Micaria scutellata 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 scutellata

description: Micariascutellata sp. nov.
Figs 35, 62, 82, 94, 108, 165 – 166
Type material. Holotype: ♂, SOUTHAFRICA: KwaZulu–Natal: Ndumo Game Reserve, Nyamiti Pan, base of trees, under logs, hand collecting, 26°53.767’S, 32°16.557’E, leg. C. Haddad & R. Booysen, 7.XII.2018 (NCA 2020/83).
Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu–Natal: iSimangaliso Wetlands Park, Mission Rocks picnic site, base of grass tussocks, coastal forest, hand collecting, 28°15.879’S, 32°28.922’E, 90 m a.s.l., leg. C. Haddad, 29.XI.2015, 1 ♂ (NCA 2020/84); same data as holotype, 1 ♂ (NCA 2020/83).
Etymology. The species name is combination of the derived Latin adjective latus (broad) and the Latin substantive scutum (shield), referring to the broad scutum of the male that covers most of the anterior half of the abdomen.
Diagnosis. The males of this species are easily recognized by their enlarged scutum. Furthermore, the anterior margin of the carapace of M. scutellata sp. nov. is rounded (Fig. 27), whereas that of M. felix sp. nov. is truncated (Fig. 12). The palpal structures of the two species are very similar, but the distal retrolateral spine’s position in M. scutellata sp. nov. is closer to the cymbial tip. These features, coupled with the longer basal retrolateral dorsal spine on the palp, would justify M. scutellata sp. nov. being a separate species. The females are still unknown.
Description. Male (holotype from Nyamiti Pan, Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa, NCA 2020/83) Measurements: TL 2.13, CL 1.13, CW 0.88, CL:CW 1.28, CLH 0.06, CLH:AME 1.5. Eye diameters and interdistances: ALE 0.48, AME 0.04, PLE 0.04, PME 0.03, AME–AME 0.02, PME–PME 0.04, MOQAW 0.10, MOQPW 0.13, MOQL 0.18. SL 0.57, SW 0.30, AL 0.87, AW 0.44. Leg measurements: Palpal segment lengths: 0.40, 0.22, 0.21, 0.30. Leg I: 0.65, 0.24, 0.56, 0.46, 0.51. II: 0.73, 0.24, 0.49, 0.49, 0.52. III: 0.56, 0.22, 0.43, 0.51, 0.44. IV: 0.98, 0.30, 0.81, 0.84, 0.56. TLoflegs (I–IV): 2.42, 2.47, 2.16, 3.49; leg formula: 4213.
Colouration: carapace dark brown; abdomen dark brown on posterior half and light brown on anterior half; leg Iand II with femora darkened on basal half, legs III–IV uniform in colour; endites, labium and chelicerae similar in colour to carapace (Fig. 35). Carapace: smooth in texture; decorated with squamose setae; radiating dark lines present medially; posterior margin straight; fovea absent; anterior margin narrowing slightly from first coxa; PER slightly recurved in dorsal view, AER recurved in anterior view. Chelicerae: decorated with plumose setae. Labium: triangular in shape, rounded at tip, accompanied by cluster of setae. Endites: oblique; anterior margin rounded; cluster of setae present on inner–apical margin; anterior margin darkened. Sternum: shield-like; lighter than carapace; dark patches on lateral edges; broadest between coxa Iand II; posterior margin tapered behind coxa IV; decorated with scattered long aculeate setae. Legs: femora laterally flattened, highest at base, leg Imore pronounced in this fashion; rest of legs normal, thin; decorated with feathery setae (Fig. 82). Abdomen: cylindrical in shape; decorated with squamose setae; large scutum present, very broad, covering three–quarters of abdomen width; faint white median line just below scutum; lateral white stripes present on anterior half of abdomen; venter lighter than dorsum, with no markings visible; sigilla not visible. Leg macrosetae: Palps: 1pl, 1pl, 1plv, 1pl, 2plv, 2vt. Leg I: 1pl, 2plv, 2rlv, 1plv, 1rlv. II: 1d. IV: 2vt, 2vt. Scopulate setae on tarsi and metatarsi of legs I–II, and only on tarsi of legs III–IV. Palp: retrolateral tibial apophysis present on retrolateral surface; median apophysis present next to embolus, thin, elongate, curved prolaterally; sperm duct present on retrolateral surface of tegulum, curved close to basal margin of tegulum; embolus broad at base, tip tapered and slightly curved; cymbium pear-shaped, broadest at basal third; two small spines present on tip of cymbium; two large ventral terminal spines distally near tip (Figs 165, 166).
Distribution. Micaria scutellata sp. nov. is only known from two localities in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (Map 5).
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 65-67, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4940.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4580917