A revision of the African wolf spider genus Amblyothele Simon ( Araneae , Lycosidae , Piratinae )

Th e African lycosid genus Amblyothele Simon is revised and its subfamily placement clarifi ed. A diagnosis is provided for the genus in relation to other genera in the subfamily Piratinae. Th e type species, Amblyothele albocincta Simon, 1910, is redescribed as is A. togona Roewer, 1960. Six new species, Amblyothele atlantica sp. n. (♀), A. ecologica sp. n. (♀), A. hamatula sp. n. (♂), A. kivumba sp. n. (♂), A. latedissipata sp. n. (♂♀) and A. longipes sp. n. (♂♀) are described. Amblyothele jaundea Roewer, 1960 is removed from the genus and transferred to Pardosa. An illustrated key to the species is provided.


Introduction
Th e genus Amblyothele Simon, 1910 was created by Eugène Simon for a single male lycosid collected in Botswana during the Schultze expedition between 1903 and 1905 (Simon 1910).Unfortunately, no further specimens unequivocally assign-able to this species have been collected.Following this, Roewer (1960) described two more species in the genus, Amblyothele togona Roewer, 1960 from Togo andA. jaundea Roewer, 1960 from Cameroon, both from females.Apart from the listing in the Venoniinae by Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué (1997), there has been no further mention of the genus in the literature and its status and relationships have thus remained obscure.
While conducting surveys using pitfall traps in both East and West Africa, we collected both sexes of a number of small lycosid species whose relationships were obscure but which were clearly unrelated to the Pardosinae and Lycosinae which dominate African savannas (Jocqué and Alderweireldt 2005).Comparison of males with the type specimen of Amblyothele albocincta convinced the authors that these specimens were congeneric.In this paper we redescribe the genus and its type species Amblyothele albocincta, and describe six new species, of which two are represented by both sexes.Th e relationships of this genus within the family Lycosidae are discussed.

Methods
Specimens were examined in 70% ethanol.Epigynes were cleared in methyl salicylate and temporarily mounted in a mixture of methyl salicylate and cedukol (Merck, Darmstadt).Scanning electron micrographs were obtained with a JEOL LV6450, after drying the specimens or parts in hexamethyl disilazane.Measurements were made with an eyepiece micrometer and are in mm.In the spination formulae, numbers between brackets indicate spines that may be lacking in some specimens.
Small wolf spiders (males 3.08-4.17,females 3.33-5.17)without pronounced carapace pattern, sometimes with pale median band and darker striae radiating from fovea (Fig. 1).Anterior eye row (Fig. 2) usually either straight or, more often, recurved, with AME ranging in size from equal to twice diameter of ALE.PME 1.40-2.25 times diameter apart; PLE 0.66-0.86times diameter of ALE.Eye region normally suff used with black.Chelicerae pale, mottled or streaked with grey, clothed in long dark setae; posterior margin with two teeth, proximal one normally larger, anterior margin normally with three minute teeth with middle one largest although in some species anterior margin lacks teeth altogether.Labia and maxillae coloured as chelicerae with maxillae 1.75 to 2.0 times longer than labium.Sternum pale, scutiform, moderately to strongly produced between hind coxae, with scattering of dark setae.Legs pale yellow to pale brown, clothed in short adpressed setae, noticeably longer and thinner than those of all other well-characterised piratine genera, with length/width ratio of femur I ranging from 5.60 to 10.50.Leg IV 1.25-1.35times length of leg I. Ventral spines of leg I normally with three pairs on tibia and three on metatarsus, distal pairs normally reduced in size.All leg spines long, thin and pale.
