Cheiramiona lajuma Lotz, 2002

Figs 40 – 42, 99

Cheiramiona lajuma Lotz, 2002: 67, figs 108–111. Holotype ♂, South Africa: Limpopo, Lajuma, 30 km E of Vivo, 23°02'S 29°27’E, 29.VI.1997, M. van der Merwe leg. (NCAP 98/31) (Examined by Lotz 2002).

Material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo: 2♀, Entabeni Nature Reserve, 24°08'S 28°26’E, 2 & 11.II.2008, S.H. Foord leg. (NCAP 2014/3151); 3♀, Soutpansberg, Lajuma, 23°02'S 29°27’E, 6.II.2008, R. Lyle & R. Fourie leg. (NMBA 11438).

Diagnosis. Females of Cheiramiona lajuma are similar to those of C. amarifontis Lotz, 2002 and C. mlawula Lotz, 2002 in the copulatory tubes entering the SPER antero-medially, but are differentiated by the copulatory openings being next to each other (Figs 41–42, 62–63, see Lotz 2002: figs 8–9). Males of C. lajuma are similar to those of C. debeeri sp. nov. in the general shape of EM and TA, but are differentiated by the shape of the RTA, which has a rounded apex as opposed to a pointed apex (Figs 8–9, see Lotz 2002: figs 110–111).

Description. Female (n = 5): TL = 5.14 (4.7–5.7); CL = 2.02 (1.8–2.2); CW = 1.48 (1.4–1.6); OAL = 0.30 (0.3–0.3); OAW = 0.92 (0.9–1.0); CLL = 0.06 (0.05–0.08). Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; PMT:RMT = 6:6 (Fig. 40). Measurements: AME–AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.15; AME diameter 0.15; PME–PME 0.15; PME–PLE 0.15; PME diameter 0.15; MOQAW 0.40; MOQPW 0.45; CI (CL/CW) 1.38; LL:CL 4.82; STL 1.2; STW 1.1. Leg measurements: I—2.8+0.9+2.7+2.8+1.4 = 10.6; 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—2.0+0.7+1.7+1.9+0.6 = 6.9; Palp—0.8+0.3+0.5+0.7 = 2.3. Leg spines: I—0, 0- 2 v-0, 2v- 0- 1 v; II—0, 0, 1v- 0- 1 v; III—0, 0, 0-1p1r-3 v1 p1r; IV—0, 0-0-1r, 2v-1 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen: similar to male. Epigynum (Figs 41– 42): wider than long, with small, median posterior, depression; copulatory openings next to each other in depression; internally, short copulatory ducts proceed anterior-laterally before ending in anterior-lateral edge of SPER; fertilization tubes enter SPER posterior-medially. Male: described by Lotz (2002).

Distribution. Widely distributed throughout South Africa along the southern and eastern regions up into the northern part (Fig. 99).

Habitat. Collected from pit traps, leaf litter in Afromontane forest, sweeping grass and a cave in Table Mountain.