Spiniculosa, Kronestedt, 2025

Kronestedt, Torbjörn, 2025, Spiniculosa, a new wolf spider genus (Araneae, Lycosidae) from Africa, with description of a new species from the coast of Kenya, Zootaxa 5666 (2), pp. 211-224 : 212

Spiniculosa gen. nov.

Type species. Pardosa crassipalpis Purcell, 1903

Etymology. The generic name is a combination of Latin spinicula, small spine, referring to the short spine-like setae on coxa and trochanter of leg I in the males, and -osa, a common ending of genus names in Lycosidae . The gender is feminine.

Diagnosis. Males of Spiniculosa gen. nov. are distinguished by a row of short, stout spine-like setae proventrally on first coxae and trochanters, respectively ( Fig. 7 ). The terminal part of the bulbus differs from that in other lycosid genera by an extrapaleal sclerite (‘on the outside of the palea’) situated retrolaterally in the resting position ( Fig. 6 : eps). Females of Spiniculosa gen. nov. have long, winding copulatory ducts ( Fig. 9C–D ).

Description. Lycosid spiders of small size (carapace lengths approx. 1.80–2.45). Carapace variable in coloration and pattern: light yellowish without distinct pattern or brownish with wide yellow lateral bands and more or less distinct light brownish (males) or yellowish median band; marginal bands may be present as a row of brownish spots; edge of carapace with narrow black lines present above each coxa. Eye row I shorter than eye row II. Eye row I slightly procurved, AME slightly larger than ALE. Chelicerae with rows of three (occasionally four) retromarginal and three promarginal teeth (median one largest). Labium slightly wider than long. Leg lengths IV>I>III>II. Ti I with three pairs of ventral spines (of which three placed in an oblique line prolaterally, as in Fig. 7A ). Legs annulated in females. Male palp with tegular apophysis of variable form, distally hook-shaped. Palea with furrow, sclerotized retrolaterad apophysis (‘conductor’) curved dorsad, and adjacent ‘extrapaleal sclerite’ connected to palea. Close to ‘conductor’ a process here called ‘terminal apophysis’ protrudes. Conductor and terminal apophysis arise from different parts of palea but seem to be very close to each other in resting position ( Figs 5A , 6D ). In females, septum of epigyne, wide, covering posterior cavities, and copulatory ducts thick and comparatively long.

Distribution. Afrotropical region.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Bulbus of left male palp, ventral view. A. Spiniculosa crassipalpis (Purcell) (from South Africa: Rust de Winter).— B. S. albida sp. nov. (from Kenya: Tiwi Beach). co, conductor; eps, extrapaleal sclerite; p, palea; ta, terminal apophysis; stg, subtegulum; tg, tegulum; tga, tegular apophysis. Scale line (applies to both) = 300 µm.

FIGURE 6. Terminal part of bulbus of left male palp in ventral (A, D), ventro-retrolateral (B, E) and retrolateral (C, F) view. A–C. Spiniculosa crassipalpis (Purcell) (from South Africa: Rust de Winter). D–F. S. albida sp. nov. (from Kenya: Tiwi Beach). co, conductor; em, embolus; eps, extrapaleal sclerite; p, palea; ta, terminal apophysis; pf, paleal furrow. Scale line (applies to all) = 300 µm.

FIGURE 7. Left leg I in male, prolateral view. A. Whole leg of Spiniculosa crassipalpis (Purcell) (from Kenya: Tiwi Beach). B–D. Coxa, trochanter, and proximal part of femur in S. albida sp. nov. (from Kenya: Tiwi Beach) (B) and S. crassipalpis (Purcell) (from South Africa: Rust de Winter) (C–D). Arrows point at rows of spine-like setae. Scale lines = 1 mm (A), 0.2 mm B–D, 200 µm (D).

FIGURE 9. Epigyne in ventral (A–B) and dorsal (C–D) view.A, C. Spiniculosa crassipalpis (Purcell) (from South Africa: Rust de Winter). B, D. S. albida sp. nov. (from Kenya: Tiwi Beach). cd, copulatory duct; se, septum; sp, spermatheca. Scale line (applies to all) = 300 µm.