Spermophora kyambura Bernhard A. Huber & Charles M. Warui 2012, sp. nov.

Spermophora kyambura sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:62CDAD37-6334-4C5F-AE18-EAF1F8F21D8F

Figs 57-58, 69, 107-110

Spermophora Uga 31: Dimitrov, Astrin & Huber 2012 (DNA sequence data).

Spermophora Cam 64: Dimitrov, Astrin & Huber 2012 (DNA sequence data).

Diagnosis

Tiny monochromous species, distinguished from superficially similar African species (Nyikoa limbe Huber, 2007, some ‘ Spermophora ’ and Quamtana species) by shape of simple short procursus (Fig. 108), simple bulbal apophysis and embolus with slightly sclerotized distal projection (Fig. 107), by shape of male cheliceral apophyses (provided with one modified hair each; Fig. 109), and by sac-like internal structure frontally in female genitalia (Figs 69, 110; usually visible through cuticle).

Etymology

The species name is derived from the type locality; noun in apposition.

Type material Holotype

♂, in ZFMK (Ar 8764).

Paratypes

4 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀, in ZFMK (Ar 8765).

Type locality

UGANDA, Bushenyi District, Kyambura River Gorge (~ 0°10.7’S, 30°05.8’E), 900 m a.s.l., 29 Nov. 2010 (B.A. Huber).

Other material examined

UGANDA: Western Region: 1 ♂, 1 ♀ in pure ethanol, in ZFMK (Uga 140), Bushenyi District, Kyambura River Gorge, same data as types above. CAMEROON: South Region: 6 ♂♂, 11 ♀♀, 1 juv., in ZFMK (Ar 8766), near Ebolowa (2°54.9’N, 11°08.3’E), 620 m a.s.l., underside of banana leaves, 11-12 Apr. 2009 (B.A. & J.C. Huber); 3 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀, 2 juvs. in pure ethanol, in ZFMK (Cam 102), same data. CONGO D.R.: Congo Centrale Province: 25 ♂♂, 13 ♀♀, in MRAC (separated from 219850-852, 219854-855, 224313-315), Mayombe, Luki Forest Reserve [5°37.5’S, 13°06.0’E], fogging in primary rainforest, 4-5, 7, 12-13 Nov. 2006, 27-29 Sep. 2007 (8 vials) (D. de Bakker, Michiels); 6 ♂♂, 10 ♀♀, in MRAC (separated from 224303, 309), same data but fogging in old secondary rainforest, 17 & 23 Sep. 2007. Mongala Province: 5 ♂♂, 16 ♀♀ (3 vials), in MRAC, Mbangi (2°07’N, 21°44’E), fogging, 23-24 Jun. 2009 (D. de Bakker). Tshopo Province: 28 ♂♂, 57 ♀♀ (4 vials), in MRAC, Monzé (Engengele), old secondary forest, periodically inundated (2°02’N, 22°44’E), fogging, 29-30 Jun. 2009 (D. de Bakker); 22 ♂♂, 35 ♀♀ (2 vials), in MRAC, Basoko (Bokungu), old palm plantation, 60 years old (1°14’N, 23°36’E), fogging, 7 Mar. 2009 (D. de Bakker).

Material assigned tentatively

GHANA: Central Region: 24 ♂♂, 32 ♀♀ (7 vials), in MRAC (217692, 95, 217705, 15, 20, 24, 29), Kakum forest (5°20’N, 1°23’W), fogging in primary and secondary forest, 14-19 & 25 Nov. 2005 (R. Jocqué, D. de Bakker, L. Baert).

Description

Male (holotype)

MEASUREMENTS. Total body length 1.35, carapace width 1.0. Leg 1: 7.8 (2.0 + 0.2 + 2.1 + 2.6 + 0.9), tibia 2: 1.4, tibia 3: 0.9, tibia 4: 1.2; tibia 1 L/d: 43. Distance PME-PME 90 µm, diameter PME 70 µm, distance PME-ALE 10 µm, no AME.

COLOR. Prosoma monochromous pale ochre-yellow, legs ochre yellow, without darker rings, abdomen monochromous pale grey.

BODY. Habitus as in Figs 57 and 58; ocular area barely elevated, carapace without thoracic furrow; clypeus unmodified. Chelicerae as in Fig. 109, each distal frontal apophysis with one modified hair at tip. Sternum wider than long (0.65/0.55), unmodified.

PALPS. As in Figs 107 and 108, coxa with small ventral apophysis, trochanter with retrolateral apophysis (slightly longer than appears in Fig. 108), procursus very simple, without hinged process, without ventral flap; bulb with large proximal sclerite, small rectangular apophysis, embolus with slightly sclerotized distal projection.

LEGS. Without spines and curved hairs, few vertical hairs; retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 21%; prolateral trichobothrium absent on tibia 1, present on other tibiae; tarsus 1 with ~20 pseudosegments, distinct distally.

VARIATION. Tibia 1 in 22 other males from Uganda, Congo DR and Cameroon: 2.3-2.6 (mean 2.4). Males from Ghana seem to have indistinguishable palps but slightly longer and more widely spaced cheliceral apophyses and slightly shorter legs: tibia 1 in 21 males from Ghana: 2.0-2.3 (mean 2.1); they are therefore assigned tentatively.

Female

In general similar to male. Tibia 1 in 34 females from Uganda, Congo DR and Cameroon: 1.6-2.0 (mean 1.8). Epigynum extremely simple, no external modification visible in dissecting microscope; only internal frontal sac-like structure visible through cuticle; pair of pockets only visible in compound microscope (Fig. 110). In females from Ghana, these pockets are barely visible and slightly wider apart; tibia 1 in 20 females from Ghana: 1.4-1.6 (mean 1.55).

Distribution

Widely distributed in tropical Africa (Uganda, Congo DR, Cameroon; possibly also Ghana). Figure 27 shows the only record from East Africa.