Stasimopus dylani 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 dylani

description: Stasimopus dylani sp. nov.
(Figures 3B, 5A; 8, 9, 10, 11A)
Type material: Holotype Ô SOUTH AFRICA: Western Cape Province: Murraysburg (-31.8884, 23.7310), 21.v.2018, S. Brandt, C. Sole, E. Engelbrecht and E. Brand, (NCA 2019/663). Paratypes. Same data, 21.v.2018, 1Ô (NCA 2019/664); Eastern cape Province: Jansenville (-32.8772, 24.4952), 17.vii.2015, I. Engelbrecht and D. Kambas, 4ÔÔ (NCA 2019/697, NCA 2019/698, NCA 2019/699, NCA 2019/702), Willowmore (-33.0423, 23.1958), 15.v.2018, S. Brandt, C. Sole, E. Engelbrecht and E. Brand, 1♀ juv. (NCA 2019/676).
Etymology: This species is a patronym in recognition of Dylan Cecil Brandt, for his unending support and encouragement of the first author during her postgraduate studies.
Diagnosis: The males of S. dylani sp. nov. are distinguishable from other members of the genus occurring in the Karoo based on the following combination of characters. Differentiated from S. astutus, S. erythrognathus, S. malesociatus sp. nov., S. patersonae, S. steynsbergensis, S. karooensis sp. nov. and S. mandelai based on the pedipalp not extending beyond the tarsus of leg I. It is distinguished from S. palpiger by the pedipalp that is longer than leg I, which is not the case with S. dylani sp. nov. The species can be distinguished from S. schrieneri, S. ignis sp. nov., S. finni sp. nov. and S. maraisi based on the largest eye, which in these species is the ALE, whereas in S. dylani sp. nov. it is the AME.
Description: Based on the holotype Ô (NCA 2019/663) and paratypes 5Ô (NCA 2019/664, NCA 2019/697, NCA 2019/698, NCA 2019/699, NCA 2019/702).
Remarks: ♀: Known only from males.
General: Ô: (Fig 5A) Medium bodied spiders, ranging between 10.68–13.03 (13.03) total length.
Carapace: Ô: Carapace length 4.78–6.28 (6.28); width 4.42–5.74 (5.74). Black colouration, thoracic region with rugose texture. The fovea strongly procurved, between 1.00–1.38 (1.11) in length.
Ocelli: Ô: (Fig 11A, Fig 3B) AME diameter 0.26–0.28 (0.28), PME diameter 0.16–0.20 (0.19), MOQ anterior width 1.30–1.67 (1.67), MOQ posterior width 1.72–2.09 (2.05); AME-AME 0.25, AME-ALE 0.15, ALE-ALE 1.08, PME-PME 1.02, PME-PLE 0.16, PLE-PLE 1.62. AER arrangement slightly recurved, PER recurved.
Chelicerae: Ô: (Fig 8B) Two teeth rows present, 4 teeth in proventral row, 5 teeth in retroventral row; 12 cuspules in between.
Sternum, labium and maxillae: Ô: (Fig 8A) Sternum length 2.27–3.48 (3.48); sternum width 2.47–3.05 (3.05). Sternum shape has distinct impressions of where the coxa are situated. Sigilla in the shape of a fused arrow, distal end fused, proximal end 1.06–1.45 (1.12) apart; cuspules absent on labium and maxilla.
Abdomen: Ô: (Fig 5A) Abdomen length 5.56–6.75 (6.75); width 3.45–4.63 (4.63). Colour, do - dark grey, v - and laterally beige.
Pedipalps: Ô: (Fig 10A, B) Total length 19.01; Segment lengths 1.77, 6.41, 4.82, -,6.02. Spination: spines absent. Bulb compact, embolus elongated, tapering into sharp point, extending downwards, almost parallel to tibia.
Legs: Ô: Length order: I, IV, II, III. I Total length 22.94; Segment lengths 7.07, 3.23, 4.86, 5.62, 2.16; Spination: spines absent on femur and patella, with sparse setae. Tibia v - 19 large spines (extending pl & rl), covering only distal half. Metatarsus (Fig 10C) pl - 19 large spines extending v, 21 large spines rl (slightly v). Tarsus (Fig 10C) pl - 4 spines, rl - 4 spines, v - scopulate. II Total length 20.88; Segment lengths 6.42, 2.86, 4.32, 5.21, 2.07; Spination: spines absent on femur and patella, with sparse setae. Tibia v - 5–7 spines distally. Metatarsus pl - 12–13 large spines extending v, rl - 10–11 large spines extending v. Tarsus pl - 4 spines, rl- 3–4 spines, v - scopulate. III Total length 16.45; Segment lengths 4.64, 2.26, 2.55, 4.35, 2.66; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella, do (slightly pl)- 7 small spines. Tibia (Fig 10F), do - Distally dense patch of spines (approx. 25), extend to metatarsus. Metatarsus (Fig 10D), pl - 11 spines, do - small patch of spines proximally (approx. 15) connecting to tibia, rl - 3 spines, v - 5 spines. Tarsus (Fig 10D) pl - 8 spines, rl - 7 spines. IV Total length 22.85; Segment lengths 5.32, 2.65, 4.50, 7.42, 2.96; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella (Fig 10G), do - short red spines proximally, less dense distally, interspersed with black setae. Tibia short black setae. Metatarsus (Fig 10E) pl - 5 spines, rl - 6 spines. Tarsus (Fig 10E) pl - 10 spines, rl - 9 spines.
Distribution and environment notes:
The species is found in the localities indicated in Figure 9. The species appears to have a broader distribution in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. The areas typically had sandy soils. The juvenile female was collected from a flat pan. All the males were collected while they were crossing quite roads. The SUOJ locality had no rain on the day collected, but a slight drizzle did occur after collection, whereas the males from FRE were collected after very heavy rain.
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 19-24, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5341.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/8323744