FourieRenéHaddadCharles R.JocquéRudyA revision of the purse-web spider genus Calommata Lucas, 1837 (Araneae, Atypidae) in the Afrotropical RegionZookeys45201120119512810.3897/zookeys.95.745 Calommata meridionalis urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7E2F6F05-6995-4C3B-AC59-30A0CE451914 http://species-id.net/wiki/Calommata_meridionalis Fourie, Haddad & Jocquésp. n.Figs 21320–25394356–58Type material.

Holotype male. SOUTH AFRICA: Free State Province: Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve, 28°29.888'S, 26°48.488'E, 21.IX–22.X.2005, pitfalls, unburned site 1, C. Haddad, S. Otto & R. Poller (NCA 2009/3488).

Paratypes.

SOUTH AFRICA: Free State Province: 3♂: Bloemfontein, National Botanical Gardens, 29°03.006'S, 26°12.701'E, 27.X–16.XI.2009, pitfalls, grassland, C. Haddad (NMBA 13981); 7♂: Same data, 16–21.XI.2009 (NMSA 22616); 1♂: Same locality, 21.XI–7.XII.2009, pitfalls, grassland, C. Haddad & R. Fourie (MRAC 229029); 1♂: Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve, 28°30.373'S, 26°48.437'E, 21.IX–22.X.2005, pitfalls, burned site 1, C. Haddad, S. Otto & R. Poller (NCA 2009/3663); 4♂: Same locality, 28°30.134'S, 26°48.427'E, 22.X–22.XI.2005, pitfalls, burned site 2, C. Haddad, S. Otto & R. Poller (NCA 2007/3142); 1♂: Same locality, 28°29.741'S, 26°48.065'E, 21.IX–22.X.2005, pitfalls, unburned site 3, C. Haddad, S. Otto & R. Poller (NCA 2009/3664); 1♂: Oranjeville district, Vaal Dam, 26°59.523'S, 28°15.737'E, 1–29.X.2009, pitfalls, grassland, R. Fourie & A. Grobler (NCA 2009/3539).

Other material examined.

SOUTH AFRICA: Free State Province: 1♂: Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve, 28°30.134'S, 26°48.427'E, 21.IX–22.X.2005, pitfalls, burned site 2, C. Haddad, S. Otto & R. Poller (MRAC, prepared for SEM).

Diagnosis.

The male of this species can be easily recognised from African congeners by the presence of one or two very large teeth at the fang base (Fig. 13), and the transversely orientated curved embolus with distally broadened conductor bearing a single tooth on its dorsal surface (Figs 42, 43, 57). The raised median ocular tubercle is broader than in the other species.

Left palp of male Calommata meridionalis sp. n. 56 prolateral view 57 ventral view 58 retrolateral view. Scale bars: 1mm.

Etymology.

This specific epithet is Latin for southern, referring to the distribution of the species, southernmost in the genus.

Description.

Male holotype. Measurements: CL 1.60, CW 1.25, AL 3.15, AW 1.68, TL 6.35 (5.60–7.80). Length of leg segments, and total: I 1.40 + 0.55 + 1.00 + 1.15 + 1.25 = 5.35; II 1.30 + 0.55 + 0.85 + 1.24 + 1.45 = 5.39; III 1.05 + 0.64 + 0.64 + 1.20 + 2.40 = 5.93; IV 1.45 + 0.64 + 0.75 + 1.44 + 2.90 = 7.18. Carapace index 1.28; patella-tibia index 0.97.

Carapace and chelicerae dark brown in colour (Fig. 2). Median ocular tubercle raised, darker in colour; median ocular tubercle broader than in other species. Chelicerae with single prolateral row of teeth, one very large tooth close to fang base, sometimes accompanied by second large tooth, remaining teeth distinctly smaller and subequal in size, with several denticles retrolateral of teeth row close to cheliceral base (Fig. 13). Sternum and coxae pale brown, remainder of legs brown, gradually fading to yellow at tarsi. Legs weakly covered with bristles; prolateral side of patellae, tibiae and metatarsi of legs II–IV covered with spinules. Abdomen grey-brown, with a round brown scutum anteriorly (Fig. 2). Palpal cymbium short with rounded distal margin; embolus and conductor orientated transversely across palpal axis, pointing retrolaterally; conductor broadened distally, with a single small tooth on its dorsal surface distally; embolus long, slightly curved in a S-form along its length (Figs 42, 43, 56–58).

Female. Unknown.

Distribution.

Endemic to central and northern Free State Province, South Africa (Fig. 73).

Biology.

The species was collected exclusively by pitfalls in spring and early summer (September to early December) in the Grassland Biome of South Africa. Specimens were only collected in dark vertic clay and loamy-clay soils and not from sites with sandy soils. Most of the specimens were collected from sites near to freshwater streams and dams. Despite exhaustive attempts to locate burrows in the vicinity of pitfall sites (Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve and Botanical Gardens) none could be found.

Dorsal habitus of Afrotropical Calommata species 1 Calommata megae sp. n., male (Harare, Zimbabwe) 2 Calommata meridionalis sp. n., male (Erfenis Dam, South Africa) 3 Calommata namibica sp. n., male (Etosha, Namibia) 4 Calommata simoni Pocock, female (Galim, Cameroon) 5 same, male (Dja Reserve, Cameroon) 6 Calommata tibialis sp. n., male (Bassari–Sokodé, Togo) 7 Calommata transvaalica Hewitt, female (Blouberg, South Africa) 8 same, male (Groenkloof, South Africa). Scale bars: 5mm.

Somatic morphology of Calommata tibialis sp. n., male 9, 17 Calommata simoni Pocock, female 10, 15 and male 11, 16 Calommata megae sp. n., male 12 Calommata meridionalis sp. n., male 13 Calommata namibica sp. n., male 14and Calommata transvaalica Hewitt, female 18 and male 19: 9 dorsal habitus 10, 11 lateral view of chelicera, endites and anterior of carapace 12–19 left chelicera, ventral view, indicating dentition. Scale bars: 5mm (9), 1mm (10–19).

Scanning electron micrographs of Calommata meridionalis sp. n. 20–25 Calommata simoni Pocock 26–28 and Calommata tibialis sp. n. 29–31 males 20, 29 chelicera in ventral view 21 tip of fang 22 right endite, ventral view 23, 27 tarsus and claw, leg I (note pseudosegmentation of tarsus) 24, 30 tarsus IV, lateral and ventral view (note pseudosegmentation of tarsus) 25, 28, 31 detail of ventral scopulate setae on tarsus IV 26 chelicera in prolateral view.

Scanning electron micrographs of Calommata simoni Pocock 32–38 and Calommata meridionalis sp. n. 39, 40 male spinnerets 32 spinneret field, ventral view 33 ALS 34 detail of single ALS spigot 35 PMS 36, 39 detail of PMS spigots 37, 40 PLS 38 detail of PLS spigots.

Scanning electron micrographs of Calommata meridionalis sp. n. 41–43, Calommata namibica 44–46, Calommata simoni Pocock 47–49 and Calommata tibialis sp. n. 50–52 males 41, 44, 47, 50 trichobothrial bases on palpal tarsus 42, 43, 46, 49, 52 distal end of conductor and embolus 45 palpal organ in prolateral ventral view 48, 51 palpal organ in prolateral view.

Distribution of Calommata species in the Afrotropical Region: Calommata megae (open square), Calommata meridionalis (solid squares). Calommata namibica (solid triangle), Calommata simoni (solid circles), Calommata tibialis (open triangles) and Calommata transvaalica (open circles).