Tarsi with three claws (Fig. 9); paired claws with two to fi ve long thin teeth and few tiny ones at base; unpaired claw small on raised pad, with four or fi ve small teeth, having two long serrated bristles adjacent.Tarsal organ with keyhole shaped aperture (Fig. 8).Abdomen pale yellow to brown, sometimes suff used with grey and usually with paler dorsal folium (Fig. 1).Type species, A. albocincta, with row of four paired pale white spots on dorsal surface.Abdomen of males without dorsal scutum.Dorsal surface sometimes clothed in dark hairs.Ventrally pale yellow to white.Spinnerets long, ALS twice length of AMS, clearly 3 segmented ( Figs 1,4,5).Dorsally pale to dark brown or grey, ventrally pale white or cream.ALS in female with two major ampullate gland spigots near median margin, surrounded by numerous piriform gland spigots.PLS with numerous aciniform gland spigots.Male palp longer and narrower than that of most piratine genera and cymbium without terminal claws.MA located distally on bulb, very large U or C-shaped sclerite with two branches (Figs 6,7,10,14); larger, anterior branch directed antero-mesally, blade-shaped.Smaller posterior branch directed anteriorly, variable in shape: blunt lobe with rounded tip in A. albocincta, abruptly truncate in A. togona and A. longipes, pointed barb in A. hamatula    Female epigyne resembling that of other piratine genera in being simple plate (Fig. 3), often obscured by densely packed, long, barbed setae.Epigynal plate suboval in shape, shallowly (A. latedissipata) to deeply (A. togona) notched on posterior border.Spermathecae and their ducts visible to greater or lesser extent through lateral margins of epigynal plate.Viewed internally, genital openings visible to either side of central notch on posterior margin of epigyne with spermathecal ducts extending anteriorly, either straight or curving mesally.Spermathecae relatively small, either spherical or pyriform.With two small laterally-oriented glands at base of spermathecal ducts, near the posterior margin of the epigynal plate; gland ducts connect to spermathecal ducts.

Diagnosis of Amblyothele Simon, 1910
Pirata, the nominate genus of the subfamily, is distributed throughout the world with the exception of SE Asia(?), Australia and the Pacifi c region.Th e tegular apophysis in Pirata varies widely in form (see, for example Almquist (2005) for European species, Tanaka (1988) for those of Japan and Wallace (1978) for Nearctic species).Th e tegular apophysis in Amblyothele resembles that of some species of Pirata (e.g., P. latitans (Blackwall, 1841), P. insularis Emerton, 1885, Pirata uliginosus (Th orell, 1856) and among European species (see Almquist 2005, fi gs.236 a-h, 237 a-e) but not that of the type species, P. piraticus (Clerck, 1757).Th e epigynes of Amblyothele species also resemble those of Pirata species but in several species have a conspicuous notch on the posterior margin.Despite the similarity of the male palp in at least some Pirata species and Amblyothele, the two genera diff er signifi cantly in somatic characters.Th e legs of Amblyothele are much longer and thinner than those of Pirata species with the length/width ratio of Femur I of three Pirata species ranging from 3.21 to 3.33 and that for three Amblyothele species from 5.67 to 10.45.Furthermore, the legs of Pirata species are more or less densely clothed in semi-erect setae while those of Amblyothele species have only a sparse clothing of short, adpressed setae.Overall, most Amblyothele species are smaller than Pirata species although the smallest Pirata (e.g.P. latitans) overlap in size with the largest Amblyothele.
In the palp of the genera Proevippa, Trabea and Pterartoria, the basal part of the tegulum bears one or more, more or less translucent, poorly sclerotised membranous extensions (see Fig. 10b in Russell-Smith 1981 andFig. 1a in Russell-Smith 1982) which are lacking in Amblyothele.Furthermore, the terminal apophysis in Proevippa Purcell, 1903 andTrabea Simon, 1876 is much larger than that in Amblyothele and has a characteristic tongue-shaped form with a sharply refl exed distal portion (Russell-Smith 1981, 1982).

Synapomorphies
In the absence of a thorough phylogenetic analysis polarizing characters in function of an outgroup, we can only suggest a number of apomorphies for the defi nition of the genus.Th ey are: very long thin legs with sparse cover of setae, lack of membranous extensions on the tegulum and large, distal MA and small embolus in the male palp.
Notes.Th e most conspicuous structure of the male palp of Amblyothele albocincta and all other members of the genus described here is the greatly enlarged, more or less sickle shaped, median apophysis which is orientated longitudinally on the palpal bulb (Figs 6,10,16,20,22,28,33).By contrast, the embolus is very small (only the tip is visible in the unexpanded palp) and is situated distally on the bulb (Figs 6-7).Both of these characters are given as synapomorphies for the subfamily Venoniinae by Dondale (1986).As Dondale pointed out, this concept of the subfamily is much wider than that of Lehtinen and Hippa (1979), who restricted the subfamily to a group of web-building lycosid genera with a centre of distribution in S.E.Asia.More recently, Yoo and Framenau (2006) revised the genus Venonia Th orell, 1894 and revalidated Venoniinae in the restricted sense of Lehtinen and Hippa (1979), on the basis of the distinctive palpal morphology including the distal position of a well sclerotised conductor.However, this does not correspond with the defi nition of the subfamily provided by Dondale (1986).
