Trichothyse fontensis Lawrence, 1928

Sankaran, Pradeep M., Haddad, Charles R. & Tripathi, Rishikesh, 2025, A review of the ground spider genus Trichothyse Tucker, 1923 (Araneae, Gnaphosidae), Zootaxa 5583 (1), pp. 39-70 : 43-46

Trichothyse fontensis Lawrence, 1928

Figs 1–2, 5–6 , 9, 15 , 21–33

Trichothyse fontensis Lawrence, 1928: 232 , plate XXI, fig. 14

(holotype ♂: NAMIBIA: Sesfontein [19°07’S, 13°37’E], I– IV.1925, leg. Museum Expedition, SAMC B7136—examined) .

Other material examined. SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Ndumo Game Reserve, Eastern shore of Shokwe Pan , 26°52’30’’S, 32°12’24’’E, 24.I.2006, leg. C. Haddad ( Vachellia xanthophloea bark), 1♀ ( NCA 2014 /1417); Same locality, Environmental Centre , 26°55’24’’S, 32°18’08’’E, 122 m a.s.l., 29.XI.2009, leg. C. Haddad, V. Swart & A. Kirk-Spriggs (broadleaf woodland, canopy fogging 23, Strynchos spinosa), 1♂ ( NCA 2021 /1255); Same locality, Near Abattoir, 26°54’44’’S, 32°18’20’’E, 114 m a.s.l., 9.XII.2009, leg. C. Haddad, V. Swart & A. Kirk-Spriggs (broadleaf woodland, canopy fogging 47, Garcinia livingstonei ), 1♂ ( NCA 2021 /1256); Same locality, Southern shore of Hotwe Pan, 26°52’43’’S, 32°18’27’’E, 7.II.2005, leg. C. Haddad ( Vachellia xanthophloea bark), 1♂, together with 4♀ T. zuluensis comb. nov. ( NCA 2014 /1317).

Diagnosis. Males of T. fontensis are similar to the males of T. zuluensis comb. nov. in the general structure of the palp, particularly the rounded end of the conductor and the similar shape of the sperm duct ( Figs 1–2, 4 ) but can be distinguished by the different shape of the embolus, with the tip directed apically in T. fontensis ( Fig. 2 ) and retrolaterally in T. zuluensis comb. nov. ( Fig. 4 ), and the lack of a strong bifurcation of the RTA in T. fontensis (only a slight protuberance; Fig. 6 ). Females of T. fontensis share with T. karoo sp. nov. and T. zuluensis comb. nov. the almost parallel mesal margins of the primary spermathecae, but can be distinguished by the angular anterolateral edge of the primary spermathecae (as opposed to the anteromesal edge of the latter two species), and the small hood-shaped anterior atrium compared to the small central teardrop-shaped atrium (as in T. karoo sp. nov.) or the heart-shaped posterior atrium in the epigyne as in T. zuluensis comb. nov. (see Lawrence 1938: fig. 14) (cf. Figs 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 , 56–57 ).

Description. Male (Ndumo, NCA 2021/1255, Figs 22–27 ). Carapace deep red-brown, chelicerae, labium, endites and legs dark brown, sternum orange-brown, eye field slightly darker than carapace ( Fig. 22 ). Abdomen dark grey dorsally, spinnerets dark brown; carapace with faintly darker striae radiating from fovea, densely covered with white appressed hairs, cephalic part, and posterior slope with several stiff erect black setae. Fovea narrow, longitudinal, straight, dark brown. Anterior surface of cheliceral paturon with long black setae, promargin with low serrated keel and distal denticle, with keel extending along entire length of promargin ( Fig. 27 ; arrow); retromargin without keel or denticle ( Fig. 27 ). Abdomen oval, hirsute, anterior surface with dense anterior dorsal strong curved setae; dorsal abdomen anteriorly with deep red oval scutum extending to ½ abdominal length, with three pairs of distinct oval sigilla, first two pairs close together, within posterior margin of dorsal scutum, third pair at ⅗ abdominal length ( Fig. 22 ). Metatarsi I–II and all tarsi with well-developed complete scopulae, scopulae on metatarsi III and IV restricted distally ( Figs 25–26 ). Spinnerets hirsute. Body length 6.45. Carapace 3.05 long, 2.16 wide. Abdomen 3.57 long, 2.20 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.16, AME 0.21, PLE 0.15, PME 0.14; ALE–PLE 0.10, AME–AME 0.04, AME–PME 0.17, PME–PLE 0.10, PME–PME 0.14. AME and ALE nearly contiguous. Clypeus height at AMEs 0.13, at ALEs 0.12. Chelicerae 1.30 long. Length of palp and legs: palp 2.78 [0.90, 0.46, 0.32, 1.10], I 6.99 [2.11, 1.30, 1.53, 1.32, 0.73], II 7.17 [2.17, 1.31, 1.50, 1.40, 0.79], III 6.89 [2.05, 1.13, 1.35, 1.55, 0.81], IV 8.72 [2.45, 1.30, 1.85, 2.28, 0.84]. Leg formula: 4213. Spination of palp: femur pl 1 do 2, patella pl 1 do 1, tibia spineless, tarsus plv 1 rlv 1; legs: femur I pl 1 do 3, II pl 2 do 3, III pl 2 do 3 rl 2, IV pl 1 do 3 rl 1; patella I, II and IV spineless, III pl 1 rl 1; tibia I–II plv 1 vt 2, III pl 4 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 3 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2; metatarsus I–II plv 1 rlv 1, III pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 3, IV pl 3 rl 3 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 4; tarsus I–IV spineless.

