Stasimopus karooensis Brandt & Sole & Lyle 2023, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Brandt, Shannon
name: Sole, Catherine
name: Lyle, Robin
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Stasimopidae
Stasimopus
Stasimopus karooensis

description: Stasimopus karooensis sp. nov.
(Figs 3E, 6C, 11D, 13B, 27, 28)
Type material: Holotype Ô SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province, Pearston, Camdeboo Game Reserve (- 32.5339, 25.2378), 09.iv.2010 – 26.vi.2010, S. van Noort, (SAM-ENW-C007293). Paratypes. Same data, 1Ô (SAM-ENW-C007746). Jansenville (-32.8772, 24.4952), 17.vii.2015, I. Engelbrecht and D. Kambas, 1Ô (NCA 2019/616).
FIGURE 26. Map of the localities where Stasimopus ignis sp. nov. specimens were collected. Numbers match the site numbers in Figure 1. Map created in QGIS version 3.4.8-Madeira (2019), available at: http://qgis.osgeo.org.
Etymology: The specific species name refers to the large distribution of the species within the Karoo. It is an acknowledgement to the Karoo BioGaps project, which provided some funding and the sampling organisation for this project.
Diagnosis: The males of S. karooensis sp. nov. are distinguishable from other members of the genus occurring in the Karoo based on the following combination of characters. It is differentiated from S. schrieneri, S. dylani sp. nov., S. ignis sp. nov., S. finni sp. nov., S. maraisi and S. palpiger by the pedipalp being shorter in relation to leg I (only reaching metatarsus I). It is distinguished from S. astutus, S. erythrognathus, S. malesociatus sp. nov. and S. patersonae as the pedipalp is longer in relation to leg I (extending past the tibia). Lastly, it is differentiated from S. mandelai and S. steynsbergensis by being more spinose on tarsus IV.
Description: Based on the holotype Ô (SAM-ENW-C007293) and paratypes 2Ô (SAM-ENW-C007746, NCA 2019/616).
Remarks: ♀: Known only from males.
General: Ô: (Fig 6C) Medium bodied spiders, ranging between 8.34–9.29 (8.34) total length.
Carapace: Ô: Carapace length 3.99–4.98 (3.99); width 3.62–4.35 (3.62). Dark red colouration, thoracic region with rugose texture. Fovea procurved, between 0.78–0.94 (0.78) in length.
Ocelli: Ô: (Fig 3E, 11D) AME diameter 0.20–0.22 (0.20), PME diameter 0.12–0.15 (0.15), MOQ anterior width 1.08–1.23 (1.08), MOQ posterior width 1.29–1.69 (1.29); AME-AME 0.18, AME-ALE 0.10, ALE-ALE 0.84, PME-PME 0.15, PME-PLE 0.78, PLE-PLE 1.20; AER almost straight, PER slightly recurved.
Chelicerae: Ô: (Fig 13B) Two teeth rows present, 4 teeth in proventral row, 4 in retroventral row. Number of cuspules could not be determined as the fangs could not be opened without damaging an old specimen.
Sternum, labium and maxillae: Ô: (Fig 27C) Sternum length 2.56–2.76 (2.73); sternum width 2.12–2.54 (2.12). Sternum shape has distinct impressions of where the coxa are situated. Sigilla in the shape of a fused arrow, distal end fused, proximal ends 0.68–1.14 (0.68) apart; cuspules on labium absent; maxilla absent.
Abdomen: Ô: Abdomen length 4.31–4.36 (4.36); width 2.78–3.07 (2.78). Mottled grey colouration.
Pedipalps: Ô: (Fig 27A, B) Total length 16.60; Segment lengths 4.64, 4.68, 3.14, -, 4.14. Spination: spines absent. Bulb compact and flattened. Embolus elongated tapering to sharp point, extending perpendicular from tibia.
Legs: Ô: Length order: I, IV, II, III. I Total length 19.32; Segment lengths 5.83, 2.66, 4.21, 4.61, 2.02; Spination: spines absent on femur and patella, with sparse setae. Tibia v - 13 large spines extending pl & rl. Metatarsus v (Fig 27D)- 10–12 large spines. Tarsus v - scopulate. II Total length 16.82; Segment lengths 5.16, 2.30, 3.70, 3.87, 1.81; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella pl - 1 large spine. Tibia v - 13–14 large spines extend pl & rl. Metatarsus v - 14–15 large spines. Tarsus v - scopulate. III Total length 12.12; Segment lengths 3.25, 1.75, 1.45, 3.52, 2.16; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella do - 4 red spines. Tibia pl & rl - dense patches of short spines distally (9–10 in each patch). Metatarsus (Fig 27E) pl & rl - dense spines along each surface (15–17 in each patch), extend do & v. Tarsus pl & rl - small spines along each surface (10–11 in each patch), denser distally, v - scopulate. IV Total length 18.85; Segment lengths 4.50, 2.39, 3.67, 5.34, 2.96; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella do - short dense red spines proximally, less dense distally, interspersed with fine black setae. Tibia pl - 5 spines. Metatarsus pl - 10 spines, v (Fig 27F)- 1 spine. Tarsus pl & rl - 15–16 spines along each surface, denser distally, v (Fig 27F)- scopulate.
Distribution and environment notes:
The species is found in the localities indicated in Figure 28. The species is only known from two localities in the Eastern Cape province. These two localities are a great distance apart. The SAMC specimens were collected in Camdeboo Escarpment Thicket vegetation in yellow pan traps. The ELK specimens were all collected while crossing a quite road after heavy rains.
description: Published as part of Brandt, Shannon, Sole, Catherine & Lyle, Robin, 2023, An integrative taxonomy of the genus Stasimopus Simon 1892 (Araneae: Mygalomorphae) of the Karoo with the description of nine new species and a Stasimopus maraisi Hewitt 1914 male, pp. 1-60 in Zootaxa 5341 (1) on pages 36-41, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5341.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8323744