Hexophthalma spatulata

Hexophthalma spatulata (Pocock, 1900)

Figs 16, 22–23, 25

Sicarius spatulatus Pocock, 1900: 321.

Sicarius spatulatus – Newlands 1986: 56. — Lotz 2012: 10.

Hexophthalma spatulata – Magalhaes et al. 2017: 853, figs 6A–D, 12C, 14D, 18H, 19D, 20E–F, 22A–E, 23D–F, 31H.

Diagnosis

Leg femora in both sexes with scoop-shaped enlarged dorsal setae (Fig. 23), differing from the setae of all other species. Female inner spermathecae consist of a broad chamber, extending anteriorly in numerous tubes, each ending in one or more spherical vesicles (Fig. 16), differing from all other species,where the inner spermathecae are finger-like sacs. Male embolus ending in a broad, blunt triangular apex (Fig. 22), whereas the embolus of all the other species have thin apices.

Material examined

SOUTH AFRICA – Eastern Cape Province: 5 ♂♂, 1 ♀, 2 imm., Alicedale [33°18′ S, 26°05′ E], Dec. 1914, F. Cruden leg. (AMSA); 1 ♀, same data as for preceding (AMSA 2525). – Western Cape Province: 1 ♂, Borrelfontein, 8 km W of Gouritz River mouth, 34°20′ S, 21°51′ E, 4 Mar. 2007, H. Leibel leg. (PPRI 2008/745); 1 ♂, same data as for preceding but Nov. 2007 – May 2008 (PPRI 2009/5601); 1 ♂, Bredasdorp [34°32′ S, 20°03′ E] (SAMC B7435); 4 ♀♀, Calidon [34°14′ S, 19°26′ E] (SAMC 8348); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 2 imm., same data as preceding but W.F. Purcell leg. (SAMC B363); 1 ♂, 2 ♀♀, 1 imm., Hermanus [34°25′ S, 19°13′ E], (SAMC 11632, B8482); 2 ♂♂, 2 ♀♀, 5 imm., Houwhoek, 3419Aa (SAMC 8327); 1 ♂, Kammanasie Nature Reserve, 33°39′ S, 22°44′ E, 31 Jul. 2003, Reserve Staff leg. (PPRI 2010/2403); 1 ♀, Piquetberg, 3218Dd (SAMC B8490); 1 ♀, Swellendam, Tradows Pass [33°58′ S, 20°42′ E] (SAMC B6767).

Natural history

Hexophthalma spatulata have been collected in a Fynbos biome.

Distribution

Hexophthalma spatulata is distributed along the southern coastal areas of South Africa (Fig. 25).