Th e correct subfamily name for the remaining genera previously included in the Venoniinae by Dondale (including at least Pirata Sundevall, 1833, Proevippa, Trabea andPterartoria Purcell, 1903) appears to be Piratinae sensu Zyuzin (1993) as they possess a functional conductor which is combined with a short, thin embolus in a common sickle-shaped complex, resting in a deep and narrow ascending tegular groove.Although it is clear that more detailed research is necessary on the subfamily level (Murphy et al. 2006), the characteristics of the male palp of Amblyothele as described above, place it in the Piratinae.
Misplaced species.We have seen the type specimen of Amblyothele jaundea Roewer, 1960 (ZMB), a single female.Examination of the epigyne shows that this specimen certainly cannot be placed in Amblyothele and is most probably a member of the subfamily Pardosinae.It is therefore suggested to list it temporarily in the right subfamily as Pardosa jaundea.Diagnosis.Th e posteriorly widened palpal tibia with ventral brush of short setae and the shape of the median apophysis of the male palp, with a tiny nipple-shaped projection on the basal lobe are distinctive.Type material.Holotype.Male.BOTSWANA: Kalahari, between Lehututu and Kokong, 23°58'S 021°52'E (ZMB).
Notes.Th e type specimen is in poor condition, lacking one palp, three legs and one jaw.Th e colours have been largely lost due to long immersion in alcohol.It is with some hesitation we assign the female here described to this species, given the wide separation (530 km) of the locality from that of the type locality.However, the distinctive line of light spots on the abdomen corresponds well with Simon's original description of the appearance of the male (before decolouration in alcohol) and no other species in the genus has a similar appearance.
Description.Holotype.Male.Total length.4.00 mm.Carapace.Length 2.08 mm, width 1.67 mm.Colour chestnut brown with faint darker lines radiating from fovea.Fovea only moderately long.Head region not at all raised but sharply narrowed and clearly distinct from thoracic region.Eyes.Anterior row very slightly procurved.AME separated from each other by 0.6 × their own diameter and by 0.4 × their own diameter from the very small ALE.Eyes of middle row 1.4 × diameter of AME's and separated from each other by 0.7 × their own diameter.PLE 0.7 × diameter of PME, separated by

Botswana
Female.Total length 3.84 mm.Carapace.Length 1.84 mm, width 1.33 mm.Colour as in male.Eyes.Anterior row straight.AME eyes larger than those of male, separated by 0.2 × their diameter and touching the ALE's.Chelicerae.Smaller than those of male, with two minute teeth on posterior margin and no visible teeth on anterior margin.Maxillae and labium.As in male.Sternum.1.12 long, 0.89 wide.Legs.Only one fourth leg survives.Similar in colouration and spination to that of male.Abdomen.Dorsally dark greyish brown with four pairs of pale spots along its length.Otherwise as in male.Spinnerets.PLS ca 2.5 × length of AMS.Second segment of PLS as long as fi rst.Dorsally dark greyish brown.Epigyne (Figs 12-13).Ventral view with vague pattern consisting of two oblique asymmetrical v-shaped stripes in front and a rounded inversed v in centre of posterior part; entrance to duct openings visible in transparency as darker spots on either side of inverted v. Dorsal view of cleared epigyne with largely separated entrance openings near posterior margin; short S-shaped entrance ducts directed forward to small oval spermathecae.
Distribution.Botswana (Map 1).Diagnosis.Th e appearance of the epigyne is characteristic with a large rectangular notch on the posterior margin of the epigynal plate and the short converging ducts seen through the cuticle.

Amblyothele atlantica
Etymology.Th e specifi c name is a Latinised form of the Greek for "household" and "knowledge" and is used in its modern sense of "environmentally friendly", referring to its occurrence in an intercrop.
