Cheiramiona mlawula Lotz, 2002

Figs 61 – 63, 100

Cheiramiona mlawula Lotz, 2002: 70, figs 120–123. Holotype ♂, Swaziland: Mlawula Nature Reserve, NE Swaziland, top of Lubombo Mountains, 26°12'S, 32°01'E, 17.XI.1989, R. Harris leg. (NCAP 90/82) (examined by Lotz 2002).

Material examined. 2♀, 1♂ SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo, Soutpansberg, Lajuma, 23°02'S 29°27’E, 6.II.2008, R. Lyle & R. Fourie leg. (NMBA 11437).

Diagnosis. Females of Cheiramiona mlawula are similar to C. amarifontisi and C. lajuma in the copulatory tubes entering the SPER antero-medially, but are differentiated from C. lajuma by the copulatory openings being clearly separated and from C. amarifontis by the copulatory ducts being thicker (Figs 41–42, 62–63, see Lotz 2002: figs 8–9). Males are unique by the very small TA (see Lotz 2002: fig. 122).

Description. Female (n = 2): TL = 5.25 (5.1–5.4); CL = 2.05 (2.0–2.1); CW = 1.58 (1.50–1.65); OAL = 0.30 (0.3–0.3); OAW = 0.90 (0.9–0.9); CLL = 0.05 (0.05–0.05). Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; PMT:RMT = 5:7 (Fig. 61). Measurements: AME–AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.15; AME diameter 0.10; PME–PME 0.20; PME–PLE 0.20; PME diameter 0.10; MOQAW 0.30; MOQPW 0.40; CI (CL/CW) 1.27; LL:CL 5.14; STL 1.0; STW 1.0. Leg measurements: I—2.9+0.8+2.8+2.9+1.4 = 10.8; II—1.6+0.7+1.3+1.5+0.6 = 5.7; III—1.2+0.6+0.9+1.2+0.5 = 4.4; IV - 1.8+0.7+1.5+1.8+0.6 = 6.4; Palp—0.8+0.3+0.5+0.8 = 2.4. Leg spines: I—0, 0-1p-0, 2v- 2v-1v; II—0, 0, 0-0- 1 v; III—0, 0, 0-1p1r-3 v1 p1r; IV—0, 0, 0-1r-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen: similar to male, but slightly lighter in colour. Epigynum (Figs 62–63): wider than long, with small, transverse, oblong posterior, median depression; copulatory openings in lateral sides of depression; internally, short copulatory ducts proceed anteriorly before ending in anterior-median edge of SPER; fertilization tubes enter SPER posterior-medially. Male: described by Lotz (2002).

Distribution. Widely distributed in north-eastern South Africa (Fig. 100).

Habitat. Collected by sweeping grass and beating low forest vegetation.