Palp ( Figs 1–2, 5–6 ): segments orange-brown. RTA more than half the length of cymbium, with prominent ventral branch at approximately ⅔ its length, but inconspicuous dorsal “lobe” and restricted to a dorsal angle ( Figs 2, 6 ). Cymbial flange nearly half of the length of cymbium, slightly concave along most of its length ( Fig. 2 ). Tegulum long-oval, sac-like ( Fig. 2 ). Conductor membranous, with almost right-angled bend in distal half, passing behind embolus, with proximal part parallel to embolus and smoothly rounded apex directed retrolaterally ( Fig. 2 ). Embolus arising apically, narrow, initially straight, looping prolaterally then distally, with spike-like tip directed at 12-o’clock ( Fig. 2 ).

Female (Ndumo, NCA 2014/1417, Figs 28–33 ). As in male except the following: habitus generally orange-brown, abdomen dark grey ( Fig. 28 ). Abdomen with three pairs of oval sigilla, first two pairs at ⅓ abdomen length, third pair just beyond midpoint ( Fig. 28 ). Body length 7.45. Carapace 3.80 long, 2.40 wide. Abdomen 3.60 long, 2.45 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.22, AME 0.24, PLE 0.19, PME 0.16; ALE–PLE 0.11, AME–AME 0.10, AME–PME 0.19, PME–PLE 0.14, PME–PME 0.18. Clypeus height at AMEs 0.14, at ALEs 0.11. Chelicerae 1.17 long. Length of palp and legs: palp 2.97 [1.06, 0.55, 0.49, 0.87], I 7.52 [2.16, 1.42, 1.60, 1.45, 0.89], II 7.33 [2.12, 1.32, 1.58, 1.45, 0.86], III 8.01 [2.10, 1.23, 1.41, 1.59, 1.68], IV missing. Spination of palp: femur pl 2 do 2, patella pl 1 do 1, tibia pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 1, tarsus pl 1 rl 1 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; legs (both leg IV missing): femur I pl 1 do 3, II pl 2 do 3, III pl 2 do 3 rl 2; patella I and II spineless, III pl 1 rl 1; tibia I–II plv 1 vt 1, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2; metatarsus I–II plv 1 rlv 1, III pl 4 rl 2 plv 1 rlv 2 vt 4.

Genitalia ( Figs 9, 15 ): epigyne hirsute, well sclerotised, with broadly notched posterior border, with small hood-shaped anterior atrium ( Fig. 9 ; arrow) and paired semi-circular lobes posteriorly, forming shallow median depression. Copulatory openings indistinct, possibly at the edge of posterior lobes. Copulatory ducts very short, mostly hidden by primary spermathecae ( Fig. 15 ). Primary spermathecae parallel, anteriorly forming diverging ends ( Fig. 15 ). Paired secondary spermathecae short, globular, partly obscured by primary spermathecae. Fertilization ducts narrow, diverging.

Variation. Male (n = 4): body length 6.30–6.75, mean 6.51.

Distribution. Known only from north-western Namibia and north-eastern South Africa ( Fig. 120 ).

Figures

FIGURE 120. Distribution records of the known Afrotropical Trichothyse species.

FIGURES 1–8. Palpal morphology of male Afrotropical Trichothyse species in ventral (1–4) and retrolateral (5–8) views. 1, 5. T. fontensis Lawrence, 1928, holotype from Sesfontein; 2, 6. T. fontensis from Ndumo; 3, 7. T. karoo Haddad & Sankaran sp. nov. from Jagerskraal; 4, 8. T. zuluensis (Lawrence, 1938) comb. nov. from Ndumo. Scale bars: 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 9–20. Epigyne morphology of Afrotropical Trichothyse species in ventral (9–14) and dorsal (15–20) views. 9, 15. T. fontensis Lawrence, 1928 from Ndumo; 10, 16. T. hortensis Tucker, 1923, lectotype from Waterberg; 11, 17. T. karoo Haddad & Sankaran sp. nov., paratype from Jagerskraal; 12, 18. T. subtropica Lawrence, 1927, lectotype from Kunene River; 13, 19. T. zuluensis (Lawrence, 1938) comb. nov. from Ndumo; 14, 20. ‘T.’ africana (Tucker, 1923) from Dereham. Arrows indicate epigynal atrium. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.

FIGURES 21–27. Somatic morphology of Trichothyse fontensis Lawrence, 1928, holotype male from Sesfontein (21) and non-type male from Ndumo (22–27): 21, 22. Habitus, dorsal view; 23. Eye region, anterior view; 24. Same, dorsal view; 25. Leg I, retrolateral view; 26. Leg IV, prolateral view; 27. Chelicerae, posteroventral view. Arrow indicates keel on the cheliceral promargin. Scale bars: 21–22 = 1.0 mm; 23–27 = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 28–33. Somatic morphology of Trichothyse fontensis Lawrence, 1928, female from Ndumo: 28. Habitus, dorsal view; 29. Eye region, anterior view; 30. Same, dorsal view; 31. Chelicerae, posteroventral view; 32. Legs I & II, retrolateral view; 33. Leg IV, prolateral view. Arrow indicates keel on the cheliceral promargin. Scale bars: 28 = 1.0 mm; 29–33 = 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 54–57. Genitalic morphology of Trichothyse karoo Haddad & Sankaran sp. nov.: 54–55. Holotype male left palp: 54. Ventral view; 55. Retrolateral view. 56–57. Paratype female: 56. Epigyne, ventral view; 57. Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: A, atrium; C, conductor; CD, copulatory duct; E, embolus; EB, embolic base; FD, fertilisation duct; PL, posterior lobe; PS, primary spermatheca; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; SD, sperm duct; SS, secondary spermatheca; T, tegulum. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.