Hermacha tuckeri Raven, 1985

Figures 1F, 2I, 4Q–T, 17A–F, 18A–E, 19A–E

Hermacha purcelli Tucker, 1917: 114, fig. 8.

Hermacha tuckeri Raven, 1985: 161 (replacement name for H. purcelli Tucker, 1917, preoccupied by Damarchodes purcelli Simon, 1903a).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: HOLOTYPE: South Africa: Western Cape Province: Ashton, Robertson Div. [33°50′S 20°3′E], July, 1914, Walter and Purcell, W. F, 23 (SAM-ENW-B002670, examined). PARATYPE: Same data as for holotype, November, 1902, Purcell, W. F, 1♀ (SAM-ENW-B0012395).

DIAGNOSIS: Males can be diagnosed by the embolus with two apical flanges (dorsal and ventral, figs. 4R, 18E) and by the low number of spines on the palp tibia (fig. 18A, B). They differ from H. sericea by the shorter copulatory bulb (Rlw ~2.4; figs. 4Q, R; 18D, E). Females can be distinguished by the spermathecae (fig. 19E), which are longer than H. montana and with a more rounded apex than H. nigrispinosa. Females also differ from those of H. sericea by their curved spermathecae with a wide base (fig. 19E).

DESCRIPTION: MALE HOLOTYPE (SAM-ENW-B002670, figs. 2I, 4Q–T, 18A–F, 19A–E): Total length: 14.96. Carapace (fig. 17A): length 7.05, width 4.77, with lateral dark marginal bristles, and sparse pubescence. Cephalic region: length 4.28; clypeus almost absent, without bristles marginally, some bristles anterior and posterior of the OQ. Fovea: width 0.54, procurved. Ocular measurements: AME 0.19, ALE 0.32, PME 0.20, PLE 0.29, OQ length 0.64, 1.17 width; AME-ALE 0.13, PME-PLE 0.04, AME-PME 0.13, ALE-PLE 0.11, AME-AME 0.13, PME-PME 0.49. Chelicerae (fig. 17D): length 3.63, width 2.13, with dark retrodorsal bristles, rastellum formed by many strong setae; intercheliceral tumescence small, pallid with setae. Cheliceral furrow with an irregular line of 7 (4-1-2) promarginal teeth and 1 mesobasal denticle. Labium: length 0.38, width 0.96. Palpal endites: length 2.16, width 0.96, with 40 cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face almost straight, soft area long, with long uniformly distributed hairs. Sternum (fig. 17B): length 3.70, maximum width 2.63. Abdomen (fig. 17C): length 6.35, covered with small hairs and dark bristles. PMS: length 0.69; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 1.12:0.57:0.90; total length 2.59. Lengths of legs and palp: I: 5.06, 3.10, 3.52, 3.64, 2.08, 17.39. II: 4.84, 2.74, 3.38, 3.57, 2.31, 16.84. III: 4.28, 2.27, 2.65, 4.16, 2.43, 15.79. IV: 5.41, 2.69, 4.07, 5.42, 2.54, 20.13. Palp: 2.92, 1.77, 2.14, —, 1.33, 8.16. Chaetotaxy: Leg I: femur, 1 PA, 1-1-1-1 D, 1-1 RA; patella, 1-1 P; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-4 V, and a strong apical spine (ventral posterior, figs. 4T, 17E, F); metatarsus, 1 V (1:2 B), curved (figs. 2I); tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1-1 P A, 1-1 D B, 1-1-1 R; patella, 1-1 P; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-2-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1 P (1:2 B), 1-2-0-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1-1 P A, 1 D B, 1-1 R A; patella, 1-1 P, 1 R; tibia, 1-1 P, 1 D A, 1-1 R, 1-1-3 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1 D-R, 1-1-1-1-3 V; tarsus, 0. Leg IV: femur, 1 PA, 1-1-1-1 D, 1-1 RA; patella, 1 R; tibia, 1-1-1 P, 1-1 R, 2-2-2 V; metatarsus, 1-1-1-1 P, 1-1-1 D-P, 1-1-1 D-R, 2-1-2-3 V; tarsus, 1 P A/0. Palp (figs. 4S, 18A–C): femur, 1 PA, 1 RA; patella, 1-1 P; tibia, 2-2 P, 1-2 R, 1 V; tarsus (figs. 4S, 18C), 2 A (with numerous small rigid bristles). Copulatory bulb: slightly curved (length 2.13, width 0.90, Rlw 2.4), with a little dorsal and ventral flanges on the apex (figs. 4Q, R, 18D, E). Scopulae: Metatarsi: I, dense (1:2 A); II, dense (3:4 A); III, sparse apical (prolateral); IV, only some apical bristles. Tarsi: I–II, dense, uniformly distributed throughout the segment; III–IV, sparse, uniformly distributed (III, divided by a narrow band and IV divided by a wide band of setae). Trichobothria: Tibiae: I 11-10; II–IV 11-11. Metatarsi: I 1(6)1(4)2(3)1(1)1(3)1(4); II 1(4)1(5)2(4)1(1)1(6); III 1(5)1(4)1(2)1(1)1(6); IV 1(6)1(2)1(1)1(4). Tarsi: I 28; II 30; III 27; IV 26. Color in alcohol: Overall reddish brown (chelicerae darker). All tarsi pallid ventrally. Abdomen brown, mottled with light spots (fig. 17C); spinnerets like abdomen.

