Namaquella arida, Haddad, 2025

Namaquella arida sp. nov.

Figs 16 View Figure 16 , 17 View Figure 17 , 18 View Figure 18 , 19 View Figure 19

Material examined.

Holotype. South Africa • ♂; Northern Cape Province; Calvinia, Akkerendam Nature Reserve ; 31°24.425'S, 19°46.823'E; 1170 m a. s. l.; 18 Jan. 2021; C. Haddad & R. Booysen leg.; hand collecting, grass tussocks; NCA 2021/229 . GoogleMaps

Paratype. 2 ♀; together with holotype GoogleMaps .

Other material.

1 subadult ♂ 2 subadult ♀; same data as types; S. E. M. preparations.

Diagnosis.

The male of this species can be recognised by the orientation of the embolus, at approximately 45 ° to the longitudinal axis of the palp (approximately 30 ° in N. samanthae sp. nov.) and the shape of the RTA, which is rounded and more strongly bent distally, with the tip directed dorsally, whereas the tip is directed dorso-distally in N. samanthae sp. nov. (compare Figs 19 B, C View Figure 19 with 20 B, C). The sperm duct has a distinct undulation along it prolateral course, while it is almost straight in N. samanthae sp. nov.. The female is distinctive amongst Afrotropical trachelids by the weakly sclerotized epigyne with a central heart-shaped atrium formed by opposing curved ridges (Fig. 19 D View Figure 19 ).

Description.

Male (holotype, Akkerendam, NCA 2021/229 ): Measurements: CL 1.45, CW 1.22, AL 1.60, AW 1.07, TL 3.02, SL 0.87, SW 0.64, AME - AME 0.03, AME - ALE 0.03, ALE - ALE 0.25, PME - PME 0.08, PME - PLE 0.10, PLE - PLE 0.44, MOQ: AW 0.20, PW 0.25, L 0.21. Length of leg segments: I 1.25 + 0.65 + 1.06 + 0.85 + 0.49 = 4.30; II 0.90 + 0.54 + 0.73 + 0.61 + 0.41 = 3.19; III 0.68 + 0.40 + 0.44 + 0.51 + 0.30 = 2.33; IV 0.98 + 0.48 + 0.81 + 0.82 + 0.37 = 3.46. Carapace creamy-yellow (Fig. 16 A View Figure 16 ); surface finely wrinkled; fovea absent, replaced by broad shallow depression at ⅔ CL. AER procurved, clypeus height slightly larger than ½ AME diameter at AME, slightly more than ¼ ALE diameter at ALE; ALE slightly larger than AME; AME separated by distance approximately ⅓ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance equal to ⅓ ALE diameter; PER slightly recurved, PLE slightly larger than PME; PME separated by distance slightly less than their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance slightly larger than PLE diameter. Chelicerae yellow-orange, anterior surface covered with scattered long, fine setae; promargin with three widely separated teeth, decreasing slightly in size distally; retromargin with three adjacent teeth on common base, proximal tooth slightly larger than subequal median and distal teeth; endites and labium yellow-orange. Sternum pale creamy-yellow, yellow-brown at borders; surface smooth, sparsely covered with short, fine setae; precoxal triangles present, intercoxal sclerites weakly sclerotised but between all coxal pairs. Abdomen oval, broadest at half its length; cream dorsally, with faint grey mottling in posterior half, without distinct scutum (Fig. 16 A View Figure 16 ); two pairs of large oval sigilla present, at ¼ and ½ AL; sides faint mottled grey posteriorly (Fig. 16 B View Figure 16 ); slightly paler ventrally, with faint grey mottling around spinnerets (Fig. 16 C View Figure 16 ); single paired lines of tiny sclerites from epigastric furrow to spinnerets. Legs creamy-yellow, anterior pairs darker than posteriors; patellae to tarsi I with dark grey mottling, darkening distally on each segment, on tibiae with pair of dorsolateral pale lines with reduced mottling; ventral cusps present on metatarsi I and II and tarsus I (Fig. 19 A View Figure 19 ); tibia I and II and all metatarsi and tarsi densely scopulate. Palp (Fig. 19 B, C View Figure 19 ) yellow-brown; embolus short, originating distally, base broad but narrowing to slender slightly curved distal section at approximately 45 ° to longitudinal axis of palp; single RTA present, triangular in ventral view, in retrolateral view short and stout, rounded distally, with short abrupt tip directed dorsally.

Female (paratype, Akkerendam, NCA 2021/229 ): Measurements: CL 1.67, CW 1.18, AL 1.96, AW 3.53, TL 2.18, SL 1.05, SW 0.76, AME - AME 0.06, AME - ALE 0.03, ALE - ALE 0.29, PME - PME 0.10, PME - PLE 0.13, PLE - PLE 0.52, MOQ: AW 0.21, PW 0.28, L 0.24. Length of leg segments: I 1.30 + 0.70 + 1.05 + 0.87 + 0.48 = 4.40; II 1.03 + 0.61 + 0.80 + 0.69 + 0.44 = 3.57; III 0.78 + 0.50 + 0.52 + 0.60 + 0.30 = 2.70; IV 1.25 + 0.65 + 1.08 + 1.10 + 0.42 = 4.50. Carapace creamy-yellow (Fig. 16 F View Figure 16 ); surface finely wrinkled; fovea absent, replaced by broad shallow depression at ⅔ CL. AER strongly procurved, clypeus height equal to AME diameter at AME, ⅖ ALE diameter at ALE; ALE diameter 1 ⅖ AME diameter; AME separated by distance slightly less than their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance equal ½ AME diameter; PER slightly recurved, PLE slightly larger than PME; PME separated by distance equal to 1 ¼ their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance approximately 1 ⅗ PME diameter. Chelicerae creamy-yellow, anterior surface covered with scattered long, fine setae; dentition as for male; endites and labium pale yellow-brown. Sternum pale creamy-yellow, slightly darker at borders; surface smooth, covered with scattered short, fine setae, particularly marginally. Abdomen oval, broadest at half its length; creamy-grey dorsally, laterally and ventrally (Fig. 16 F – H View Figure 16 ), without dorsal scutum; two pairs of indistinct sigilla present, at ¼ and ½ AL; two paired lines of indistinct tiny sclerites from epigastric furrow to spinnerets. Legs cream, tibia to tarsus I and tarsus II with grey mottling. Epigyne (Fig. 19 D, E View Figure 19 ) weakly sclerotized, with pair of curved central ridges forming heart-shaped atrium containing broad copulatory openings; copulatory duct initially funnel-shaped, narrowing rapidly from broad copulatory opening, looping laterally to enter oval anterolateral ST II on their posterolateral margin; connecting ducts short, lateral, entering small oval posterolateral ST I, with fertilization ducts forming on short mesal extension of ST I.

Etymology.

This species name refers to the arid Succulent Karoo environments that it was collected from; adjective.

Distribution.

Only known from the type locality (Fig. 12 View Figure 12 ).