Hermacha montana, sp. nov.

Figures 2F, 4E–H, 8A–F, 9A–E, 10A–E

MATERIAL EXAMINED: HOLOTYPE: South Africa: Western Cape Province: Sneeukop, Cederberg, CWA (32°21.22′S 19°09.17′E, 1615 m), October 7, 2007, E. Nortle, S. Kritzinger-Klopper, 13, (NCA 2012 /2264). PARATYPE: same locality as for holotype (32°21.33′S 19°09.92′E, 1843 m), March 6, 2006, same collectors as holotype, 1♀ (NCA 2012 /2237).

ETYMOLOGY: The species name refers to the Cederberg mountains, where this species was collected.

DIAGNOSIS: Male embolus without flanges (figs. 4E, F; 9D, E). It can also be separated from H. fulva and H. tuckeri by the lower number of maxillary cuspules (32 [fig. 8B] vs. 42 [fig. 6B] and 40 [fig. 17B] respectively). Females can be distinguished by their spermathecae, which are short and widely separated (fig. 10E).

DESCRIPTION: MALE HOLOTYPE (NCA 2012/2264, figs. 3E–H, 8A–F, 9A–E): Total length: 12.91. Carapace (fig. 8A): length 6.38, width 4.83, with gold pubescence and emergent setae and dark marginal bristles. Cephalic region: length 3.81; clypeus almost absent with 7 bristles; 3 bristles in front of the OQ and 5 between PME. Fovea: procurved, width 0.68. Ocular measurements: AME 0.16, ALE 0.27, PME 0.21, PLE 0.22, OQ length 0.56, 1.01 width; AME-ALE 0.12, PME-PLE 0.03, AME-PME 0.08, ALE-PLE 0.13, AME-AME 0.15, PME-PME 0.47. Chelicerae: length 3.38, width 1.90, with dark retrodorsal bristles, rastellum formed by strong setae; intercheliceral tumescence pallid, small, with setae. Cheliceral furrow with an irregular line of 9 promarginal teeth (6-1-2), and 1 mesobasal denticle. Labium: length 0.42, width 0.86. Palpal endites: length 2.01, width 0.94, with 32 cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face slightly curved, soft area little developed, with long uniformly distributed hairs. Sternum (fig. 8B): length 2.98, maximum width 2.53. Abdomen (fig. 8C): length 5.27, covered with small hair and dark bristles. PMS: length 0.57; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 0.94:0.53:0.63; total length 2.10. Lengths of legs and palp: I: 5.08, 2.81, 4.02, 3.60, 2.23, 17.74. II: 5.10, 2.81, 3.74, 3.69, 2.19, 17.53. III: 4.53, 2.23, 2.87, 4.28, 2.28, 16.19. IV: 5.60, 2.57, 4.08, 5.53, 2.32, 20.10. Palp: 2.98, 1.49, 2.17, —, 1.33, 7.76. Chaetotaxy: Leg I: femur, 1 PA, 1-1-1-1-1 D, 1-1 R; patella, 1-1 P; tibia, 1-2 P, 1-2-1-1 V, and a strong apical spine (ventral posterior, figs. 4H, 8E, F); metatarsus, 0, medially curved, the curved part of the metatarsus slightly swollen (fig. 2F); tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1-1 P, 1-1-1-1 d, 1-1-1 R; patella, 1-1 P; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-2-1-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1 P, 1-1 V (1:2 B); tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1-1 d, 1-1 R; patella, 1-1 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1-1 P, 1 D (1:2 A), 1-1 R, 2-1-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1 R, 2-2-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1-1 d, 1-1-1 R; patella, 1 R; tibia, 1-1-2 P, 1-1 R, 2-2-1-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1 R, 1-2-2-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp (fig. 4G, 9A–C): femur, 1-1 P, 1 RA; patella, 1-1 P; tibia, 2-1-1 P, 2-1 R, 1-1 V with long rigid ventral bristles; tarsus, 12 A, with small rigid bristles. Copulatory bulb: straight (length 1.62, width 0.73, Rlw 2.2, figs. 4E.F; 9D, E). Scopulae: Metatarsi: I, sparse (1:2A); II, sparse, uniformly distributed throughout the segment; III, sparse (3:4 A, more abundant P); IV, sparse (1:4 A, only P). Tarsi: I–II, dense, uniformly distributed throughout the segment; III–IV, sparse, uniformly distributed throughout the segment, divided (III by a narrow band of setae; IV, by a wide band of setae). Trichobothria: Tibiae: I–II 10-9; III 10-10; IV 12-11. Metatarsi: I (4)1(1)1(0)1(1)1(3)1(3)1; II (3)1(0)1(2)1(1)1(1)1(2)1; III (5)1(2)1(1)1(0)1(1)1(3)1; IV (4)1(1)1(1)1(1)1(2)1(3)1. Tarsi: I–II 22; III 21; IV 22. Color in alcohol: Overall dark reddish yellow (chelicerae darker); legs like carapace with femur darker, all tarsi with pallid areas; abdomen light brown with many pallid spots. Sternum yellowish red; spinnerets yellowish.