Description.Female.Total length 5.17 mm.Carapace.Length 2.17 mm, width 1.67 mm.Pale chestnut brown with dark grey striae radiating from fovea.Fovea long, 0.2 × length of carapace.Eyes.Anterior row slightly recurved.AME 0.9 × diameter of ALE, separated by 0.2 × their own diameter and almost touching ALE.Middle eyes 1.83 × diameter of AME, separated by 0.87 × their diameter.PLE 1.12 × diameter of PME, separated by 1.67 × their own diameter.Eye region dark black with a few dark setae.Chelicerae.Coloured as carapace and clothed in long pale setae.Retro-margin with two teeth, proximal largest.Pro-margin with three teeth, middle largest.Maxillae and labium.Maxillae 0.75 × length of labium, truncate at tip.Labium as wide as long at base, tapering to a rounded tip.Coloured as chelicerae.Sternum.Shield shaped and somewhat produced between hind coxae.Pale yellow with a scattering of dark setae.Legs: Pale brown.Relatively stout for genus.Ratio length/breadth of tibia IV 13.2.Leg IV 1.33 × length of leg I. Ventral spines of leg I; tibia 2+2, metatarsus 2+2+ (2).Tarsal claws moderately long, with 5 long teeth.Abdomen.Dorsally chestnut brown suff used with grey and with 5 pairs of lighter spots along length, consisting of pale setae.Ventrally pale cream.Spinnerets.Long, PLS 2 × length of other spinnerets.Dorsally dark greyish brown, ventrally pale cream.Epigyne (Fig. 15).In ventral view, large, with a conspicuous rectangular notch on the posterior margin of the epigynal plate.Ducts (as seen through cuticle), short narrow, curved and converging at the anterior end.
Male unknown.Distribution.Known only from the type locality (Map 3).Description.Total length: 3.08 mm.Carapace.Length 1.56 mm, width 1.10 mm.Dark greyish brown.Head region lower than thoracic region.Fovea long, with dark streaks radiating from it to the margin.Head region with a coating of adpressed iridescent white setae and many forward-pointing strong black bristles.Eyes.Anterior row markedly recurved.AME 2 × diameter of ALE, all eyes touching one another.Middle eyes 1.75 × diameter of AME and separated by 0.43 × their own diameter.PLE 0.86 × diameter of PME and separated by 2.83 × their own diameter.Chelicerae.Yellowish brown mottled with dark grey.Relatively short and stout for the genus and clothed in dark bristles.Posterior margin with two teeth, that nearest the fang the largest, anterior margin with three teeth, the middle the largest.Maxillae and Labium.Maxillae 2 × length of labium, truncate distally, coloured as the chelicerae.Labium wider than long, sub-quadrate, coloured as chelicerae.Sternum.Shield-shaped and strongly produced between the hind coxae.Coloured as chelicerae.Legs.Coloured as the carapace, without any darker banding.Long, ratio of length/breadth of tibia IV 10.Diagnosis.Th e male may be recognised by the shape of the median apophysis, the proximal end of which tapers to a point and lacks any forward pointing lobe.Th e female differs from other members of the genus in possessing a broadly cordate central plate in the epigyne and by the shape and position of the spermathecae as seen through the cuticle.

Amblyothele hamatula
Etymology.Th e specifi c name is derived from the Latin for "widely distributed" and refers to the wide separation of the three known localities for the species.
Type material.Holotype.Male.TANZANIA: Mkomazi Game Reserve, 4°00'S, 38°00 'E, 26.XI.1994, pitfall   Female.Total length 4.58 mm.Carapace.Length 1.75 mm, width 1.24 mm.Colour as in male but somewhat darker.Pattern more diff use than in male.Head region not at all elevated.Eyes.Anterior row slightly recurved, all eyes touching.AME 1.66 × diameter of ALE.Middle eyes 1.8 × diameter of AME, separated by 0.33 × their own diameter.PLE 0.55 × diameter of PME and widely separated by 2.73 × their own diameter.Immediate region of eyes suff used with black.Chelicerae.Similar to those of male in coloration and shape but slightly broader.Posterior margin with two small teeth, anterior margin with one very minute tooth.Maxillae and labium.Maxillae similar to those of male in colour and shape but rather broader in relation to length.Labium broader than in male but otherwise similar.Sternum.Identical in shape and colour to that of male.Legs.Similar of those of male but relatively shorter.Spination as in male but spines shorter, darker and more robust.Tarsal claws as in male but teeth longer and more robust.Abdomen.Dorsally, similar in colour to that of male but pattern much more indistinct.Ventrally, pale whitish yellow.Spinnerets.Long, proportions and coloration as in male.Epigyne.Figs 31, 32, 41.Central plate broadly cordate in shape with posterior margin slightly indented.Outline of spermathecae relatively small and positioned near the anterior end of central plate.Dorsal view Fig. 32.