FEMALE PARATYPE (SAM-ENW-B002583, figs. 1F, 19A–E): Total length: 19.73. Carapace (fig. 19A): length 6.25, width 4.67. Cephalic region: length 3.99, clypeus small (almost absent) with 6 marginal bristles; numerous bristles in front and posterior of the OQ. Fovea: width 0.63, slightly procurved. Ocular measurements: AME 0.15, ALE 0.36, PME 0.20, PLE 0.28, OQ length 0.71, width 1.17; AME-ALE 0.14, PME-PLE 0.05, AME-PME 0.14, ALE-PLE 0.14, AME-AME 0.22, PME-PME 0.49. Chelicerae (fig. 19D): length 4.10, width 2.61; with rerodorsal dark bristles, rastellum with numerous rough bristles. Cheliceral furrow with an irregular line of 8 (5-1-2) promarginal teeth and 1 mesobasal denticle. Labium: length 0.54, width 1.11. Palpal endites: length 2.16, width 1.17, with 35 cuspules on inner corner, prolateral face curved, soft area long, with long uniformly distributed hairs. Sternum (fig. 19B): length 3.65, maximum width 2.98, last posterior sigilla small, separated from the edge. Abdomen (fig. 19C): length 8.53, covered by small setae. PMS: length 0.89; PLS: length of basal:medial:apical segments 1.40:0.92:0.93; total length 3.25. Lengths of legs and palp: I: 4.33, 2.74, 2.74, 2.52, 1.78, 14.11. II: 3.59, 2.66, 2.51, 2.38, 1.87, 13.37. III: 3.56, 2.12, 1.77, 2.81, 2.04, 12.30. IV: 4.57, 2.57, 3.21, 4.04, 2.10, 16.59. Palp: 3.22, 1.78, 1.73, —, 1.98, 8.71. Chaetotaxy: Leg I: femur, 1 PA, 1-1-1-1 d; patella, 0; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-2 V (1:2 A); metatarsus, 2-1-0-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg II: femur, 1 PA, 1-1-1-1 d; patella, 1 PA; tibia, 1-1 P, 1-2 V; metatarsus, 1-2-2 V; tarsus, 0. Leg III: femur, 1 PA, 1-1-1-1 d, 1-1 RA, and a PA patch of small setae; patella, 1-1 P, 1 R, with D-P patch of small setae; tibia, 1-1 P, 1 D (1:2 A), 1-1 R, 2 V 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, with a PA patch of small setae; patella, 0, with D-P patch of small setae; tibia, 1-1 R, 1-1 V POST; metatarsus, 1-1 P (1:2 A), 1 D-P (A), 1-1-1 D-R, 2-1-1-2-3 V; tarsus, 0. Palp: femur, 1 PA; patella, 1-1 P; tibia, 2 P, 1-1-4 V; tarsus, 2 VB. Spermathecae: curved inward, wide base and rounded apex (fig. 19D). Scopulae: Metatarsi: I, dense and uniformly distributed; II, dense, uniformly distributed and divided by setae; III, sparse (1:4 A, prolateral); IV, only some prolateral apical setae. Tarsi: I, dense, uniformly distributed; II, dense, uniformly distributed, divided (1:2 B) by setae; III–IV, sparse, uniformly distributed; III divided by a wide band and IV by a wider band of setae, presence of line of setae on both sides of the central wide band. Trichobothria: Tibiae: palp 10-10; I 12-12; II 11-11; III 10-10; IV 11-11. Metatarsi: I 1(3)2(1)1(3)1(1)1(4); II 1(1)2(3)2(3)1(7); III 1(1)2(5)1(0)1(1)1(1)1(4); IV 1(3)1(1)2(2)1(2)1(0)1(6). Tarsi: palp 23; I 30; II 26; III 28; IV 28. Color in alcohol: Overall reddish yellow (chelicerae darker), legs with metatarsi-tarsi lighter. Abdomen mottled with light spots (fig. 19C); spinnerets yellowish.

ECOLOGY: Specimens from Bonnievale were collected from Y shaped burrows on a flat, partially vegetated area with sandy clay soil. One of the arms of the Y opens to the surface, while the other ends just below the soil surface. When the spiders are disturbed in the burrow, in this case by inserting a piece of grass into it, they retreat to the blind arm of the Y. This made collecting them quite easy, as the blind arm could be opened by scraping away the soil above it before inserting grass into the burrow. Thus, when the grass was inserted, the spiders rapidly exited that arm onto the soil surface. Burrows were relatively common at this site.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED: South Africa: Western Cape Province: About 15 km NW Worcester [33°34′S 19°16′E], October 12, 1975, M. Stiller, 1♀ (NCA 83 /218); same locality, 1♀ (NCA 83 /230); Witteberg Nature Reserve (33°21.52′S 20°30.07′E, 890 m), September 11–October 19, 2015, Z. Mbo, 33 (NCA 2016 /2597). Anysberg Nature Reserve (33°27.23′S 20°34.76′E, 745 m), September 8– October 8, 2015), Z. Mbo, 13 (NCA 2016 /2480). Swellendam District; ca. 1 km N of Bonnievale, W side of tar road (33°54′58.32″S 20° 6′10.33″E), September 12, 2012, I. Engelbrecht, 3♀ (NCA 2018 /338).

DISTRIBUTION: South Africa: Western Cape Province: It appears that this species occurs in the western parts of the Little Karoo.