FEMALE PARATYPE (NCA 2012/2237, fig. 10A–E): Total length: 15.22. Carapace (fig. 10A): length 6.18, width 4.56. Cephalic region: length 3.95, clypeus small with 7 marginal bristles; 5 bristles in front of the OQ and 8 posteriors (between PME). Fovea: width 0.61, procurved. Ocular measurements: AME 0.13, ALE 0.28, PME 0.16, PLE 0.20, OQ length 0.58, width 0.97; AME-ALE 0.09, PME-PLE 0.06, AME-PME 0.13, ALE-PLE 0.15, AME-AME 0.19, PME-PME 0.45. Chelicerae: length 3.98, width 2.48; with dark retrodorsal bristles, rastellum with numerous rough bristles. Cheliceral furrow with an irregular line of 8 (5-1-2) promarginal teeth and 6 mesobasal denticles (fig. 10D). Labium: length 0.41, width 1.11. Palpal endites: length 2.36, width 1.01, with 38 cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face curved, soft area large, with long uniformly distributed hairs. Sternum (fig. 10B): length 3.14, maximum width 2.47. Abdomen (fig. 10C): length 6.77, with small hairs and bristles covering. PMS: length 0.61; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 0.83:0.46:0.59; total length 1.87. Lengths of legs and palp: I: 4.27, 2.73, 2.82, 2.56, 1.88, 14.26. II: 3.95, 2.59, 2.52, 2.47, 1.89, 13.42. III: 3.41, 2.05, 1.90, 3.10, 2.05, 12.49. IV: 4.40, 2.25, 3.25, 4.05, 2.20 16.15. Palp: 3.06, 1.72, 1.89, —, 1.87, 8.54. Chaetotaxy: Leg I: femur, 1 PA, 1-1-1-1-1-1 d; patella, 0; tibia, 1 P, 1-1 V; metatarsus, 1-0-1:2-0-1 V; tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1 PA; patella, 1 PA; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-2 V (1:2 A); metatarsus, 1-2-0-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1-1-1-1 d, 1 R A; patella, 1-1 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1 D, 1 R, 1-3 V (1:2 A); metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1 D-P (1:2 A), 1-1-1 D-R, 2-2-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1-1-1-1 d; patella, 0; tibia, 1-1 R, 1-2-2 V; metatarsus, 1-1 P, 1 D-P (A), 1-1-1 D-R, 2-1-2-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp: femur, 1 P A; patella, 1 P; tibia, 2-2 P, 1-1-4 V; tarsus, 2 VB. Spermathecae: short and separated (fig. 10E). Scopulae: Metatarsi: I–II, dense, uniformly distributed; III, sparse 3/4 A (only P), segment with a band of ventral thick bristles; IV, sparse A (only P). Tarsi: I–II, dense, uniformly distributed; III, sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by a narrow band of bristles; IV sparse, uniformly distributed and divided by a very wide band of setae and a line of bristles posterior to the central band. Trichobothria: Tibiae: palp 9-10; I 9-9; II 8-9; III 10-9; IV 11-10. Metatarsi: I (5)1(1)1(0)1(2)2(3)1; II (5)1(1)1(1)1(2)1(4)1; III (4)1(0)1(2)1(2)1(4)1; IV (4)1(0)1(1)1(2)1(3)1(3)1. Tarsi: palp 18; I 25; II 24; III 22; IV 24. Color in alcohol: Overall yellowish (chelicerae darker). Abdomen dark brown (fig. 10C), mottled by pallid spots (ventrally lighter), spinnerets like abdomen.