Stasimopus venterstadensis Brandt & Sole & Lyle 2023, sp. nov.

Stasimopus venterstadensis sp. nov.

(Figures 2J, 7C, 18, 22G & H, 37, 38, 39)

Type material: Holotype ♀ SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province, Venterstad (-30.9077, 25.7738), 12.v.2018, S. Brandt, C. Sole, E. Engelbrecht and E. Brand, (NCA 2019/610). Paratypes: Same data, 12.v.2018, 2♀♀ (NCA 2019/608, NCA 2019/609).

Etymology: The species is named after the type locality, Venterstad, on the Eastern Cape province in South Africa.

Diagnosis: The females of S. venterstadensis sp. nov. are distinguishable from other members of the genus occurring in the Karoo based on the following combination of characters. It is differentiated from S. astutus, S. leipoldti, S. maraisi, S. patersonae, S. schrieneri, S. theaei sp. nov., S. ignis sp. nov. and S. teras sp. nov. by the presence of an apical tuft being present on metatarsus III. This species is distinguishable from the other species based on the number of spines in the preening comb on metatarsus IV, S. unispinosus having less than 3, whereas, S. schonlandi, S. artifex and S. spinosus all have more than 6.

Description: Based on the holotype ♀ (NCA 2019/610) and the paratypes 2♀ (NCA 2019/608, NCA 2019/609).

Remarks: Ô: Known only from females. General: ♀: (Fig 7C) Large bodied spiders, ranging between 18.48– 25.32 (18.48) total length.

Carapace: ♀: Carapace length 8.98–11.12 (8.98); width 7.52–10.40 (7.52). Dark reddish orange colouration. Smooth texture, with pleats in thoracic region. Fovea strongly procurved, between 1.63–1.94 (1.63) in length.

Ocelli: ♀: (Fig 2J, 18) AME diameter 0.28–0.34 (0.28), PME diameter 0.30–0.38 (0.30), MOQ anterior width 2.04–2.64 (2.04), MOQ posterior width 3.26–4.17 (3.26);AME-AME 0.56, AME-ALE 0.30, ALE-ALE 1.81, PME-PME 1.83, PME-PLE 0.38, PLE-PLE 3.19. AER and PER almost straight.

Chelicerae: ♀: (Fig 37C) Two teeth rows present, 6 teeth in proventral row, 6 teeth in retroventral row; 29–31 cuspules in between.

Sternum, labium and maxillae: ♀: (Fig 37A) Sternum length 5.00–5.88 (5.00); sternum width 4.47–6.14 (4.47). Longitudinally elongated sigilla, distal end 0.64–0.72 (0.67) apart, proximal end 1.61–1.87 (1.80) apart; labium (Fig 37B) 12–16 cuspules present; maxillae 5–7 cuspules present.

Abdomen: ♀: Abdomen length 9.50–14.20 (9.50); width 7.02–10.12 (7.02). Grey colour, with one large dark spot near the carapace followed by a smaller one towards the spinnerets.

Pedipalps: ♀: Total length 13.08; Segment lengths 4.45, 2.90, 2.69, -,3.05. Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella pl - 2–3 long thin spines. Tibia pl - 2 tibial spurs, 1 proximal and 1 distal, do - small patch spinules distally extending onto the tarsus, rl - 15–16 spinules along segment. Tarsus pl - 8–10 large spines, do - a patch of 16–18 spinules, less dense distally, extend - of segment, rl - covered in dense spines (24–27).

Legs: ♀: Length order: IV, III, I, II. I Total length 18.72; Segment lengths 5.97, 3.56, 3.81, 3.98, 1.40; Spination: spines absent on femur and patella, with sparse setae. Tibia pl - small spines extending - segment from distal end, do (Fig 38A)- distally dense patch of spines, extending segment, and continued on metatarsus, rl - spinules extending entire segment, less dense proximally. Metatarsus pl & rl - very dense spinules along entire segment, do (Fig 38A)- patch of dense spines proximally, extending approx. segment, v - scopulate. Tarsus pl & rl - very dense spinules along entire segment, v - scopulate. II Total length 16.52; Segment lengths 5.20, 3.22, 2.98, 3.61, 1.51; Spination follows that of leg I (Fig 38B). III Total length 19.35; Segment lengths 4.89, 4.52, 3.12, 4.12, 2.71; Spination: spines absent on femur and patella, with sparse setae. Tibia do (Fig 38C)- stout red spines dense distally, hidden by long setae. Metatarsus do (Fig 38C)- 2 rows of stout red spines (22–27 in each), between smaller red spinules, V - 8 spines distally (Fig 38E). Tarsus pl & rl - 10–15 stout black spines along both surfaces, denser distally, v - scopulate. IV Total length 23.03; Segment lengths 6.00, 4.66, 4.31, 5.41, 2.66; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella do - covered in red dense spinules. Tibia do - dense setae covering randomly scattered spinules. Metatarsus pl (Fig 38D)- 22 spines, v - 8 spines in a transverse row (preening comb) (Fig 38F). Tarsus pl (Fig 38D)- dense setae covering randomly scattered spinules.

Spermathecae: (Fig 22G, H) Entire, with inflated terminus directed inwards.

Distribution and environment notes: The species is found in the localities indicated in Figure 39. The species is only known from one locality near Venterstad in the Eastern Cape province. Specimen collected from a flat plain with sandy soil. The vegetation was dominated by typical Karoo shrubs and buffalo grass.