Afroceto plana Lyle & Haddad 2010, sp. n.
Creators: name: Lyle, Robin
name: Haddad, Charles R.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2010
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Trachelidae
Afroceto
Afroceto plana

description: Afroceto plana sp. n.   Figs 16, 17, 81–101  
 Etymology: From Latin planus (flat); refers to the flat tibial apophysis of the male.   
 Diagnosis: The male of this species is closely related to A. martini but can be recognised by the flat retrolateral tibial apophysis with a single dorsally directed tooth-like excrescence, the more compact tegulum and cymbium, and the embolus that is directed distally after emerging from beneath the tegulum, with the tip close to the retrolateral cymbial margin (Figs 97, 98). The female can be recognised by the curved copulatory ducts, with ST II extending beyond the anterior margins of the lateral epigynal ridges (Figs 100, 101); in A. martini the copulatory ducts are distinctly coiled and ST II do not reach the anterior margin of the lateral epigynal ridges (Figs 36, 37).   
Description:  
 Male.   
Measurements: CL 2.10–2.80, CW 1.83–2.50, AL 2.30–3.20, AW 1.53–2.20, TL 4.40– 6.10, FL 0.18–0.28, SL 1.23–1.58, SW 1.08–1.45, AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.08, ALE–ALE 0.53, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.20, PLE–PLE 0.83. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 2.43+1.18+2.05+1.70+1.08=8.44; II 2.15+1.24+1.80+1.63+0.98=7.80; III 1.53+0.85+1.10+1.48+0.73=5.69; IV 2.18+0.98+ 1.93+2.33+0.73=8.15.  
 Carapace brown to dark brown, slightly paler posterior to fovea (Fig. 16); first two thirds of carapace slightly raised with highest point near one third of carapace length; last third with relatively steep decline; surface slightly granular, covered in short fine setae; fovea short, distinct, slightly thickened, at two thirds CL. Ocular region dark brown with black rings around eyes; AER slightly procurved, AME larger than ALE; clypeus height equal to 0.5 AME diameter; AME separated by slightly less than 0.5 their diameter; AME separated from ALE by 0.3 AME diameter; PER slightly recurved, PLE larger than PME; PME separated by 1.5 times their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to PME diameter (Fig. 81). Chelicerae dark brown, paler near base; anterior surface covered in long, dark setae; fangs bright orange, darker at fang base; three promarginal teeth, median and proximal teeth subequal in size, distal tooth smallest; two retromarginal teeth, distal tooth slightly larger than proximal tooth. Sternum pale brown to yellow, covered in fine long setae throughout (Fig. 82). Abdomen cream to light brown dorsally, with dark grey ventral line, either branched into a chevron or unbranched; abdomen broader anteriorly, tapering posteriorly; two pairs of grey sigilla, one pair anterior and other posterior to midpoint of abdomen; venter cream. Legs I to IV uniform pale yellow to light brown, with incomplete grey bands on femora to metatarsi; relatively dense scopulae ventrally on metatarsi and tarsi, remaining leg segments covered in fine, pale setae; anterior femora with two incomplete distal bands, tibiae with incomplete distal and proximal bands, metatarsi with incomplete distal and proximal band; posterior pairs of legs with similar band arrangement, with exception of femora, with one incomplete distal band; leg spines and cusps present. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1, II pl 1, III pl 1 rl 1, IV pl 1 rl 1; patellae spineless; tibiae: I plv 7–10 rlv 0–4 vt 1 cusps, II plv 4–9 rlv 0–4 cusps, III pl 1 rl 1 plv 1 vt 2; metatarsi: I plv 10–14 rlv 8–11 vt 2 cusps, II plv 13 rlv 9 vt 2 cusps, III pl 1 rl 1 plv 2 rlv 1, IV pl 1 rl 1 plv 2; tarsi: I plv 4–10 rlv 3–8 cusps, II plv 4–8 rlv 2–5 cusps (Figs 83–86, 96). Palp yellow­brown; embolus originating prolaterally, curving beneath tegulum, emerging distally; distal section of embolus directed distally, tip fist-like, close to retrolateral margin of cymbium (Figs 87, 97); cymbium with two short ventral spines, located prolaterally and retrolaterally near distal end of cymbium (Fig. 97); retrolateral tibial apophysis prominent, flattened, broad, with sharp, dorsally directed tooth-like excrescence; patellar apophysis sharp, slightly curved (Fig. 98).   
 Female.   
Measurements: CL 2.00–2.40, CW 1.78–2.08, AL 2.40–4.00, AW 1.85–2.60, TL 5.00– 6.30, FL 0.13–0.28, SL 1.33–1.43, SW 1.05–1.16, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.05, ALE–ALE 0.45, PME–PME 0.23, PME–PLE 0.10, PLE–PLE 0.58. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 2.05+0.95+1.55+1.40+0.95=6.90; II 1.83+0.88+1.38+1.35+0.88=6.32; III 1.38+0.73+0.95+1.25+0.48=4.79; IV 2.05+0.85+ 1.73+2.00+0.65=7.28.  
