Micaria bispicula Booysen & Haddad 2021, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Booysen, Ruan
name: Haddad, Charles R.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2021
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Gnaphosidae
Micaria
Micaria bispicula

description: Micariabispicula sp. nov.
Figs 15–16, 57, 67, 121–124
Type material: Holotype: ♀, SOUTHAFRICA: Western Cape: Hermanus, Fisherhaven, 34°21.430’S, 19°07.557’E, leaf litter, leg. C. Haddad, 12.I.2008 (NCA 2008/453).
Paratypes: NAMIBIA: Kunene Region: Brandberg, Gravel plain, pitfall row 3, pitfall traps, 2120 m a.s.l., 21°10.5’S, 14°33.667’E, leg. K. Meaking / Raleigh International, 12.IV.2000, 1 ♂ (SMN 45032). SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: Douglas, under rocks, hand collecting, 1025 m a.s.l., 29°04.266’S, 23°47.951’E, leg. C. Haddad, 2.IV.2001, 1 ♂ (NCA 2017/1482); Hay, Farm Rooipan, in the day, under rocks, hand collecting, 29°04.2’S, 23°04.8’E, leg. L.N. Lotz, 6.XII.2006, 1 ♀ (NMBA 10306). Western Cape: Buffels Bay, Cape of Good Hope, 34°11.4’S, 18°15.6’E, leg. C. Griswold, J. Doyen & T.M. Griswold, 25–29.X.1985, 1 ♂ (NMSA 22447); Cape Peninsula, Muizenberg, Dunes to the north, pitfall traps, 34°06’S, 18°27’E, leg. R. Legg, 1–15.XII.1991, 2 ♂ 1 ♀, with 2 non-type immatures (MRAC 173647).
Other material examined: NAMIBIA: Kunene Region: Brandberg, Konigstein Farm, 22–day pitfall row, 2348 ma.s.l., 21°08.8’S, 14°34.283’E, leg. K. Meaking /Raleigh International, 17.V.2002, 1 ♂ (SMN 45021); Konigstein Pan, 2340 ma.s.l., 7.V.2000, 10 ♂ (SMN 45027); samelocality, 29.V.2000, 12 ♂ (SMN 45014); SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape: Kalahari Gemsbok Park, Twee Rivieren, pitfalltraps, 26°15.6’S, 20°22.2’E, leg. E.A. Ueckermann & D. Keetch, 8–12.II.1987, 1 ♂ (NCA 87/531); Kathu, Farm Sacha, 27°42.500’S, 22°57.967’E, leg. C. Haddad, 24–27.II.2003, 1 ♂ (NCA 2017/1478); Prieska, Green Valley Nuts, Pistachio orchard, 29°40.8’S, 22°44.4’E, leg. C. Haddad, 18.IX.2001, 1 ♂ (NCA 2002/483). Western Cape: Anysberg Nature Reserve, under rocks, handcollecting, leg. C. Haddad & R. Lyle, 23.IX.2005, 2 ♂ (NCA 2007/3982); samelocality, leg. C. Haddad, 23.IX.2005, 1 ♂ (NCA 2007/3963); Beaufort West, Farm 77, Karoo, Area 4, Site 2, pitfalltraps, 32°20.64’S, 23°21.24’E, leg. D.H. Jacobs, 12.XII.2007, 2 ♂ (NCA 2008/4699); Beaufort West, Farm Juriesfontein, Karoo, Area 3, Site 4, 32°31.8’S, 23°25.8’E, 11.XII.2007, 1 ♂ (NCA 2008/4701); Beaufort West, Farm Kraanvogelfontein, Karoo, Area 2, Site 3, 32°32.4’S, 22°59.04’E, 9.XII.2007, 1 ♂ (NCA 2008/4755); Beaufort West, Farm Nuwejaarsfontein, Karoo, Area 3, Site 1, 32°57.00’S, 23°23.4’E, 2.XII.2007, 1 ♂ (NCA 2008/4703); Beaufort West, Farm Vaalkuil, Karoo, Area 1, Site 4, 32°48.84’S, 22°46.92’E, 6.XII.2007, 1 ♂ (NCA 2008/4700); Karoo National Park, Sandrivier, running on ground (LR624), hand collecting, leg. J. Leroy, 6.X.1989, 2 ♀ 2 immatures (NCA 91/700); Brand se Baai, NDC3, pitfall traps, leg. C. Lyons, 22.XI.2007, 1 ♀ (NCA 2008/1984); Cape Town, Bergvliet Flats, Diep Rivier, 34°03.00’S, 18°27.00’E, leg. W.F. Purcell, XII.1899, 1 ♂ (SAM 6236); Cederberg Wilderness Area, pitfalltraps, 1–1298 ma.s.l., 32°20.82’S, 19°08.1’E, leg. E. Nortje & S. Kritzinger-Klopper, 1.III.2010, 1 ♂ (NCA 2012/5050); Cederberg, Niewoudt’s Pass, 3–551 ma.s.l., 32°20.94’S, 19°00.36’E, 1.I.2009, 1 ♂ (NCA 2011/2693); Cederberg, Niewwoudt’s Pass, 3–344 ma.s.l., 32°20.28’S, 18°59.28’E, 1.X.2009, 1 ♂ (NCA 2011/2695); Cederberg, Niewwoudt’s Pass, 3–551 ma.s.l., 32°20.94’S, 19°00.36’E, 1 ♂ (NCA 2011/2694); Cederberg, Sawadee, 3– 344m asl, 32°20.28’S, 18°59.28’E, 1 ♂ (NCA 2012/3549); Tierberg, leg. R. Dean, 14.IV.1998, 1 ♀ (NCA 91/1220); Victoria West, Melton Wold (83.5 km West of Victoria West), pitfall traps, 31°16.2’S, 22°27.00’E, leg. Entomol. Staff, III–VII.1989, 1 ♂ (NMBA 8619).
Etymology. The species name is a combination of the Latin prefix bi (two) and spicula (spines). It refers to the two retrolateral tibial apophyses that are located on the dorsal side of the palpal tibia in the males of this species.
Diagnosis. Females of this species can be distinguished from other Afrotropical species by having deeply notched copulatory openings, a continuously curved anterior hood, and short copulatory ducts. The males have two dorsal retrolateraltibial apophyses, located dorsally on the palpal tibia.
Description. Female (holotype from Fisherhaven, NCA 2008/453): Measurements: TL 3.65, CL 1.65, CW 0.95, CL:CW 1.74, CLH 0.14, CLH:AME 1.97. Eyes: ALE 0.06, AME 0.07, PLE 0.06, PME 0.06, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.07, MOQAW 0.16, MOQPW 0.20, MOQL 0.21. SL 0.86, SW 0.65, AL 2.10, AW 1.10. Leg measurements: Palpal segment lengths: 0.48, 0.26, 0.27, 0.48. Leg I: 0.86, 0.33, 0.62, 0.56, 0.62. II: 1.10, 0.33, 0.76, 0.71, 0.78. III: 1.00, 0.46, 0.78, 0.76, 0.72. IV: 1.52, 0.51, 1.22, 1.37, 0.92. TLoflegs (I–IV): 2.99, 3.68, 3.72, 5.54; leg formula: 4321.
Colouration: carapace dark brown; abdomen dark brown to black; sternum, labium, endites, and chelicerae similar in colour to carapace; legs Iand II with femora darkened, legs III and IV uniform in colour (Fig. 15).
Carapace: decorated with squamose setae; smooth in texture; pattern indistinct, radiating from middle towards coxae; two white lines present on posterior third of carapace; fovea absent; posterior margin indented medially; anterior margin of carapace narrowing from coxa I; PER procurved in dorsal view; AER recurved in anterior view.
Chelicerae: decorated with plumose setae. Labium: triangular in shape; cluster of setae present on tip. Endites: oblique; constricted just above halfway; anterior margin rounded; cluster of setae present on inner–apical margin.