Variation.Total length, males 3.50-4.17mm (10 specimens), females 3.83-5.00mm (9 specimens).Th ere is some variation in the depth of pigmentation between individuals and in the distinctness of the dorsal pattern of the abdomen, with females generally having a less well defi ned pattern.Th e appearance of the female epigyne varies somewhat with the internal structures more visible through the cuticle in some specimens than others.
Biology.Over one hundred specimens of this species were taken in pitfall traps in Mkomazi Game Reserve between April 1995 and March 1996.Traps were operated for four days in each month in both Acacia/Commiphora bushland on a hillside and tall grassland on a footslope below.Amblyothele latedissipata was found in both habitats but was most abundant in bushland that had not been recently burnt.It also occurred commonly in a grassland area that had been burnt a few months previously but was almost absent from recently burnt bushland.It showed a peak of activity in all habitats in the wet months of April and May with a second minor peak in October.Amblyothele longipes sp.n. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:FA5EC3BE-4C5E-409F-AF19-5414EC67D872Figs [28][29][30][31][32]40,Map 7 Diagnosis.Th e male may be recognised by the shape of the small median apophysis, with the anterior lobe sickle shaped and the posterior lobe truncate and pointing forward.Th e female diff ers from other members of the genus by the rounded posterior lobes of the posterior margin of the epigyne and the fairly long, slightly curved entrance ducts.
Etymology.Th e specifi c name refers to the exceptionally long, thin legs in this species.
Other material examined.COTE D'IVOIRE: 2 ♀: Mbé, near Bouaké, WARDA site, 7°52'N 5°06'W, 1.X.1993, in  Th oracic region slightly elevated relative to head region and posterior margin steeply sloping.Eyes.Anterior row slightly recurved.AME 2 × diameter of very small ALE and almost touching them.AME separated by 0.2 × their own diameter.Middle eyes 1.4 × diameter of AME and separated by 0.33 × their own diameter.PLE 0.86 × diameter of PME and separated by 2.17 × their own diameter.Eye region heavily suff used with black.Chelicerae.Long and relatively thin, yellow brown suff used with grey and with two darker longitudinal stripes.Posterior margin with three small teeth, the middle the largest; anterior margin with 3 small teeth, placed further from base of fang than those of posterior margin.Maxillae and labium.Maxillae 2 × length of labium, distally truncate.Pale yellow suff used with grey.Labium sub-quadrate, as long as broad, coloured as maxillae.Sternum.Shield shaped, broader than long, produced between hind coxae.Coloured as maxillae but paler.Female.Total length 3.75 mm.Carapace.Length 1.54 mm, width 1.04 mm.Colour as in male but somewhat darker.Fovea long.Head region not at all raised.Eyes.Anterior row slightly recurved.AME 2 × diameter of ALE and almost touching them.AME separated by 0.5 × their own width, Middle eyes 1.25 × diameter of AME and separated by 0.60 × their own diameter.PLE 0.84 × diameter of PME and separated by 1.44 × their own diameter.Eye region suff used with black and with a covering of white decumbent setae.Chelicerae.Similar to those of male but broader and shorter and with a stouter fang.Coloured as in the male but with many stout black bristles.Teeth as in male but shorter and stouter.Maxillae and labium.Broader than in male and with more dark pigmentation.Labium as in male but with darker pigmentation.Sternum.As in male but more darkly pigmented.Produced into a lobe between the hind coxae.Legs.Long and thin but much less so than in male.Ratio of length to breadth of tibia IV 17:1.Coloration darker than in male but otherwise similar.Paired tarsal claws as in male but larger and stouter.Abdomen.Coloration and dorsal pattern as in male but darker.Beset with dark bristles and white (plumose ?) setae.Underside as in male.Spinnerets.As in male but larger and more darkly pigmented.Epigyne.Figs 31-32, 40.In ventral view, posterior margin of epigyne rounded and deeply notched.Spermathecae small, situated near anterior margin.Slightly curved ducts just discernible through cuticle directed forward from spermathecae.Dorsal view, Fig. 40.
Variation.Total length, males 3.33-3.75mm (6 specimens), females 3.33-3.92mm (5 specimens).Th ere is some variation in depth of pigmentation between individuals and in the distinctness of the dorsal pattern of the abdomen varies.Th e appearance of the female epigyne varies somewhat with the internal structures more visible through the cuticle in some specimens than others.
