Afropesa, Zonstein, 2021

Zonstein, Sergei L., 2021, Afropesa, a new spider genus from South Africa (Araneae: Entypesidae), Israel Journal of Entomology (Oxford, England) 51 (17), pp. 7-34 : 9-13

Genus Afropesa n. gen.

LSID: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:B96D8B0B-D590-49E2-981B-E133344E2B78 .

Type species: Entypesa schoutedeni Benoit, 1965 ( Figs 1–18), by present designation.

Etymology: Afropesa is a combination of the prefix Afro - (i.e.,African, in reference to the mainland Africa) and the genus name Entypesa . The gender is feminine.

Diagnosis: Males and females of Afropesa gen. n. can be distinguished from those

in other genera of the Entypesidae in having the following unique set of the dia-

gnostic characters:

(a) tibia I normal or thick ( Figs 5, 23, 24, 41, 42), generally thin and elongated in Entypesa ( Figs 54–59), normal in Hermacha and Lepthercus dregei group and incrassate in Lepthercus haddadi group);

(b) the presence of a retroventral distal megaspine on tibia I (usually on a low mound: Figs 5, 23; similar to that in Hermacha and Entypesa , cf. raised apophysis with a distal megaspine in Lepthercus ), sometimes the sessile megaspine is weakly developed ( Figs 41, 42);

(c) metatarsus I with or without a small knob ( Figs 5–7, 23, 24, 41, 42 cf. absent in Hermacha , generally with a cuticular retrolateral process, or tumescence, or unmodified in Entypesa ( Figs 54–59), with a basal prolateral tumescence in Lepthercus dregei species group, or with blunt spinules in Lepthercus haddadi group);

(d) palpal tibia with the base moderately developed ( Figs 8, 25, 43), similar to Lepthercus dregei species group, cf. strongly incrassate in Lepthercus haddadi group, mostly subcylindrical in Hermacha and Entypesa ( Figs 60–66; Dippenaar-Schoeman 2002, fig. 58h);

(e) palpal tibia with spiniform setae prolaterally (as in Figs 9, 10, similar to Lepthercus dregei group, absents in Lepthercus haddadi group, strong spines proventral and retroventral in Hermacha and Entypesa ; see Figs 60–66);

(f) cymbiUm short ( Figs 8, 11, 25, 43, similar to Lepthercus and Hermacha , cf. moderately long to elongate in Entypesa ; as in Figs 60–66) without spines (similar to Lepthercus , spines present or not in Hermacha and Entypesa ; see Figs 60–66);

(g) copUlatory bUlb with developed flanges ( Figs 8–11, 25, 27–30, 43–45 cf. small keels or absent in Entypesa (the most distributed variants as shown in Figs 60–66), Lepthercus and Hermacha );

(h) spermathecae with a wide base and elongate or globUlar distal lobes ( Figs 17, 35, 51, moderate to long stalks and small globular distal lobes in Entypesa ( Figs 67–72), small with short stalks in Lepthercus , simple without stalks in Hermacha ).

Description: Medium-sized (10–20 mm) spiders. Cephalothorax and legs covered with short bristles; cephalothorax with pubescence and disperse setae. Abdomen covered with short black hairs, dorsally and laterally with a fairly spotted pattern. Clypeus narrow. Ocular tubercle raised, darkened and well defined, wider than long. Fovea short and procurved (similar to Lepthercus , and Entypesa , procurved in Hermacha ). Rastellum absent. Serrula present, well visible (similar to Entypesa , and Lepthercus , absent in Hermacha ). Intercheliceral tumescence small and pallid (similar to Hermacha , well-marked in other genera); present in males, absent in females. Labium without cuspules, maxillae with numerous cuspules on the posterior inner surface; labiosternal sigilla fused and well defined. Sternum longer than wide, covered with sparse black hairs, with posterior sigilla marginal and fairly well defined.

Leg formula 4132; all legs sparsely covered with hairs. Tibia I of male unmodified or swollen, without spur; armed with retroventrodistal megaspine, sometimes on low mound ( Figs 5, 23, 41, 42), similar to Hermacha and Entypesa , raised apophysis with distal megaspine in Lepthercus ). Metatarsi I with or without a small knob. Cymbium short, without apical spines. Palpal tibia with the base moderately developed, with scarce spiniform setae. Scopula thin and moderately dense: entire on distal metatarsi I–II; entire on tarsus I; entire or narrowly divided on tarsus I; sparse and widely divided on tarsus III; vestigial if present on tarsus IV. Trichobothria filiform, arranged in two convex rows on tibiae and one fairly straight line on metatarsi and tarsi. Metatarsal preening combs present on legs II–IV (absent in Hermacha ). Copulatory bulb with a moderate long and bent embolus, gradually tapering to apex with flanges. Spermathecae: two, with a wide basal portion and elongate or globular distal lobe.

Species included: Afropesa schoutedeni ( Benoit, 1965) n. comb., A. gauteng n. sp. and A. schwendingeri n. sp.