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED: South Africa: Western Cape Province: Cederberg, CWA, Sneeukop (CIB 13.3) (32°20.83′S 19°10.31′E, 1531 m), October 1, 2009, E. Nortle and S. Kritzinger-Klopper, 13 (NCA 2012 /2281); (32°20.93′S 19°10.14′E, 1597 m), 13 (NCA 2012 /2269); October, 2004, 13 (NCA 2012 /2283); October, 2008, 13 (NCA 2011 /2763); October, 2005, 13 (NCA 2012 /5074); October 10, 2006, 13 (NCA 2012 /2266); (32°20.94′S 19°10.24′E, 1570 m), October, 2005, 13 (NCA 2012 /5081); October 10, 2009, 13 (NCA 2012 /2279); October, 2004, 13 (NCA 2012 /2282); 13 (NCA 2012 /2278); 13 (NCA 2012 /2271); October, 2007, 13 (NCA 2012 /2270); 13 (NCA 2012 /2267); October 1, 2009, 13 (NCA 2012 /2277); (32°21′S 19°09′E, 1843 m), 1♀ (NCA 2012 /5083); (1597 m) October 10, 2006, 13 (NCA 2011 /1034) and 13 (NCA 2012 /2268); (32°21′S 19°0′E, 1527 m), October 10, 2004, 13 (NCA 2012 /1029); October 10, 2006, 13 (NCA 2011 /1028); (32°21′S 19°10′E, 1597 m), October 1, 2006, 13 (NCA 2011 /1032); (1830 m), October 1, 2008, 13 (NCA 2011 /1035) and 13 (NCA 2011 /1037); (1605 m), March 1, 2010, 13 (NCA 2012 /5075); October 1, 2007, 13 (NCA 2011 /1033); (32°21′0.33″S 19°10′11.90″E, 1570 m), March 1, 2006, 1♀ (NCA 2011 /1039); (32°21′16.00″S 19°9′39.00″E, 1597 m), March 1, 2009, 1♀ (NCA 2012 /2280); March 1, 2008, 1♀. (NCA 2001 /1038); (32°21.22′S 19°10.06′E, 1669 m), March 1, 2009, 13 (NCA 2012 /2292); (1615 m), October, 2005, 13 (NCA 2012 /5080); March 1, 2009, 13 (NCA 2012 /2293) and 13 (NCA 2012 /2291); (32°21.22′S 19°09.77′E, 1881 m), March 1, 2010, 13 (NCA 2012 /5084); March, 2007, 13 (NCA 2012 /2239); (32°21.30′S 19°09.69′E, 1919 m), March, 2006, 13 (NCA 2012 /2284); October 1, 2010, 13 (NCA 2012 /5086); (32°21.32′S 19°09.14′E, 1605 m), October, 2006, 13 (NCA 2012 /2249); (32°21.33′S 19°09.92′E, 1843 m), March 1, 2010, 13 (NCA 2012 /5082); October 1, 2010, 13 (NCA 2012 /5073, CCDB-18966); March, 2007, 13 (NCA 2012 /2240); (32°21.37′S 19°09.86′E, 1830 m), October 1, 2010, 13 (NCA 2012 /5072); March, 2004, 13 (NCA 2012 /2241); October 1, 2010, 13 (NCA 2012 /5085); March, 2006, 13 (NCA 2012 /2697); March, 2004, 13 (NCA 2012 /2236); March, 2007, 13 (NCA 2012 /22825); March 1, 2010, 13 (NCA 2012 /5087, CCDB-18966); March, 2006, 13 (NCA 2012 /2235); March, 07, 13 (NCA 2012 /2287) and 13 (NCA 2012 /2289); March, 2004, 13 (NCA 2012 /2238); March, 2007, 13 (NCA 2012 /2290); March, 2008, 13 (NCA 2012 /2288) and 13 (NCA 2012 /2286); (32°23.33′S 19°08.96′E, 1562 m), March, 2008, 13 (NCA 2012 /2244); (32°25′S 19°9′E, 930 m), October 10, 2006, 13 (NCA 2011 /1031); (32°27.64′S 19°14.37′E, 1152 m), October, 2006, 13 (NCA 2012 /2250); Niewoudt’s Pass (32°20.96′S 19°00.42′E, 527 m), October, 2007, 13 (NCA 2012 /2246) and 13 (NCA 2012 /2247). Sneeukop, Crystal Pools-Wupperthal (32°20.75′S 19°08.33′E, 1286 m), March, 1, 2009, 1♀ (NCA 2012 /5078); (32°19.95′S 19°08.54′E, 1135 m), October, 2004, 13 (NCA 2012 /2272) and 13 (NCA 2012 /2265); October 2005, 13 (NCA 2012 /5077) and 13 (NCA 2012 /5076); October, 2006, 13 (NCA 2012 /2274); iii.2004, 13 (NCA 2012 /2275); October 1, 2009, 13 (NCA 2012 /2273); (32°19.84′S 19°08.53′E, 1125 m), march, 2004, 13 (NCA 2012 /2276); October, 13 (NCA 2011 /1103); (32°19.93′S 19°08.46′E, 1133 m), October, 2005, 13 (NCA 2012 /5079); Driehoek (32°25.38′S 19°09.69′E, 924 m), October, 2008, E. Nortle and S. Kritzinger-Klopper, 13 (NCA 2012 /2255) and 13 (NCA 2012 /2253); October, 2007, 13 (NCA 2012 /2254); (32°25.31′S 19°09.66′E, 930 m), October, 2007, 13 (NCA 2012 /2252) and 13 (NCA 2012 /2251).

DISTRIBUTION: South Africa: Western Cape Province: Currently known only from the central Cederberg mountains.