Sternum: shield-like; broadest between coxa Iand II; posterior margin tapered to point between coxa IV. Legs: femora laterally flattened, highest at base, leg Imore pronounced in this fashion; rest of legs normal, thin; all tarsi pseudo–segmented. Leg macrosetae: Palps: 1do, 5plv, 1pl, 1do, 1pl, 1rl, 2plv, 1rlv, 4vt. Leg I: 1do, 1pl, 2plv, 2vt. II: 1do, 2plv, 1rlv, 1vt. III: 1do, 1pl, 2pl, 1rl, 2plv, 2rlv, 2vt, 1pl, 1rl, 2plv, 2rlv, 4vt. IV: 1do, 2pl, 2rl, 2plv, 2rlv, 2vt, 1pl, 1rl, 2plv, 2rlv, 4vt. Legs I–IV with two rows of scopulate setae on metatarsi and four rows on tarsi. Abdomen: cylindrical in shape; decorated with squamose setae; dorsal pattern forming solid white transverse band medially on abdomen and longitudinal dotted perpendicular to former; venter similar in colour to dorsum, one lateral white stripe present anteriorly; sigilla not visible. Epigyne: in ventral view, anterior hood continuous, “M” shaped, generally recurved; posterior pockets present medially, crescent–shaped; copulatory opening bifurcated at tip. In dorsal view, copulatory duct briefly extending posteriorly, connecting to inner apical margin of spermathecae; fertilisation ducts present on inner basal margin of spermathecae, curved laterally; spermathecae globular, with flattened interior margin (Figs 121, 122).
Male (paratype from Douglas, South Africa, NCA 2017/1482): Measurements: TL 4.15, CL 2.00, CW 1.18, CL:CW 1.70, CLH 0.16, CLH:AME 2.03. Eyes: ALE 0.08, AME 0.08, PLE 0.06, PME 0.05, AME–AME 0.04, PME–PME 0.10, MOQAW 0.19, MOQPW 0.23, MOQL 0.24. SL 0.90, SW 0.71, AL 2.25, AW 1.25. Leg measurements: Palpal segment lengths: 0.78, 0.41, 0.44, 0.60. Leg I: 1.70, 0.73, 1.52, 1.14, 1.10. II: 1.55, 0.65, 1.25, 1.03, 1.03. III: 1.40, 0.63, 1.18, 0.98, 0.83. IV: 2.03, 0.71, 1.64, 1.70, 1.15. TLoflegs (I–IV): 6.19, 5.51, 5.02, 7.23; leg formula: 4123.
Colouration: carapace light brown; abdomen dark brown or black; sternum similar in colour to carapace; labium, endites and chelicerae slightly darker than carapace in preserved specimens; legs Iand II with femora darkened, legs III and IV uniform in colour (Fig. 16). Carapace: decorated with squamose setae; smooth in texture; indistinct dark pattern radiating from middle towards coxae; posterior margin indented medially; anterior margin narrowing from coxa I; PER procurved in dorsal view; AER recurved in anterior view; eye region slightly elevated; fovea absent. Chelicerae: decorated with plumose setae. Labium: triangular in shape; cluster of setae present at tip. Endites: slanting inwards towards base of chelicerae; constricted just above halfway; anterior margin flattened; cluster of setae present on inner–apical margin. Sternum: shield-like; broadest between coxa Iand II; posterior margin tapered to point between coxa IV. Legs: femora laterally flattened, highest at base, leg Imore pronounced in this fashion; rest of legs normal, thin; all tarsi pseudo–segmented; decorated with lanceolate setae. Leg macrosetae: Palps: 1do, 1pl, 1do, 1pl, 1pl, 4vt. Leg I: 1do, 1pl, 2plv. II: 1do, 2pl, 2plv, 1vt. III: 2do, 1pl, 1rl, 1do, 2pl, 2rl, 2plv, 2rlv, 2vt, 1pl, 1rl, 2plv, 2rlv, 4vt. IV: 2do, 2rl, 2pl, 2rl, 2plv, 2rlv, 2vt, 1pl, 1rl, 2plv, 2rlv, 4vt. Legs I–IV with two rows of scopulate setae on metatarsi and four rows on tarsi. Abdomen: cylindrical in shape; decorated with squamose setae; dorsal pattern similar to female, faded due to preservation; venter similar to female; sigilla not visible.
Palp: two RTAs present pre–apically on retrolateral margin, distal RTA shorter than proximal RTA, relative to tibial apex; median apophysis present on anterior half of tegulum, “C” shaped, broadened basally; sperm duct present on retrolateral margin of tegulum; embolus broadened basally, tip thin, curved retrolaterally; cymbium widest at basal third, tapering apically (Figs 123, 124).
Distribution. The distribution of M. bispicula sp. nov. is confined to the more arid western parts of South Africa and southern Namibia (Map 2).
description: Published as part of Booysen, Ruan & Haddad, Charles R., 2021, Revision and molecular phylogeny of the spider genus Micaria Westring, 1851 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in the Afrotropical Region, pp. 1-82 in Zootaxa 4940 (1) on pages 37-38, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4940.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4580917