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Issue: Vol. 5399 No. 5: 16 Jan. 2024
Type: Article
Published: 2024-01-16
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5399.5.1
Page range: 451-504
Abstract views: 202
PDF downloaded: 140

Three new genera of arboreal dark sac spiders from southern Africa (Araneae: Trachelidae)

Department of Zoology and Entomology; University of the Free State; P.O. Box 339; Bloemfontein 9300; South Africa
Biosystematics: Arachnology; Plant Health and Protection; Agricultural Research Council; Private Bag X134; Queenswood 0121; South Africa
Araneae afrotropical canopy fogging cytochrome oxidase c subunit I DNA barcoding Trachelas

Abstract

As part of a revision of the Afrotropical species of Trachelas L. Koch, 1872 (Araneae: Trachelidae), we distinguished three new genera of primarily arboreal spiders from southern Africa that are described here: Coronarachne gen. nov., represented by four new species known from both sexes, C. denticulata sp. nov. (type species), C. penicillus sp. nov., C. setosa sp. nov. and C. unigena sp. nov., and C. neethlingi sp. nov., known only from the male; Falcaranea gen. nov., represented by three new species known from both sexes, F. amatola sp. nov., F. gladius sp. nov. (type species) and F. maputensis sp. nov.; and Trachecymbius gen. nov., represented by five new species, T. bosselaersi sp. nov. (♀), T. felis sp. nov. (♂♀), T. peterwebbi sp. nov. (♂), T. tyume sp. nov. (type species, ♂♀), and T. umbella sp. nov. (♀). These three genera share the presence of strongly protruding setal bases on the ventral surfaces of the anterior legs, which are more strongly developed in males and can be mistaken for small ventral cusps that are found in several trachelid genera. Identification keys are provided for each of the three genera and their phylogenetic affinities to other Afrotropical Trachelidae are evaluated based on the cytochrome oxidase c subunit I (COI) gene. Most of the species described here were common in canopy fogging samples, and to a lesser extent beating, but are clearly a prominent component of the arboreal trachelid fauna in savanna and forest habitats in southern Africa.

 

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