Namaquella, Haddad, 2025

Namaquella gen. nov.

Type species.

Namaquella arida sp. nov.

Diagnosis.

Both sexes of Namaquella gen. nov. resemble Poachelas Haddad & Lyle, 2008 and Rukuluk gen. nov., with a pale body to support a lifestyle associated with grasses, although the body proportions are less elongate than in these genera. Males of Namaquella gen. nov. can be recognized from these and other trachelid genera by the oval tegulum with a simple, slightly curved distal embolus directed retrodistally and the simple sperm duct and RTA (Figs 19 B View Figure 19 , 20 B View Figure 20 ). The female epigyne is weakly sclerotized and can be distinguished by the central heart-shaped atrium formed by two convex ridges and the laterally looping copulatory ducts (Fig. 19 D, E View Figure 19 ), whereas the epigynal atrium of Poachelas and Rukuluk gen. nov. are subrectangular and extend to the epigastric furrow (Fig. 27 D View Figure 27 ; Haddad and Lyle 2008: fig. 94) [ P. montanus Haddad & Lyle, 2008 has a different epigyne structure and is likely misplaced; Haddad and Lyle 2008: fig. 98].

Description.

Small spiders, 2.18–3.52 mm in length; carapace creamy-yellow in N. arida sp. nov. to bright yellow-orange in N. samanthae sp. nov.; carapace oval, broadest near posterior of coxae II, gradually narrowed towards eye region (Figs 16 A, F View Figure 16 , 17 A View Figure 17 ); fovea indistinct, replaced by a shallow depression in N. arida sp. nov., a short shallow slit in N. samanthae sp. nov.; posterior carapace margin concave; carapace somewhat flattened, weakly convex in lateral profile, slightly elevated from clypeus to approximately ⅓ carapace length, with steeper slope in posterior quarter (Fig. 16 B, G View Figure 16 ); carapace surface finely wrinkled, with scattered short fine straight setae with small weakly tuberculate bases (Fig. 17 B View Figure 17 ). All eyes surrounded by black rings (Fig. 16 A, F View Figure 16 ); AER procurved in anterior view, slightly recurved in dorsal view (Fig. 17 C View Figure 17 ), AME slightly smaller than ALE or subequal in size; AME separated by less than their diameter, almost touching ALE; PER recurved in dorsal view, PME smaller than PLE or subequal; PME - PME and PME - PLE interdistances variable; MOQ narrower anteriorly than posteriorly, posterior width slightly larger than length. Chilum distinct, split; cheliceral promargin with three separated teeth, retromargin with three teeth on common base (Fig. 17 D View Figure 17 ); fang with distinct serrula; endites with parallel lateral margins, mesal margins with longitudinal depression (Fig. 17 E View Figure 17 ), distal margins with distinct serrula comprising short sharp denticles (Fig. 17 G View Figure 17 ) and dense maxillar hair tuft on mesal margins (Fig. 17 E View Figure 17 ); labium trapezoidal, slightly wider than long, narrower distally than basally (Figs 16 C View Figure 16 , 17 E View Figure 17 ). Pleural bars weakly sclerotised, isolated; sternum oval, longer than broad, widest at anterior of coxa II, anterior with two concave excavations at lateral corners of labium, surface smooth, sparsely covered in long curved setae (Fig. 16 C View Figure 16 ); precoxal triangles present, intercoxal sclerites present between coxae I and II and II and III only. Leg formula 4123 or 1423, sparsely covered in long fine setae; legs I slightly swollen compared to others, with distinct convex dorsal and ventral surfaces (Fig. 16 D, I View Figure 16 ); all femora strongly constricted proximally; patellar indentation on retrolateral side narrow, with lyriform organ at proximal end (Fig. 17 H, I View Figure 17 ); tibiae to tarsi I and II densely scopulate ventrally, with ventral cusps in males on metatarsi and tarsi I at least, sometimes also on metatarsi II (Figs 19 A View Figure 19 , 20 A View Figure 20 ), absent on tibiae and in females; metatarsi III and IV with distal preening brush and comb ventrally (Figs 16 E, J View Figure 16 , 18 D View Figure 18 ); metatarsi with short metatarsal stopper (Fig. 18 D View Figure 18 ); tarsi with sparse tactile hairs, few dorsal trichobothria and chemosensory setae, tarsal organ at approximately ¾ tarsus length (Fig. 18 E View Figure 18 ), distinctly ovoid and rebordered, slightly elevated from integument, surface smooth, opening oval and distally placed (Fig. 18 F View Figure 18 ); tarsal claws quite slender, with five teeth and dense tenant setae forming claw tufts in between (Fig. 18 G, H View Figure 18 ); trichobothria with slightly lowered distal plate, distal margin of hood overlapping plate, hood with four curved ridges, roughly concentric (Fig. 18 I View Figure 18 ). Abdomen oval, with dorsal scutum absent or present in males, absent in females; dorsum densely covered in long fine setae, with two pairs of distinct sigilla (Fig. 16 A, F View Figure 16 ); venter without large sclerites or markings, sparsely covered in fine setae (Fig. 16 C, H View Figure 16 ). Spinnerets short, conical, in compact group, spigot detail not studied. Male palpal femora and patellae without apophyses; palpal tibiae with single simple retrolateral apophysis with pointed dorsal tip (Figs 19 C View Figure 19 , 20 C View Figure 20 ); tegulum simple, oval in ventral view, slightly narrower than cymbium, with simple slightly curved embolus originating distally (Figs 19 B View Figure 19 , 20 B View Figure 20 ). Female epigyne with central heart-shaped atrium, with copulatory openings positioned laterally (Fig. 19 D View Figure 19 ); copulatory ducts directed laterally, looping to anterolateral ST II, with short connecting ducts leading to ovoid posterolateral ST I, with fertilization ducts on their posteromesal surface (Fig. 19 E View Figure 19 ).

Etymology.

The name is derived from the Namaqualand region in arid western South Africa, from which the type species originates. Gender feminine.

Composition.

Two species, Namaquella arida sp. nov. and N. samanthae sp. nov.