Distribution.Th is species has been recorded in Côte d'Ivoire and Togo (Map 7).Biology.Th is species has been taken in both tall savannah with Andropogon gayanus and in upland rice fi elds in Côte d'Ivoire.It occurred in the derived savannah zone at Bouaké and Touba but was apparently absent from the forest zone at Gagnoa.In upland rice at Bouaké it appear to have a peak of activity in the second half of September and fi rst half of October, approximately coincident with the fl owering and seed setting phase of rice growth.Roewer, 1960 Figs 1-9, 33-39, Map 8 Diagnosis.Th e median apophysis of the male palp most resembles that of A. longipes but the apical lobe is considerably broader in relation to its length and the basal lobe is shorter and not forked at its tip.Th e embolus is broader in relation to length than that  2).Spines relatively short for genus.All segments pale orange-yellow, clothed in short dark setae.Tarsal claws (fi g. 9) with 2-3 fi ne teeth, typical of genus.Inferior claw with fi ve small teeth.Tarsal organ with keyhole shaped opening (Fig. 8).Abdomen.With greyish-brown markings on a paler yellow background.With a dark dorsal folium anteriorly and behind this 3 faint chevrons.Ventrally pale whitish.Spinnerets .PLS ca 2 × length of AMS.Terminal segment of PLS 0.7 × length of basal segment.Coloured as the abdomen.

Amblyothele togona
Male Palp.Figs 6,7,33,34.Median apophysis rather similar to that in A. longipes.Apical lobe sickle-shaped but not tapering to a narrow tip as in A. longipes.Basal lobe with short forward pointing projection which is truncate at tip.Anterior and posterior lobes of MA do not approach close to one another.Embolus very broad, clearly visible alongside MA.
Variation.Total length, males 3.50-3.83mm (5 specimens).Th ere is some variation in depth of pigmentation between individuals and in the distinctness of the dorsal pattern of the abdomen varies.Th e shape of the epigyne may vary considerably depending on the inclination.In the holotype the V-shaped notch is not conspicuous because the posterior part of the epigyne is slightly invaginated.

Discussion
Th ere is a superfi cial similarity between Amblyothele species and representatives of the genus Trebacosa Dondale & Redner, 1981 of which a species has recently been discovered in Europe (Szinetár and Kancsal 2007;Villepoux 2007) and which clearly belongs in the Piratinae.However there are clear diff erences between Trebacosa and Amblyothele.In the former, the cephalothorax is densely covered in short setae, the position of the eyes is clearly diff erent, and the legs are much shorter.Among the diff erences in the structure of the genitalia, mainly the large and prominent MA and TA on the male palp and the very short copulatory ducts in the epigyne of Trebacosa, discern it from Amblyothele.
In Africa, lycosid spiders of the subfamily Piratinae [sensu Zyuzin (1993)] are represented by at least six genera.Th e nominate genus Pirata includes 10 described species from throughout the continent.Th e African representatives of the genus have never been fully revised and since seven of these are known only from females it is likely that a number of synonyms exist.As in Europe and N. America, nearly all African Pirata species are associated with wetland habitats.Th e monotypic genus Auloniella (holotype male of A. maculisterna Roewer, 1960 in ZMB seen) is very close to Pirata and may yet be considered to belong to that genus once revised.Proevippa is currently represented by 11 species, almost entirely confi ned to southern Africa and characteristic of savannah grasslands and open woodland.Trabea, which is closely related to Proevippa (Russell-Smith 1982) is also largely southern African although T. bipunctata and T. heteroculata extend northwards as far as Rwanda (Alderweireldt 1999) and Ethiopia.Most of the 11 species are recorded either from grasslands or fynbos.Th e recently described and enigmatic monotypic genus Minicosa from S. Africa is probably also best placed in the Piratinae, showing some similarities to Trabea (Alderweireldt and Jocqué 2007).Th e genera Pterartoria Purcell and Pterartoriola Roewer have never been fully revised and although both have a palpal structure that shares features with Proevippa and Trabea, their relationships remain obscure.Th e four species in each of these genera are confi ned to South Africa.
