Trachecymbius peterwebbi Haddad & Lyle 2024, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Haddad, Charles R.
name: Lyle, Robin
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Trachelidae
Trachecymbius
Trachecymbius peterwebbi

description: Trachecymbius peterwebbi sp. nov.
Figs 218, 228, 229
Etymology. This species is named for the late Peter Webb, collector of the type specimen, in recognition of his sampling contributions to the South African National Survey of Arachnida and his comprehensive photography of the country’s spider fauna.
Diagnosis. The male of this species can be easily recognised by the strongly protruding prolateral tegular apophysis and the long, strongly curved embolus, with the tip directed prolatero-distally (Fig. 228). Female unknown.
Male (holotype, Umhlanga, NCA 2016/3068). Measurements: CL 1.01, CW 0.87, AL 1.10, AW 0.76, TL 2.16, FL 0.11, SL 0.63, SW 0.51, AME-AME 0.02, AME-ALE 0.015, ALE-ALE 0.17, PME-PME 0.06, PME-PLE 0.08, PLE-PLE 0.35. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 0.71 + 0.38 + 0.51 + 0.42 + 0.29 = 2.31; II 0.61 + 0.33 + 0.40 + 0.38 + 0.25 = 1.97; III 0.49 + 0.27 + 0.30 + 0.37 + 0.21 = 1.64; IV 0.67 + 0.30 + 0.52 + 0.54 + 0.21 = 2.24.
Carapace yellow-brown (Fig. 218); carapace finely granulate throughout except on posterior slope behind fovea; fovea short, narrow, at ⅘ CL. Eye region with black rings around eyes; AER slightly procurved; clypeus height approximately ¾ AME diameter; ALE slightly larger than AME; AME separated by distance equal to ¼ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance equal to ⅕ AME diameter; PER strongly recurved; PLE slightly larger than PME; PME separated by distance equal to ⅘ their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to PME diameter. Chelicerae yellow-brown, labium and endites creamy-brown, sternum pale yellow-brown, darker around borders; surface smooth, sparsely covered with short, fine setae. Abdomen elongate-oval, dorsum mottled pale grey, with faint X-shaped cream marking anteriorly (Fig. 218); dorsal scutum absent; two pairs of elongate-oval sigilla, first pair at ¼ AL and second pair at midpoint of abdomen; dorsum covered in fine appressed brown setae; venter creamy-grey. Legs uniform creamy-yellow, femora slightly darker. Palp yellow-brown; large subtriangular tegular apophysis protruding prolaterally, distal margin with fine denticles; embolus originating prolaterally, base hidden behind tegular apophysis, initially directed retrolaterally, forming broad curve with tip directed prolatero-distally; RTA broad, thumb-like; cymbial apophysis large, with gradual bend, protruding retrolaterally in ventral view, tip with small denticles in retrolateral view (Figs 228, 229).
Type material. Holotype ♁: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Umhlanga Rocks Lagoon Nature Reserve [29°42'S, 31°05'E], 11.VII.2014, leg. P. Webb (sweeping) (NCA 2016 /3068).
Other material. None.
Distribution. Only known from the type locality (Fig. 236).
description: Published as part of Haddad, Charles R. & Lyle, Robin, 2024, Three new genera of arboreal dark sac spiders from southern Africa (Araneae: Trachelidae), pp. 451-504 in Zootaxa 5399 (5) on pages 495-496, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5399.5.1, http://zenodo.org/record/10517393