Izithunzi productum, (PURCELL, 1904), 2018

Labarque, Facundo M., Pérez-González, Abel & Griswold, Charles E., 2018, Molecular phylogeny and revision of the false violin spiders (Araneae: Drymusidae) of Africa, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 183, pp. 390-430 : 418-421

IZITHUNZI PRODUCTUM ( PURCELL, 1904) COMB. NOV.

( FIGS 5, 9, 11, 18–20)

Drymusa producta Purcell, 1904: 153 , pl. 11, fig. 26 [♀] [3♀ syntypes ( SAMC 7905 ) from South Africa, Western Cape Province, Swellendam , mountainside forest, [−34.025708, 20.438125], August 1900, W. Purcell col., not examined].

Remarks: Whereas we have not examined the syntypes of this species, the key, description and illustrations provided by Purcell (1904: 152–154) leave no doubt as to the species identity. Unfortunately, no topotypes were available either.

Materialexamined: ♀ and ♂,fromSouthAfrica, Western Cape Province, South Cape DC, Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve , 14.97 km 316° NE Heidelberg, −33.983733, 20.831967, 17 October 2011, elev. 338 m, indigenous forest, general collecting, L. Almeida, C. Griswold, T . Meikle cols., preparation codes FML-01090, FML-01101-01102 and FML-01109-01115 [♀] and FML-01091-01092 and FML-01116 [♂], deposited in CAS ( CASENT9043066 ) ; ♂ and ♀, same data, CAS ( CASENT9043050 ) ; 2♂, 2♀ and one immature, same data, CAS ( CASENT9043067 ) ; ♀ and ♂, same data, CAS ( CASENT9053373 ) ; ♂, same locality, Bushbuck Trail ( Fonteintjiesbos ), −33.985000, 20.808333, 26 January–February 2004, elev. 370 m, young afromontane forest, flight intercept trap, N. Solodovnikov et al. cols., FMNH (2004/011) ; 2♀, same locality, 20 km WNW Heidelberg , −33.999999, 20.783333, 8–10 November 1985, elev. 1600 ft, indigenous forest, C. Griswold, J. Doyen, T . Meikle Griswold cols., NMSA ; 2♂, 4♀ and three immatures, same data, NMSA .

Diagnosis: Females of I. productum comb. nov. resemble those of I. silvicola comb. nov. by the inner and outer spermathecae clustered, and the integrated plate ( Figs 4D, 18, 19, 21), but can be distinguished by the epigastrium posterior border covered with small, dark, thick setae, the lateral sclerotized grooves almost touching each other, the dorsal receptaculum lacking muscle insertions and completely integrated to the (posterior) plate and the anterior ridge conspicuous ( Figs 18, 19), whereas I. silvicola comb. nov. lacks the thick setae on the epigastrium, has separated lateral grooves, partially integrated dorsal receptaculum that present muscle insertions and diffused anterior ridge ( Figs 4D, 10, 21). Males of I. productum comb. nov. can be distinguished from other Izithunzi by the apex of the copulatory bulb as long as the base (1:1) with a laminar truncated tip ( Fig. 18).

Redescription female (Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve: Habitus, SEM CASENT 9043066; Measurements CASENT 9053373): Total length 5.65. Prosoma: length 2.75, width 1.82, height 1.81. Sternum: length 1.42, width 1.03. Leg measurements: femur: I: 4.85, II: 4.08, III: 3.39, IV: 4.68; patella: I: 0.72, II: 0.8, III: 0.68, IV: 0.73; tibia: I: 5.0, II: 3.88, III: 2.9, IV: 4.36; metatarsus: I: 4.28, II: 3.56, III: 3.0, IV: 4.12; tarsus: I: 1.14, II: 1.05, III: 1.0, IV: 1.26; podotarsite: I: 0.09, II: 0.09, III: 0.11, IV: 0.08; total: I: 16.08, II: 13.46, III: 11.08, IV: 15.23. Leg formula: 1243. Opisthosoma: length 4.0, width 2.7, height 2.57. Chelicerae promargin with four bracket setae, and a row of six macrosetae against the triangular lamina. Labium dun, reddish at narrow area and white at apex ( Fig. 20). Pedipalpal prolateral femoral thorn thick, distally blunt. Sternum dun ( Fig. 20). Femora and tibiae dun, patellae, metatarsi and tarsi tan ( Fig. 20). Opisthosoma colour overall dark brown, smooth, without chevrons ( Fig. 20). Inner spermathecae oval, basally sclerotized ( Figs 18, 19). Outer spermathecae tetrahedral ( Figs 18, 19). Inner spermathecae duct opening to the integrated plate anteriorly, next to the outer spermathecae ( Figs 18, 19).

Description male (Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve: Habitus, SEM CASENT 9043066; Measurements CASENT 9053373): (Note: Here, we provide the first description of the male of this species.) Total length 4.95. Prosoma: length 2.26, width 1.7, height 1.2. Sternum: length 1.14, width 0.9. Leg measurements: femur: I: 5.05, II: 4.32, III: 3.44, IV: 4.65; patella: I: 0.6, II: 0.62, III: 0.59, IV: 0.62; tibia: I 5.3, II: 4.12, III: 3.11, IV: 4.45; metatarsus: I: 4.75, II: 3.8, III: 3.11, IV: 4.3; tarsus: I: 1.2, II: 1.15, III: 1.04, IV: 1.32; podotarsite: I: 0.07, II: 0.09, III: 0.1, IV: 0.11; total: I: 16.97, II: 14.1, III: 11.39, IV: 15.45. Leg formula: 1243. Opisthosoma: length 2.52, width 1.46, height 1.41. Male pedipalp: femur: 0.74, patella: 0.22, tibia: 0.57, tarsus: 0.27. Coloration lighter than in female, V-shaped pattern reduced ( Fig. 20). Chelicerae promargin also with four bracket setae. Epiandrous spigots arising in four bunches from isolated pits. Pedipalpal prolateral femoral thorn also thick and distally blunt as in females ( Fig. 18); femora narrow (L ≤ 3.5× W); tibiae swollen, longer than width (L <2× W) ( Fig. 18). Copulatory bulb apex short and truncated distally ( Fig. 18). In addition, the copulatory bulb apex appears slightly curved in lateral (both pro- and prolateral) and apical views ( Fig. 18).

D i s t r i b u t i o n: We s t e r n C a p e P r o v i n c e, S o u t h Africa, Langeberg Mountains from Swellendam to Grootvadersbosch and surroundings ( Fig. 5; Supporting Information, Fig. S1).