Coronarachne unigena Haddad & Lyle 2024, sp. nov.

Coronarachne unigena sp. nov.

Figs 27–41, 59–64, 72, 73, 90–93

Etymology. This species name is Latin for “sharing both parents”, referring to the close similarity between the males of this species and C. setosa sp. nov.; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. The male of this species can be distinguished from some congeners by the tuft of dense setae distally on the tegulum cavity behind the embolus (shared with C. neethlingi sp. nov. and C. setosa sp. nov.), the pronounced subrectangular prolateral tegular apophysis hiding the base of the embolus and conductor, and the singly coiled embolus and conductor (Fig. 90), the latter ending in a spur-shaped tip. Females can be recognized by the hook-shaped ridges containing the copulatory openings, and by the close proximity of the ST II to these ridges (Fig. 92); the ST II and ridges are clearly separated in congeners.

Male (holotype, Tzaneen, NCA 2013/1911). Measurements: CL 1.00, CW 0.85, AL1.16, AW 0.76, TL 2.08, FL 0.08, SL 0.62, SW 0.49, AME-AME 0.02, AME-ALE 0.01, ALE-ALE 0.16, PME-PME 0.06, PME-PLE 0.08, PLE-PLE 0.30. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 0.67 + 0.35 + 0.46 + 0.42 + 0.29 = 2.19; II 0.53 + 0.29 + 0.37 + 0.38 + 0.25 = 1.82; III 0.47 + 0.22 + 0.29 + 0.38 + 0.18 = 1.54; IV 0.65 + 0.29 + 0.48 + 0.49 + 0.20 = 2.11.

Carapace deep yellow-brown, with faint grey mottling (Fig. 72); surface granulate, more pronounced on lateral slopes; fovea short, indistinct, at ¾ CL. AER slightly procurved; clypeus height equal to distance equal to ⅗ AME diameter; AME and ALE subequal in size; AME separated by distance equal to ¼ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance equal to ⅛ AME diameter; PER strongly recurved, PLE slightly larger than PME; PME separated by distance equal to their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance equal to ⅘ PME diameter. Chelicerae deep yellow-brown; labium, endites and sternum pale yellow-brown, sternum with darker borders; surface with scattered granules, each with short, fine seta. Abdomen subpentagonal, broad anteriorly, tapering posteriorly; dorsum grey, with two pairs of cream patches in anterior half, separated by grey + (Fig. 72); two pairs of brown sigilla, first pair oval, at ¼ AL, second pair elongate and dark grey, at midpoint of abdomen. Legs I yellow-brown, patellae paler, tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi darker than femora; legs II to IV creamy-yellow; all femora and tibiae with faint mottled band in middle. Palp brown, cymbium with cluster of flattened setae distally on the tegulum cavity behind embolus tip; embolus long, originating prolaterally, transversely coiled on palpal axis, accompanied by broader sclerotized conductor, with tips of both directed distally; tip of embolus rounded and hooked, tip of conductor spur-shaped; ventral RTA slender, with rounded tip; dorsal RTA larger, originating distally on tibiae, with several denticles along distal margin (Figs 59–63, 90, 91).

Female (paratype, Makhado, NCA 2013/1986). Measurements: CL 1.02, CW 0.83, AL 1.33, AW 0.86, TL 2.32, FL0.06, SL0.63, SW 0.48, AME-AME 0.02, AME-ALE 0.01, ALE-ALE 0.16, PME-PME 0.06, PME-PLE 0.08, PLE-PLE 0.31. Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 0.62 + 0.33 + 0.42 + 0.40 + 0.27 = 2.04; II 0.54 + 0.28 + 0.37 + 0.37 + 0.25 = 1.81; III 0.46 + 0.24 + 0.26 + 0.35 + 0.18 = 1.49; IV 0.71 + 0.29 + 0.49 + 0.50 + 0.20 = 2.19.

