Trachelas scutatus, Haddad & Lyle, 2025

Trachelas scutatus sp. nov.

Figs 7D, E View FIGURE 7 , 17C–G View FIGURE 17

Etymology. This species name is derived from the Latin for the “scutum”, which refers to the abdominal scutum being present in both males and females.

Diagnosis. The male of this species can be easily recognised from congeners by the long embolus with two loops along its course and the presence of a rounded retrolateral tibial apophysis ( Fig. 17C, D View FIGURE 17 ). The female is unique among Afrotropical congeners in the presence of a dorsal scutum that covers the entire abdomen ( Fig. 7E View FIGURE 7 ), as well as the small adjacent copulatory openings at the centre of the epigyne that lead to looping copulatory ducts that are initially directed anteriorly ( Fig. 17E–G View FIGURE 17 ).

Male. Measurements: CL 1.30–1.50, CW 1.13–1.15, AL 1.30–1.50, AW 1.08–1.13, TL 2.60–2.80, FL 0.08– 0.10, SL 0.70–0.80, SW 0.63–0.80, AME–AME 0.03, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.25, PME–PME 0.08, PME– PLE 0.05, PLE–PLE 0.38. Length of leg segments: I 3.46 (1.08, 0.53, 0.85, 0.65, 0.35); II 3.28 (1.05, 0.45, 0.75, 0.65, 0.38); III 2.44 (0.68, 0.35, 0.53, 0.50, 0.38); IV 3.07 (0.98, 0.35, 0.68, 0.78, 0.28).

Carapace reddish-brown ( Fig. 7D View FIGURE 7 ); eye region slightly darker, with black rings around eyes; ALE larger than AME; clypeus height about 1.25 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 their diameter; PME separated from PLE by about 0.5× PME diameter. Chelicerae brown, endites and labium dark yellow-brown; two promarginal teeth, distal tooth largest; two retromarginal teeth, distal tooth largest. Sternum brown, darker towards border. Abdomen pale yellow dorsally; dorsal scutum brown, covering almost entire length of abdomen ( Fig. 7D View FIGURE 7 ); anterior pair of sigilla anterior to midpoint, paler than posterior pair, situated posterior to midpoint. Legs uniformly pale brown, legs I and II more robust, darker than legs III and IV. Palp dark yellow-brown; PA small, triangular, with pointed tip; tibia with rounded RTA; CY broad proximally, narrowed abruptly at midpoint, with shallow retrolateral ridge at EM tip; TE oval, slightly more than 1/2 the length of CY; proximal section of EM broad, initially looping in transversal plane, bending clockwise distally then laterally, with tip along retrolateral side of cymbium, directed distally ( Fig. 17C, D View FIGURE 17 ).

Female. Measurements: CL 1.00–1.10, CW 0.88–1.00, AL 1.30–1.60, AW 0.98–1.30, TL 2.40–2.70, FL 0.08– 0.10, SL 0.55–0.63, SW 0.50–0.65, AME–AME 0.03, AME–ALE 0.03, ALE–ALE 0.20, PME–PME 0.08, PME– PLE 0.05, PLE–PLE 0.33. Length of leg segments: I 2.59 (0.88, 0.35, 0.60, 0.43, 0.33); II 2.43 (0.80, 0.30, 0.53, 0.50, 0.30); III 1.89 (0.58, 0.28, 0.38, 0.45, 0.20); IV 2.56 (0.80, 0.28, 0.60, 0.65, 0.23).

Carapace reddish-brown ( Fig. 7E View FIGURE 7 ); eye region brown, with black rings around eyes; ALE slightly larger than AME; clypeus height equal to AME diameter; AME separated by 0.7× their diameter; AME separated from ALE by 0.2× AME diameter; PLE larger than PME; PME separated by their diameter; PME separated from PLE by 0.7× PME diameter. Chelicerae reddish-brown, endites and labium brown; two promarginal teeth, proximal tooth largest; two retromarginal teeth, distal tooth largest. Sternum orange, darker towards border. Abdomen pale grey dorsally, with brown dorsal scutum covering almost entire length of abdomen ( Fig. 7E View FIGURE 7 ). Legs uniformly pale yellow, anterior legs slightly more robust than posteriors. Epigyne with median CO, CD initially directed anteriorly, looping laterally, anteriorly then posteriorly before entering teardrop-shaped lateral ST II on anterior margin; ST II separated by their diameter; Cd short, narrow, entering oval posteromesal ST I on anteromesal margin; ST I separated by slightly less than 1/2 their width ( Fig. 17E–G View FIGURE 17 ).

Type material. Holotype ♂ and allotype ♀, with one non-type juvenile: NIGERIA: Lagos Colony, Agege [06°37'N, 03°19'E], 5.XII.1948, leg. B. Malkin ( CAS). GoogleMaps

Paratypes: GHANA: Kakum Forest , 05°20'N, 01°23'E, 17.XI.2005, leg. R GoogleMaps . Jocqué et al. (secondary forest, fogging), 1♂ 7♀ ( MRAC 218262 View Materials ), 2♂ 3♀ ( MRAC 218271 View Materials ) .

Other material examined. None.

Distribution. Forests in Ghana and Nigeria ( Fig. 16 View FIGURE 16 ).