 Carapace orange to dark brown, paler posterior to midpoint (Fig. 17); first two thirds of carapace raised, with highest point at one third of carapace length, posterior third declining steeply; surface smooth, covered in short, fine setae; fovea short, distinct, slightly thickened, at two­thirds CL. Ocular region light brown with dark brown rings around eyes; AER slightly recurved, AME larger than ALE; clypeus height equal to 0.8 AME diameter; AME separated by 0.6 their diameter; ALE separated from AME by 0.8 AME diameter; PER slightly recurved, PLE larger than PME; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1.5 their diameter; PME separated by distance equal to PME diameter. Chelicerae light brown, slightly darker at fang base; anterior surface of chelicerae with scattered setae (Fig. 88); fangs orange; three promarginal teeth, proximal tooth largest, distal tooth smallest; two retromarginal teeth, proximal tooth largest. Sternum pale yellow, brown towards borders; surface covered in long, fine setae. Abdomen pale yellow to cream dorsally, with light grey lateral stripe; abdomen broader anteriorly, tapering posteriorly; one pair of pale grey sigilla anterior to midpoint of abdomen; fine setae scattered throughout dorsum; venter cream. Legs I to IV uniform light brown to pale yellow; erect setae on anterior legs, alongside cusps on tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi; dense scopulae ventrally on anterior metatarsi and tarsi (Figs 90–92). Leg spination: femora: I pl 1, II pl 1, III pl 1 rl 1, IV pl 1 rl 1; patellae spineless; tibiae: I plv 9–13 rlv 4–7 cusps, II plv 2–8 rlv 3–4 cusps, III pl 1 rl 1 rlv 1, IV pl 1 rl 2 plv 1 vt 2; metatarsi: I plv 14–16 rlv 9–10 cusps, II plv 11–12 rlv 8–9 cusps, III pl 1 rl 1 rlv 1, IV pl 1 rl 1 plv 1; tarsi: I plv 6 rlv 4–6 cusps, II plv 3–4 rlv 1–3 cusps (Figs 89, 91–93, 99). Genital area sclerotised; lateral epigynal ridges comma­shaped, copulatory openings directed anteriorly; epigyne without mating plugs (Fig. 94) or with plugs (Fig. 95); copulatory ducts broad, curved, leading to small anterior ST II extending beyond anterior margin of lateral ridges (Figs 100, 101); narrow duct leading posteriorly from ST II to medially placed globular ST I in posterior half of epigyne (Fig. 101).   
 Holotype: ♂ SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Ndumo Game Reserve, Crocodile Farm, 26°54.426'S: 32°19.185'E, 19.i.2002, C. Haddad, leaf litter under fig tree (NCA, 2002/385).   
 Allotype: ♀ SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Ndumo Game Reserve, W shore of Nyamiti Pan, 26°53.767'S: 32°16.557'E, 3.vii.2003, C. Haddad, under Acacia xanthophloea bark (NCA, 2006/1488).   
 Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: 5♂ Ndumo Game Reserve, Start of game count transect 8, 26°50.183'S: 32°13.135'E, 2.vii.2003, C. Haddad, under bark of fever tree (NCA, 2006/1493). Western Cape: 1♂ 4♀ 1 juv. De Hoop Nat. Res., Potberg, 34°22.487'S: 20°31.980'E, 6.iv.2004, C. Haddad, leaf litter (NCA, 2006/1505).   
 Other material examined: MALAWI: 1♀ Viphya Mountains, Chikangawa, 11°50'S: 33°48'E, ix–x.1977, R. Jocqué, old pine plantation (MRAC, 153548). SOUTH AFRICA: Free State: 1♂ Bloemfontein district, “Hopefield” farm, 28°54'S: 26°14'E, 1.xii.2001, C. Haddad, under Bluegum bark (NCA, 2006/1478); 1♂ 1 juv. Sandveld Nat. Res., 27°41'S: 25°43'E, 25 x.2003, C. Haddad, in chimney of Odontotermes termite mound (NCA, 2002/507). KwaZulu-Natal: 1♀ Ndumo Game Reserve, Crocodile Farm, 26°54.426'S: 32°19.185'E, 28.vi.2003, C. Haddad, active search (NCA, 2006/1494); 2♀ same locality, Crocodile Farm, 26°54.426'S: 32°19.185'E, 8 xii.2000, C. Haddad, fever tree, active search (NCA, 2006/1506); 2♂ same locality, E shore of Shokwe Pan, 26°52.516'S: 32°12.407'E, 21.vi.2006, C. Haddad, under logs (NCA, 2006/1238); 3♂ same data (NCA, 2006/1244); 1♂ same locality, near Nyamiti Bird Hide, Pongola R. floodplain, Ezikebheni, 26°53.362'S: 32°18.892'E, 9.ii.2005, C. Haddad, leaf litter, floodplain (NCA, 2005/40); 16♂ same locality, start of game count transect 8, 26°50.183'S: 32°13.135'E, 2.vii.2003, C. Haddad, under fever tree bark (NCA, 2006/1484); 8♀ same data (NCA, 2006/1485); 6♀ same locality, start of game count transect 8, 26°50.183'S: 32°13.135'E, 2.vii.2004, C. Haddad, Ficus bark (NCA, 2006/1492); 3♂ same locality, W shore of Nyamiti Pan, 26°53.767'S: 32°16.557'E, 3.vii.2003, C. Haddad, under A. xanthophloea bark (NCA, 2006/1487). Limpopo: 1♀ Tuinplaas, Springbokvlakte, Settlers Lodge, 7.v.2002, M. van Jaarsveld, aru 5731 grass, pitfall trap (NCA, 2003/332); 1♀ same locality, 7.v.2002, M. van Jaarsveld, aru 5730 grass, pitfall trap (NCA, 2003/333); 1♀ same locality, 7.v.2002, M. van Jaarsveld, aru 5734 grass, pitfall trap (NCA, 2003/334).   
Distribution: Recorded from the eastern, central and southern parts of South Africa, with a single specimen collected in Malawi (Fig. 105).
description: Published as part of Lyle, Robin & Haddad, Charles R., 2010, A revision of the tracheline sac spider genus Cetonana Strand, 1929 in the Afrotropical Region, with descriptions of two new genera (Araneae Corinnidae), pp. 321 in African Invertebrates 51 (2) on pages 359-363, DOI: 10.5733/afin.051.0206, http://zenodo.org/record/7913561