Foordana, Haddad, 2025

Foordana gen. nov.

Type species.

Foordana distincta sp. nov.

Diagnosis.

Foordana gen. nov. superficially represent Afroceto by their size and Thysanina Simon, 1910 sensu stricto by the lack of leg spines, but can be recognized from the former by the heavily scopulate tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi of the anterior legs (Figs 2 D, I View Figure 2 , 4 A – F View Figure 4 , 5 A – C, G, H View Figure 5 ), the absence of leg spines (Figs 2 A, F View Figure 2 , 9 A – C View Figure 9 ), the paired subtriangular RTA on the male palps (one dorsal and one ventral; Figs 8 B View Figure 8 , 10 A View Figure 10 , 11 B View Figure 11 ), which are generally single or irregularly shaped in Afroceto (see Lyle and Haddad 2010 and Lyle 2015), and the lack of a large median atrium in the female epigyne (cf. Fig. 9 G – J View Figure 9 and Lyle and Haddad 2010). They can be distinguished from Thysanina by their larger size and the genitalic structure: the male palp has two well-developed subtriangular retrolateral tibial apophyses, one dorsal and one ventral (usually singular or irregularly shaped in Thysanina when two are present; see Lyle and Haddad 2006) and the female epigynes are quite heavily sclerotized, with central paired curved atria housing the copulatory organs (weakly sclerotized and with atria and copulatory openings usually in the anterior half of the epigyne; see Lyle and Haddad 2006).

Description.

Small spiders, 4.72–5.60 mm in length; carapace bright orange to deep red-brown; carapace oval, broadest at coxae II, gradually narrowed towards eye region (Figs 1 A – C View Figure 1 , 2 A, F View Figure 2 , 3 A View Figure 3 ); fovea distinct, a short narrow slit; posterior margin slightly concave, almost straight (Fig. 3 A View Figure 3 ); convex in lateral profile, slightly elevated from clypeus to approximately ⅖ carapace length, with steeper slope in posterior quarter (Fig. 2 B, G View Figure 2 ); carapace surface finely wrinkled, with sparse very short fine curved setae with weakly tuberculate bases (Fig. 3 B View Figure 3 ). All eyes surrounded by black rings; AER slightly procurved in anterior view, slightly recurved in dorsal view; PER strongly recurved in dorsal view (Fig. 3 C View Figure 3 ); MOQ narrower anteriorly than posteriorly, posterior width slightly larger than length. Chilum distinct, a single transverse sclerite; cheliceral promargin and retromargin each with three teeth; fang with distinct serrula; endites with parallel lateral margins, mesal margins with longitudinal groove and dense maxillar hair tuft (Fig. 3 E View Figure 3 ), distal margins with distinct serrula comprising elongate, distally rounded denticles (Fig. 3 F View Figure 3 ); labium trapezoidal, slightly longer than wide, narrower distally than basally, distal margin with concavity (Fig. 3 E View Figure 3 ). Pleural bars sclerotised, isolated; sternum shield-shaped, slightly longer than broad, broadest at coxa II (Fig. 3 G View Figure 3 ), surface smooth centrally, covered in long straight setae with more pronounced tuberculate bases towards borders (Fig. 3 G View Figure 3 ); precoxal triangles present, intercoxal sclerites present between all coxal pairs. Leg formula 4123 or 1423; all legs densely covered in very short fine setae (Fig. 2 D, E, I, J View Figure 2 ); leg I not strongly thickened, very slightly so in males only (Fig. 2 A – C, F – H View Figure 2 ); dorsal femoral surface very slightly concave at ½ its length, ventral surface straight (Fig. 2 D, I View Figure 2 ); all femora strongly constricted proximally (Fig. 2 D, I View Figure 2 ); patellar indentation narrow, on retrolateral side, with lyriform organ at proximal end (Fig. 3 H, I View Figure 3 ); anterior legs of males with distinct small ventral cusps on tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi I and II in F. distincta sp. nov. (Figs 4 A – I View Figure 4 , 8 A View Figure 8 ) and metatarsi and tarsi in F. kasouga sp. nov. (Fig. 11 A View Figure 11 ), absent in F. flavipoda sp. nov. and all females; tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi I and II of both sexes with very dense scopulae (Figs 4 A – F View Figure 4 , 5 A – C, F – H View Figure 5 ), with oval pored organs among the scopulate setae (Fig. 5 D View Figure 5 ); metatarsi with strongly developed metatarsal stopper, posteriors with ventral preening brush and comb at distal end (Fig. 5 E View Figure 5 ); tarsi with sparse tactile hairs, few dorsal trichobothria and chemosensory setae (Fig. 5 G, J View Figure 5 ); trichobothria with slightly lowered distal plate, distal margin of hood overlapping plate, hood with three roughly concentric curved ridges (Fig. 5 I View Figure 5 ); tarsal organ at approximately ⅚ tarsus length (Fig. 5 G View Figure 5 ), flush with integument, surface finely wrinkled, opening oval and distally placed (Fig. 5 J View Figure 5 ); paired tarsal claws short, with four teeth and dense tenant setae forming claw tufts in between (Fig. 5 H View Figure 5 ). Abdomen oval, with distinct black chevron markings on creamy-grey background (Figs 1 A – C View Figure 1 , 2 A, F View Figure 2 ) or without markings (Fig. 9 A – C View Figure 9 ); dorsal scutum in males only, covering entire dorsum, absent in females; dorsum covered in scattered short fine setae, with two pairs of sigilla in both sexes; venter without large sclerites, only with markings in F. distincta sp. nov. (Fig. 2 C, H View Figure 2 ), covered in scattered short fine setae. Spinnerets short, conical, in compact group (Fig. 6 A View Figure 6 ), spigot detail only studied in detail in female F. distincta sp. nov.: ALS with two MAmp and 22 Pi (Fig. 6 B View Figure 6 ); PMS with single mAmp, four Cy, 13 Ac and one Ta (Fig. 6 C View Figure 6 ); PLS with two Cy and 10 Ac (Fig. 6 D View Figure 6 ). Male palpal femora and patellae without apophyses, patella with retrolateral lyriform organ (Fig. 7 A View Figure 7 ); palpal tibiae with ventral and dorsal retrolateral apophyses (Fig. 7 B, C View Figure 7 ), variable in shape and size between species; tegulum generally oval in ventral view, as broad as cymbium (Fig. 9 D – F View Figure 9 ), convex in lateral view (Fig. 7 B View Figure 7 ); embolus curved, with base flattened and broad, gradually narrowing distally (Fig. 9 D – F View Figure 9 ). Female palpal claw simple, straight, with six ridge-like transverse denticles (Fig. 7 D View Figure 7 ); palp also with tarsal organ (Fig. 7 E View Figure 7 ). Female epigyne quite heavily sclerotized, with copulatory openings near centre of epigyne in C-shaped ridges (Fig. 7 F View Figure 7 ); epigyne without (Fig. 9 G, H View Figure 9 ) or with (Fig. 9 I, J View Figure 9 ) small hood in anterior half; copulatory ducts directed anteriorly, entering anterior ST II; connecting ducts leading to posterolateral ST I.

Etymology.

The genus name is a patronym in honour of the late Stefan Foord, in recognition of his distinguished career and contribution to the development of African arachnology, with the suffix alluding to its superficial resemblance to Cetonana. Gender feminine.

Composition.

Foordana distincta sp. nov., F. flavipoda sp. nov., F. kasouga sp. nov. and an undescribed species from Zimbabwe.