Smeringopus katanga new species

Figs. 568, 578–579, 598–599, 650–654

Type. Male holotype from Congo D.R., Haut-Katanga Province, Lubumbashi [11°40’S, 27°29’E], iv.–v.1966 (J. Godeaux), in MRAC (131511 part).

Etymology. The name is a noun in apposition, derived from the type locality.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners by tip of procursus (two distal apophyses and membranous elements; Figs. 650–652), shape of embolus (Fig. 653; similar S. peregrinus and S. butare); from S. peregrinoides also by longer and more downward directed cheliceral apophyses (similar S. peregrinus; cf. Figs. 614, 615) and absence of v-shaped or u-shaped structure frontally in female internal genitalia (Fig. 598).

Male (holotype). Total body length 5.6, carapace width ~2.0 (deformed). Leg 1: 48.8 (12.3 + 0.8 + 12.0 + 21.2 + 2.5), tibia 2: 8.5, tibia 3: 6.3, tibia 4: 8.7; tibia 1 L/d: 59. Habitus as in Fig. 568. Carapace ochre-yellow with brown median and lateral marks, clypeus with pair of dark stripes, sternum brown with light marks near bases of coxae 2–4 and medially, legs light brown, femora and tibiae with lighter tips and subdistal dark rings, abdomen ochre-gray with distinct dorsal and ventral pattern. Distance PME-PME 175 µm, diameter PME 175 µm, distance PME-ALE 70 µm, distance AME-AME 45 µm, diameter AME 160 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae as in S. peregrinus (cf. Figs. 614, 615), with one pair of distal apophyses. Palps as in Figs. 578 and 579, coxa with distinct retrolateral apophysis and shallow wide furrow, trochanter barely modified, femur with retrolateral furrow with distinct rim proximally, procursus with distinctive pair of distal sclerites (Figs. 650–652), bulb with distinctively shaped prolateral process on embolus (similar S. peregrinus and S. butare but different in prolateral view; Fig. 653). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs on metatarsi 1, retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 3%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1. Gonopore with two epiandrous spigots.

Variation. Tibia 1 in 3 other males: 11.3, 11.6, 13.2.

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 5 females: 11.3–12.7 (mean 12.0). Epigynum a simple plate with large pockets, distance between pockets slightly more than diameter of pocket (Fig. 598); internal genitalia as in Figs. 599 and 654.

Distribution. Known from three localities in south-eastern Congo D.R. (Fig. 608).

Material examined. CONGO D.R.: Haut-Katanga Prov.: Lubumbashi: 1♂ type above; same data, 1♂ 2♀ in MRAC (131511 part). Terr. de Jadotville [=Likasi, ~ 11°S, 26.7°E], “colline témoin de Menda”, x.1956 (Z. Bacq, N. Leleup), 1♂ in MRAC (90481); same data but “colline de Kasompi W”, 3♀ (2 vials) in MRAC (90897, 90990–91). Lualaba Prov.: Kolwezi [~ 10°43’S, 25°28’E], “Katebe”, 25.x.1981 (K. Martens), 2♂ 1 juv. in MRAC (159750).