Carapace deep orange-brown, with grey mottling (Fig. 73); surface finely granulate, except on posterior slope behind fovea; fovea short, distinct, at ¾ CL. AER slightly procurved; clypeus height equal to distance approximately ½ AME diameter; ALE slightly larger than AME; AME separated by distance equal to approximately ⅓ their diameter; AME separated from ALE by distance equal to slightly less than ⅛ AME diameter, almost touching; PER strongly recurved, PLE slightly larger than PME; PME separated by distance equal to approximately their diameter; PME separated from PLE by distance approximately 1¼ times PME diameter. Chelicerae deep orange-brown, anterior surface covered with scattered long, fine setae; labium and endites yellow-brown with faint black mottling. Sternum bright yellow-brown, with brown borders; surface finely granulate, covered with scattered short, fine setae. Abdomen oval; dorsum and sides mottled dark grey, with paired oval markings anteriorly and broad transverse band in front of midpoint (Fig. 73); two pairs of elongate sigilla, first pair indistinct, at ¼ AL, second pair grey, at midpoint of abdomen. Legs yellow-brown, I darker than II to IV, with broad grey mottled banks medially on all femora and tibiae, distolaterally on patellae, uniform and faint on metatarsi and tarsi. Epigynal plate wrinkled, with median, tongue-like projection partly covering epigastric fold; copulatory openings in large hook-shaped sclerotized ridges in middle of epigyne, entering bilobed ST II, with long channel linking ST II to posterior ST I, initially running mesally, then anteriorly and laterally around periphery of epigyne before entering bilobed posterior ST I, separated by approximately their width (Figs 64, 92, 93).

Type material. Holotype ♁: SOUTH AFRICA: Limpopo: Tzaneen, New Agatha Plantation, 23°55.637'S, 30°08.460'E, 1160 m a.s.l., 7.XI.2012, leg. J. Neethling (canopy fogging, Afromontane forest) (NCA 2013 /1911).

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Pongolapoort, Esikhotheni Lodge, 27°29'19.5''S, 31°55'00.5''E, 254 m a.s.l., leg. J. Neethling & C. Luwes, 20.V.2012, 1♀ (NCA 2012 /5789); Vryheid Mountain Nature Reserve, 27°45'16.1"S, 30°46'11.6"E, leg. J.A. Neethling & C. Luwes, 24.V.2012, 7♁ 1♀ (NCA 2013 /06). Limpopo: Soutpansberg Mountains, Gundani Forest, 22°38'S, 30°34'E, leg. P. Webb, 15.VI.2014, 1♁ (NCA 2016 /3071); Makhado, Medike Mountain Reserve, 22°59.650'S, 29°36.822'E, 815 m a.s.l., 11.XI.2012, leg. J. Neethling (canopy fogging, Cassia abbreviata, montane bushveld), 1♁ 2♀ (NCA 2013 /1986).

Other material. SOUTH AFRICA: KwaZulu-Natal: Vryheid Mountain Nature Reserve, 27°45'16.1"S, 30°46'11.6"E, 24.V.2012, leg. J.A. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 15, thicket, Vachellia tortilis), 10♁ 1♀ (NCA 2012 /4273); Same locality, 27°45'05.8"S, 30°47'40.8"E, 24.V.2012, leg. J.A. Neethling & C. Luwes (canopy fogging 17, thicket, Ziziphus mucronatus), 6♁ 1♀ (NCA 2012 /4272). Limpopo: Entabeni, 22°59'S, 30°16'E, 12.II.2008, leg. N. Hahn, 1♁ (NCA 2008 /2893); Vivo, Lajuma Mountain Retreat, 23°02'S, 29°26'E, 1300 m a.s.l., 10.XI.2012, leg. J. Neethling (canopy fogging, Afromontane forest), 3♀ (NCA 2013 /2008), 2♀ (NCA 2013 /2006).

Distribution. A disjunct range in the subtropical inland parts of eastern South Africa (Fig. 94).