Smeringopus atomarius Simon 1910

Smeringopus atomarius Simon, 1910

Figs. 432–433, 442, 453–454, 469–470, 505–508, 520–525

Smeringopus atomarius Simon 1910: 190–191. Kraus 1957: 229–230, figs. 46–52.

Types. 1♀ syntype (?) from Botswana, Kalahari, no date (L. Schultze), in MNHN (AR 10491), examined. Unspecified number of female syntypes from Namibia, Erongo Region, Rooibank near Walvis Bay [23°10.7’S, 14°39.0’E] and Otjimbingwe [22°21.3’S, 16°08.0’E] and from Botswana, Kgalagadi District, Lehututu [23°54.9’S, 21°49.7’E] and Kang [23°40.8’S, 22°47.0’E], not examined (not in MNHN).

Notes. Simon (1910) based his description on females from Namibia and Botswana and did not designate a holotype. Slight differences in epigynum shape among the specimens examined suggest that two species might be involved. I follow Kraus (1957) in considering the Namibian specimens as S. atomarius, but further collecting (especially of males in Botswana) is necessary to solve this problem.

I have not seen the female from Neudamm (Namibia, 22°30’S, 17°22’E) assigned by Kraus (1957) to S. hypocrita but the distribution patterns in this species group (Fig. 475) strongly suggest that it was in fact S. atomarius.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from similar congeners by shapes of procursus (distal structures, Fig. 505), bulb (processes of embolus, Figs. 506, 507; similar S. uisib), cheliceral apophyses (similar S. sederberg and S. hypocrita; cf. Figs. 478, 479), shape of epigynum (Fig. 469; wide plate with small round pockets; similar S. uisib), and spotted leg femora (not only proximally as in S. uisib).

Male (Windhoek, CAS). Total body length 4.8, carapace width 1.6. Leg 1: 44.4 (11.7 + 0.7 + 10.6 + 19.5 + 1.9), tibia 2: 7.6, tibia 3: 5.7, tibia 4: 8.5; tibia 1 L/d: 56. Habitus as in female (cf. Figs. 432, 433). Carapace ochreyellow with brown median and lateral marks, clypeus with pair of dark stripes, sternum ochre-yellow with brown pattern, leg femora with many brown spots, femora and tibiae with whitish tips and dark subdistal rings, abdomen ochre-gray with indistinct dorsal and ventral pattern. Distance PME-PME 140 µm, diameter PME 140 µm, distance PME-ALE 45 µm, distance AME-AME 45 µm, diameter AME 140 µm. Ocular area slightly elevated, secondary eyes with small ‘pseudo-lenses’; deep thoracic pit. Chelicerae similar S. hypocrita (cf. Figs. 478, 479), apophyses slightly closer together and shorter; each apophysis with one modified hair at tip (Fig. 520). Palps as in Figs. 453 and 454, coxa with distinct retrolateral apophysis, trochanter barely modified, femur with retrolateral furrow with distinct proximal rim, procursus with distinctive distal processes (Fig. 505; retrolateral view as in S. uisib, cf. Fig. 509), bulb with distinctive complex embolus (Figs. 506, 507; very similar S. uisib). Legs without spines, few vertical hairs, with curved hairs on tibiae and metatarsi 1; retrolateral trichobothrium on tibia 1 at 2.5%; prolateral trichobothrium present on tibia 1. Gonopore with two epiandrous spigots (Fig. 523); ALS with eight spigots each (Fig. 524).

Variation. Tibia 1 in 9 other males: 6.9–13.2 (mean 10.5).

Female. In general similar to male; tibia 1 in 11 females: 7.3–11.5 (mean 10.0). Epigynum a wide plate with pockets (Figs. 469, 525; very similar S. uisib); internal genitalia as in Figs. 470 and 508.

Distribution. Widely distributed in central Namibia (Fig. 475). Records from Botswana need to be checked. The females from Grootfontein assigned by Kraus (1957) to S. atomarius are here assigned to S. uisib.

Material examined. NAMIBIA: Khomas: Windhoek [22°34’S, 17°05’E], iii.1991 (V. & B. Roth), 1♂ 1♀ in CAS; same locality, date and collector not given, 3♂ 7♀ + juvs (4 vials) in SMF (RII 3734, 5970, 6317, 6618); same locality, 24.iv.–9.v.1911 (W. Michaelsen), 1♀ in ZMH. Windhoek, Regenstein [22°43’S, 17°02’E], 9.xi. and 3.xii.1974 (3 vials) (S. Endrödy-Younga), 3♀ in TMP (18754, 18773, 18775). Hardap: 50 km E Gobabeb [~ 23°40’S, 15°25’E], in pitfall traps, iv.–vi.1979 (B. Wharton), 1♂ in CAS; same data but 28.iii.–22.iv.1979, 1♂ in CAS. Omaheke: Gobabis [22°27’S, 18°58’E], date and collector not given, 1♂ (only 1 palp, chelicerae missing) in SMF (RII 5189). Otjozondjupa: Okahandja [21°59’S, 16°55’E], v.1955 (Gaerdes), 1♀ in SMF (RII 11728 ex RII 11056). Bona near Okahandja, 2.vi.1911 (W. Michaelsen), 1♂ 1♀ in ZMH. Erongo: Karibib [21°56’S, 15°51’E], 23.–26.iv.1911 (W. Michaelsen), 1♂ 2♀ 1 juv. in ZMH.

SOUTH AFRICA: Northern Cape Prov.: Kalahari, Gemsbok Park [~ 25°55’S, 20°15’E], 4.ii.1987 (E.A. Ueckermann), 1♂ 2♀ 2 juvs in NCP (87/422).

BOTSWANA: Kgalagadi District: Kalahari, 1♀ syntype (?) above.