Drassodella amatola Mbo & Haddad 2019, sp. nov.

Drassodella amatola sp. nov.

Figs 1, 14, 70, 86, 157, 158, 172–175

Etymology. The species name is a noun in apposition of the mountain range (Amatola Mountains) where the type locality is found.

Diagnosis. Drassodella amatola sp. nov. is distinct amongst species of this group by the absence of any dorsal markings on the abdomen, which is uniformly black. Furthermore, females can easily be distinguished by small, arc-shaped anterior hood, narrow median septum and large ST II that touch along their mesal margin (Figs 70, 172, 173), while clearly separated in the other species (Figs 71–77). Males are easily distinguished from others in the genus by the slightly curved transverse embolus and the strongly prolaterally protruding basal half of the tegulum (Figs 86, 174, 175). They are most similar to D. baviaans sp. nov., but can be recognized by the smaller median apophysis and the broader embolus tip (compare Figs 174 and 180).

Description. Female (Holotype, Hogsback, NCA 2007/1188). Measurements: CL 2.78, CW 2.14, AL 3.60, AW 2.00, TL 6.52 (6.22–7.36), FL 0.22, SL 1.49, SW 1.32, CH 0.13, AME-AME 0.07, AME-ALE 0.02, ALE-ALE 0.25, PME-PME 0.19, PME-PLE 0.12, PLE-PLE 0.49, PERW 0.63, MOQAW 0.24, MOQPW 0.28, MOQL 0.17.

Length of leg segments: I 2.00 + 1.16 + 1.56 + 1.52 + 1.16 = 7.40, II 1.96 + 1.04 + 1.40 + 1.36 + 1.14 = 6.90, III 1.70 + 1.00 + 1.24 + 1.36 + 0.96 = 6.26, IV 2.44 + 1.28 + 1.90 + 2.56 + 1.20 = 9.38.

General appearance as in Figs 1 and 157. Carapace black; white feathery setae forming upsilon marking, running from PME towards posterior margin, diverging after fovea. Clypeus height equal to 1.86 AME diameter; AME smaller than ALE; AME separated by distance equal to their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.29 AME diameter; PME smaller than PLE; PME separated by distance equal to 2.38 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1.50 PME diameter. Chelicerae dark-brown, yellow at distal margin; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest, proximal tooth smallest, median tooth closer to proximal tooth than distal tooth; retromargin with two teeth, distal tooth slightly larger. Endites dark brown, mottled on promarginal surface and medially. Labium dark brown, anterior margin pale yellow at maxillar hair tuft; slightly longer than wide. Sternum brown. Legs with proximal segments dark-brown, with black mottling, distal segments orange. Leg spination: femora: I do 1, II do 1, III do 5, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 2 do 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, III pl 4 rl 4 plv 2 rlv 2, IV pl 4 do 2 rl 4 plv 1 rlv 2 vt 2; palpal spination: femora do 2 rl 1; patellae do 1 rl 1; tibiae do 1 rl 2; tarsi do 2 rl 2 plv 1.

Abdomen uniformly black (Figs 1, 157); lateral sigilla above booklungs sub-oval; venter pale with sparse hairs; two paired rows of tiny sclerites running from epigastric fold to spinnerets, inner rows with fewer sclerites. Spinnerets brown. Epigyne with small shallow anterior hood, anterior and posterior margins strongly recurved, lateral ends slightly rounded; lateral margins of median septum weakly sclerotised, converging mesally from anterior hood posteriorly to ST II; ST I, ST II and connecting ducts orange-brown; ST II bean-shaped, touching along their mesal margins, much larger than subspherical ST I (Figs 70, 172, 173).

Male (Paratype, Hogsback, NCA 2014 /699). Measurements: CL 2.80, CW 2.08, AL 2.72, AW 1.40, TL 6.48 (6.32–6.68), FL 0.48, SL 1.42, SW 1.20, CH 0.15, AME-AME 0.08, AME-ALE 0.02, ALE-ALE 0.25, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.14, PLE-PLE 0.55, PERW 0.65, MOQAW 0.21, MOQPW 0.25, MOQL 0.32.

Length of leg segments: I 2.08 + 1.04 + 1.60 + 1.44 + 1.14 = 7.30, II 1.80 + 0.96 + 1.36 + 1.36 + 1.06 = 6.54, III 1.64 + 0.84 + 1.06 + 1.46 + 0.88 = 5.88, IV 2.44 + 1.12 + 1.62 + 2.50 + 1.06 = 8.74.

General appearance as in Fig. 158. Carapace black, with faint radiating mottling; distinct upsilon marking of white feathery setae present, comprising median line from PME, diverging after fovea. Clypeus height equal to 2.50 AME diameter; AME smaller than ALE; AME separated by distance equal to 1.33 their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.33 AME diameter; PME smaller than PLE; PME separated by distance equal to 1.43 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance twice PME diameter; Chelicerae dark brown anteriorly, brown to red-brown posteriorly; promargin with three teeth, proximal tooth smallest, median tooth largest, median tooth closer to proximal tooth than distal tooth; retromargin with two teeth, equal in size. Endites dark brown, paler brown at maxillar hair tuft. Labium dark brown. Sternum dark brown. All legs slightly mottled, proximal segments dark brown, distal segments yellow-brown. Leg spination: femora: I do 1, II do 1 rl 1, III do 4, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, IV pl 2 do 2 plv 2 rlv 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, III pl 4 do 1 rl 4 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 4 do 1 rl 4 plv 1 rlv 2 vt 2; palpal spination: femora do 3 rl 1; patellae rl 1; tibiae pl 1 rl 3; tarsi rl 2. Abdomen uniformly black; lateral sigilla above booklungs sub-oval; venter pale, with sparse thin hairs. Spinnerets brown. Palp dark brown; RTA long, largely obscured in ventral view by retrolateral heel of cymbium; in retrolateral view triangular, with broad base and rounded tip; cymbium broad, 1.55 times longer than wide, distal end broadly rounded; tegulum protruding prominently on prolateral side basally; embolus originating from distal prolateral mound, transverse and directed retrolaterally; median apophysis stout, hook-shaped (Figs 86, 174, 175).

Type material. Holotype ♀: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province: Amatola Mountains, Hogsback, 32°36.285'S, 26°56.580'E, 27.III.2007, leg. C. Haddad (active search, knee down, Afromontane forest) (NCA 2007 /1188).

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province: Amatola Mountains, Hogsback, 32°36.285'S, 26°56.580'E, 25. III.2007, leg. C. Haddad (sifting leaf litter, Afromontane forest), 1♀ (NCA 2007 /1159), 1♂ (NCA 2007 /3841).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa (Fig. 188).