Th e genus Amblyothele can now be added to these.Th e genus is closest to Pirata in terms of genitalic morphology but diff ers signifi cantly in its generally smaller size, longer legs and diff erent leg chaetotaxy.It also diff ers from Pirata in its habitat preference, the former ocurring in wetlands while Amblyothele species are found in a range of diff erent savanna grassland and open woodland habitats.Like Pirata, the geographical range of Amblyothele in Africa is wide, the species being found from Côte d'Ivoire in W. Africa to Rwanda in E. Africa and southwards to Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa.
sp. n. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:2B74D4AF-DE6A-4E82-9BEC-925A92292D04Figs 16 Map 4    Diagnosis.Th e male diff ers from other species of the genus by the shape of the broad median apophysis, with the apical lobe narrowing abruptly at the tip and the basal lobe with a barbed, forward pointing projection.Etymology.Th e specifi c name is derived from the Latin for a small hook or barb and refers to the shape of the projection on the posterior lobe of the median apophysis.Type material Holotype.Male.COTE D'IVOIRE: Mbé, near Bouaké, WARDA site, 7°52'N 5°06'W, 15.VIII.1994,pitfall traps in upland rice, A. Russell-Smith leg.(MRAC 223299).Description.Holotype.Male.Total length 3.17 mm.Carapace.Length 1.56 mm, width 1.08 mm.Orange-brown with darker streaks radiating from fovea.Head region slightly lower than thoracic region.Fovea moderately long.Whole eye region suff used with black and covered with fl attened white setae.Eyes.Anterior row straight.AME ca. 2 × diameter of ALE, separated from them by ca.0.20 × their own diameter.AME separated from each other by 0.5 × their own diameter.Middle eyes 2.0 × diameter of AME and separated by 0.5 × their own diameter.PLE 0.75 × diameter of PME and separated by 2.33 × their own diameter.Chelicerae.Moderately long, pale orange-yellow with black mottling.Posterior margin with two teeth, that nearest the fang the largest, anterior margin with three teeth, the middle the largest.Maxillae and labium.Coloured as chelicerae.Maxillae ca.twice as long as labium and somewhat convex at distal end.Labium markedly longer than wide.Both with a scattering of dark bristles.Sternum.Yellowish orange heavily suff used with grey.Shield-shaped, not produced between hind coxae.Legs.Orange-yellow with all femora and tibiae IV suf-Map 3. Locality of A. ecologica.South Africa kilometers Map 4. Locality of A. hamatula.
Legs.Exceptionally long and slender.Ratio of length/breadth of tibia IV 22:1.Leg IV 1.36 × length of leg I. Yellow with tibiae and metatarsi suff used with grey.Paired tarsal claws with 5 long curved teeth, central claw small, bent at right angles.With paired serrated bristles opposite claws.Abdomen.With a pale yellow folium anteriorly and three dark chevrons posterior to the folium.Yellowgrey with darker markings.Ventrally pale whitish yellow.Spinnerets.Long and thin, typical of genus.PLS ca 2 × length of AMS, their second segments equal in length to basal segments.Coloured as abdomen.Palp.Figs 28-30.Cymbium pale yellow-brown.Map 7. Localities of A. longipes.
Distribution.Known from Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, D.R. Congo and Kenya (Map 8).Biology.Unlike other species of the genus, A. togona has been recorded in the litter of a riverine forest.Map 8.Localities of A. togona. kilometers

.
Course of E almost totally obscured by MA in unexpanded palp (Figs 6, 7) with only very tip visible near base of MA in A. albocincta, A. latedissipata and A. togona.Sub-tegulum relatively large in most species, occupying from quarter to third of surface of bulb, but reduced in size inA.hamatula.

A. latedissipata
Moderately long, ratio of length/breadth of tibiae IV 14.8:1.Leg IV 1.36 × length of leg I. Ventral spines of leg I; metatarsus 2-2-(2), tibia 2-2-(2).Lateral tarsal claws with 4 teeth, central claw minute, bent at right angles.Abdomen.Dorsally, base colour orange-yellow heavily suff used with black except on short central folium.Ventrally pale whitish-yellow.Spinnerets.Both dorsally and ventrally black.PLS long, second segment ca 0.75 × length of basal segment.Male palp.Median apophysis placed distally on tegulum.Apical lobe of median apophysis broad at base, tapering abruptly to a narrow tip.Posterior lobe with a small, forward pointing, barbed projection.Embolus invisible in unexpanded palp, long and thin, lying parallel to the projection and the same length as it.Female unknown.Distribution.Only recorded from the type locality in Côte d'Ivoire (Map 4).
kilometers fused with grey.Diagnosis.Th e broad, deeply cupped apical lobe of the median apophysis of the male palp is distinctive as is the very long embolar tip which is clearly visible in ventral view.Etymology.Named after the type locality.Type material.Holotype.Male.RWANDA: Akagera N.P., lac Kivumba, 1.