°20'E, 2550 m a.s.l. GoogleMaps , 25.VII.1975, leg. R . Bosmans (montane rainforest), 1♂ ( MRAC 161902 View Materials ) . LESOTHO: Sehlabathebe National Park , 2364 m a.s.l., 29°52.931'S, 29°07.144'E GoogleMaps , 10.XI.2002, leg. C. Haddad (under sandstone rocks, montane grassland), 1♂ ( NCA 2006 /1342) . RWANDA: Lulana, lac Ihema, 01°55'S, 30°45'E GoogleMaps , 6. VI.1969, leg. R. Kiss, 1♂ ( MRAC 159694 View Materials ); Bugesera, rives lac Tsohoa , 02°06'S, 30°00'E GoogleMaps , X.1957, leg. N. Leleup, 1♀ ( MRAC 97145 View Materials ) . SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape: 17 km NE of Cookhouse , 32°38.160'S, 25°53.755'E GoogleMaps , 23. IV .2010 GoogleMaps , leg. C. Haddad (base of grass tussocks, roadside), 2 imm. 1♀ ( TMSA 23756 View Materials ). Free State: Bloemfontein, Bloemendal Estate   GoogleMaps , 29°03.209'S, 26°12.312'E, 1382 m a.s.l., leg. SCSA members, 18.II.2023, 1♂ ( NCA 2021 /1284); Same locality, Free State National Botanical Gardens , 29°02'S, 26°12'E GoogleMaps , 5. V .2008 GoogleMaps , leg. C. Luwes (base of grass tussocks), 1♀ ( NCA 2008 /2887); Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve   GoogleMaps , 28°30.431'S, 26°48.547'E, 28.II.2006, leg. C. Haddad (at base of Themeda grass), 1♂ ( NCA 2006 /671); Same locality, Site 7, rocky hillside, 28°29.629'S, 26°48.323'E GoogleMaps , 30. IX –28.X.2009, leg. R. Fourie & A. Grobler (pitfall traps), 1♂ ( NCA 2009 /3603); Same locality, Site 8, Themeda grassland, 28°29.804'S, 26°48.503'E GoogleMaps , 30. IX –28.X.2009, leg. R. Fourie & A. Grobler (pitfall traps), 1♂ ( NCA 2009 /3606); Same locality, Site 8, Themeda grassland, 28°29.804'S, 26°48.503'E GoogleMaps , 31.VIII–30. IX.2009, leg. R. Fourie & A. Grobler (pitfall traps), 1♂ ( NCA 2009 /3656); Kalkfontein Dam Nature Reserve , 29°31'S, 25°17'E GoogleMaps , 9. IV .2008 GoogleMaps , leg. L. Lotz (sweeping grass), 1♀ ( NMBA 12080 View Materials ). Gauteng: Bronkhorstspruit district, Farm Witfontein   GoogleMaps , 25°51.982'S, 28°57.895'E, 3. IV .2003 GoogleMaps , leg. H. Roux (koppie slope, hand collecting), 1♂ ( NCA 2009 /683), 1♀ (S.E.M. preparations); Cullinan, Leeufontein Nature Reserve   GoogleMaps , 25°21.845'S, 28°36.737'E, 15.II.2002, leg. H. Roux (pan trap, koppie slope, open woodland), 1♀ ( NCA 2010 /2883); Pretoria / Tshwane, Meyerspark , 25°44'S, 28°18'E GoogleMaps , 31.VIII.2002, leg. C. Haddad (on table in garden), 1♂ ( NCA 2006 /1335); Same locality, Rietondale , ARC —Plant Protection Research Institute [25°43'S, 28°14'E], 3. IV .2001 GoogleMaps , leg. A. Russell-Smith (in rough grassland), 1♂ ( BMNH). KwaZulu-Natal: Coastal Cashews, near KwaNgwanase / Manguzi   GoogleMaps , 27°12'S, 32°35'E, 85 m a.s.l., 12.I.2002, leg. C. Haddad (beats, cashew trees), 1♂ ( NCA 2006 /1336); Drakensberg Mountains, Cathedral Peak Hotel , 28°56.806'S, 29°12.683'E, 1430 m a.s.l. GoogleMaps , 4.X.2020, leg. R . Booysen & R . Steenkamp (hand collecting, at hotel gate), 1♂ ( NCA 2021 /1106); Hluhluwe Reserve , 28°05'S, 32°02'E, 900 ft a.s.l. GoogleMaps , 1. VI .1985 GoogleMaps , leg. C.E. Griswold, 1♂ ( NMSA); Loteni Nature Reserve   GoogleMaps , 29°28'S, 29°31'E, 24.XII.1978, leg. A.S. Dippenaar-Schoeman (sweeping), 1♂ ( NCA 2006 /1518), 2♂ (S.E.M. preparations); Ndumo Game Reserve, South Boundary Fence , 26°55.6'S, 32°19.0'E GoogleMaps , 13. VI .2005 GoogleMaps , leg. C. Haddad ( Commiophora harveyi bark), 1♂ ( NCA 2006 /1337); Tembe Elephant Park, Pioneer   GoogleMaps grassland, 27°01.470'S, 32°24.346'E, 5.XII.2009, leg. C. Haddad (base of grass tussocks), 3♂ 1♀ ( TMSA 23732 View Materials ); 75 km WSW of Estcourt, Cathedral Peak Forest Station, Meteorological station, Little Berg [28°56'S, 29°13'E], 1860 m a.s.l. GoogleMaps , 21–31.XII.1979, leg. S. & J. Peck (Malaise trough, veld), 1♂ ( AMNH). Limpopo: Sterkfontein [25°02'S, 29°36'E] GoogleMaps , 10. IV .1976 GoogleMaps , leg. A. Russell-Smith (marshy areas near stream), 1♀ ( BMNH); Tuinplaas, Springbokvlakte, Settlers Lodge   GoogleMaps , 24°54'S, 28°43'E, 29. V .2001 GoogleMaps , leg. M. van Jaarsveld (grass, pitfalls), 1♂ ( NCA 2003 /1358); 5 km from Warmbaths   GoogleMaps , 24°53'S, 28°17'E, 17.II.1977, leg. I. Vosloo (sweepnet, grass), 1♂ ( NCA 77 /471). Mpumalanga: Badplaas, Emboleni Game Reserve , 25°56'S, 30°33'E GoogleMaps , 28. III .2001 GoogleMaps , leg. A. Russell-Smith (in litter in woodland), 1♀ (S.E.M. preparations); Delmas district, Farm Rietvallei   GoogleMaps , 26°05'S, 28°32'E, 28. IV .2005 GoogleMaps , leg. M. van Jaarsveld (pitfall traps, Bacillus thuringiensis maize), 1♂ ( NCA 2006 /1558); Same   GoogleMaps locality, 26°05'S, 28°34'E, 28. IV .2005 GoogleMaps , leg. M. van Jaarsveld (pitfall traps, unsprayed maize), 1♀ ( NCA 2006 /1556); Marble Hall   GoogleMaps , 24°57'S, 29°17'E, 3. V .2002 GoogleMaps , leg. M. Mellett ( Bacillus thuringiensis cotton survey, pit traps), 1♀ ( NCA 2004 /1334). Northern Cape: Douglas Holiday Resort   GoogleMaps , 29°01'S, 23°53'E, 15. IV .1997 GoogleMaps , leg. E. van den Berg et al. (veldgrass), 1♂ ( NCA 97 /494); Green Valley Nuts, Prieska   GoogleMaps , 29°35'S, 22°56'E, 20. IX .2001 , leg. C. Haddad (under cut grass, ground covers), 1♂ 1♀ ( NCA 2002 /480); Same locality, 28.I.2001, leg. C. Haddad, 2♂ 3♀ ( NCA 2009 /656). North West: Hartebeespoort Navigation Station , 25°44'S, 27°51'E GoogleMaps , 28.XI.1984, leg. E. Ueckerman (on grass), 1♂ ( NCA 85 /92); Brits , 25°37'S, 27°46'E GoogleMaps , I–II.1988, leg. A. van den Berg (cotton, whole plant method), 1♂ 3♀ ( NCA 89 /550). Western Cape: Riviersonderend , 34°09'S, 19°55'E, leg. A.J. Prins (in cow dung), 1♂ ( SAMC ENW-C003370 ) GoogleMaps . UGANDA: Rukungiri district, Kitahurita Bwindi Impenetrable National Park , 00°15'S, 29°41'E, ca. 1740 m a.s.l. GoogleMaps , 18–20. IX .1996 , leg. C.E. Griswold, 1♂ ( CAS).

Distribution. Widely distributed in central, eastern and southern Africa ( Fig. 9 View FIGURE 9 ). Considering the species has not yet been recorded in West Africa, it is plausible that it may have been introduced from continental Africa to the Canary Islands, from where it was originally described ( Wunderlich 1987), or vice versa.