Stasimopus finni Brandt & Sole & Lyle 2023, sp. nov.

Stasimopus finni sp. nov.

(Figures 5B, 11B, 13A, 14, 15)

Type material: Holotype Ô SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province, Somerset East (-32.9386, 25.6612), 14.v.2018, S. Brandt, C. Sole, E. Engelbrecht and E. Brand, (NCA 2019/605).

Etymology: The specific epithet is patronym in honour of Finn Robert Pirk the son of the third author, who loves all creepy crawlies.

Diagnosis: The males of S. finni sp. nov. are distinguishable from other members of the genus occurring in the Karoo based on the following combination of characters. It is differentiated from S. astutus, S. erythrognathus, S. malesociatus sp. nov., S. patersonae, S. steynsbergensis, S. karooensis sp. nov. and S. mandelai based on the pedipalp not reaching the tarsus of leg I. Distinguished from S. palpiger as the pedipalp is longer than leg I, which S. finni sp. nov. is not. The species has denser cheliceral denticles (>11) than S. schrieneri (<5), S. ignis sp. nov. (<5) and S. maraisi (<10). Stasimopus finni sp. nov. is in general more spinose on the legs than S. dylani sp. nov. (Tibia of leg I and IV).

Description: Based on the holotype Ô (NCA 2019/605).

Remarks: Ô: The left AME is reduced in size, making some eye measurements unreliable. ♀: Known only from the type male.

General: Ô: (Fig 5B) Medium bodied spider, 10.84 total length.

Carapace: Ô: Carapace length 4.76; width 4.05. Deep red-brown colouration, thoracic region with rugose texture. Fovea procurved, 0.81 in length.

Ocelli: Ô: (Fig 11B) AME diameter 0.14, PME diameter 0.19, MOQ anterior width 1.22 (may not be accurate due to deformity), MOQ posterior width 1.71; AME-AME 0.31 (may not be accurate due to deformity)., AME-ALE 0.10, ALE-ALE 0.65, PME-PME 0.79, PME-PLE 0.16, PLE-PLE 1.14. AER procurved, PER recurved.

Chelicerae: Ô: (Fig 13A) Two teeth rows present, 4 teeth proventral row, 4 in retroventral row; 11–13 cuspules between rows.

Sternum, labium and maxillae: Ô: (Fig 14C) Sternum length 2.66; sternum width 2.19. Sternum shape has distinct impressions of where the coxa are situated. Sigilla in the shape of a fused arrow, distal end fused, proximal end 0.69 apart; cuspules on labium absent; maxilla absent.

Abdomen: Ô: (Fig 5B) Abdomen length 6.08; width 4.30. Pale beige colouration with dark grey banding, smaller band near carapace, followed by broader and wider band, then a narrower band, lastly two shorter bands next to one another.

Pedipalps: Ô: (Fig 14A, B) Total length 16.03; Segment lengths 1.57, 5.42, 4.15, -, 4.88. Spines absent. Bulb oval, embolus elongated, tapering retrolaterally into sharp point.

Legs: Ô: Length order: I, IV, II, III. I Total length 17.40; Segment lengths 5.54, 2.36, 4.22, 3.93, 1.35; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella v - 2–3 spines distally. Tibia (Fig 14D) v - 16–18 large spines extend pl & rl, denser distally. Metatarsus (Fig 14D) v - 15–16 large spines extend pl & rl. Tarsus (Fig 14D) pl & rl - 1–2 small spines, v - scopulate. II Total length 15.53; Segment lengths 4.77, 2.23, 3.63, 3.57, 1.33; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella v - 2–3 spines distally. Tibia v - 16 large spines extend pl & rl, denser distally. Metatarsus v - 14–16 large spines, 1 distinctly large spine distally on pl and rl aspects. Tarsus pl & rl - 2–3 small spines, v - scopulate. III Total length 11.75; Segment lengths 3.01, 1.54, 1.38, 3.68, 2.14; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella do - 11 small spines. Tibia pl - 1 spine, almost v, do - 2 unorganised rows of red spinules (11 pl / do; 8–9 rl / do). Metatarsus do - 8 spines in two 2, v (Fig 14E)—18 spines, 3 are large and distal. Tarsus v (Fig 14E)—7 small spines, extend pl & rl, dense setae covering spines. IV Total length 17.38; Segment lengths 4.27, 2.31, 3.66, 4.85, 2.29; Spination: spines absent on femur, with sparse setae. Patella do - short dense red spines proximally, less dense distally; interspersed with fine black setae. Tibia pl / v - 2–3 small spines. Metatarsus pl - 8 spines, v (Fig 14F)—I5 spines (4 large spines distally), spines extend pl. Tarsus (Fig 14F) pl - 11–14 spines, extend v, v - 7 small spines.

Distribution and environment notes:

The species is found in the localities indicated in Figure 15. The species is only known from the type locality near Somerset East in the Eastern Cape province. The location was a flat between small hills. The vegetation was dominated by low shrubs and aloe plants. The soil was very hard, chalky and pale. The specimen was found in a short burrow (Approx. 10cm deep).

FIGURE 15. Map of the locality where the Stasimopus finni sp. nov. specimen was collected. Numbers match the site numbers in Figure 1. Map created in QGIS version 3.4.8-Madeira (2019), available at: http://qgis.osgeo.org.