Palystes kreutzmanni sp. n. – a new huntsman spider species from fynbos vegetation in Western Cape Province, South Africa (Araneae, Sparassidae, Palystinae

Abstract Palystes kreutzmanni sp. n. is described from habitats close to Kleinmond, in the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Spiders of this new species live in the typical fynbos vegetation of the Western Cape region. They build retreats between apical leaves of Leucadendron bushes. The systematic position of Palystes kreutzmanni sp. n. is discussed. Male and female show characters of different species groups, especially the female copulatory organ seems to be unique within the genus Palystes L. Koch, 1875.


Introduction
Th e genus Palystes L. Koch. 1875 was revised by Croeser (1996). In that paper he erected a new genus, Parapalystes Croeser, 1996, and transferred to it four species formerly described as Palystes (3 species) and Remmius Simon, 1897 (1 species). He distin-guished three species groups within Palystes leaving six species incertae sedis. A cladistic analysis based on 20 morphological characters placed Parapalystes as sister to all Palystes species. Within Palystes, the castaneus-group (3 spp.; paraphyletic in Croeser's analysis) is basal to lunatus-group (6 spp.) and superciliosus-group (6 spp.). Since that revision Jäger and Kunz (2005) published an illustrated key to the genera of African Sparassidae, including illustrations of 17 Palystinae species. Jäger and Rheims (2010) described the female of Sarotesius melanognathus Pocock, 1898 for the fi rst time and discussed its systematic affi liations. Currently 21 Palystes species are described (Platnick 2010).
During an expedition in South Africa the junior author collected spiders of a species of the subfamily Palystinae Simon, 1897 in Western Cape Province. It is described as a new species and its relationships are discussed. A short identifi cation key is provided as partial update of that of Croeser (1996: 18).
Measurements are in millimetres, arising points of tegular appendages are given as clock-position of the left palp in ventral view. Leg and palp measurements are given as: total (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). Leg spination is given as: prolateral, dorsal, retrolateral, ventral (the latter digit may be omitted in the case of absence of ventral spines). Female copulatory organs were treated with 96% lactic acid. Material is stored in 70% denatured ethanol.

Museum
Diagnosis. Medium sized Sparassidae, body length of males: 12.7, of females: 13.7-17.0. Males (Figs 1-5) similar to those of Palystes lunatus-group (sensu Croeser 1996), i.e. having a simple and broad embolus and one short and simple RTA, most similar to P. leppanae Pocock, 1902. Distinguished by 1. Tegular sclerite (sensu Croeser 1996) situated dorsally of embolus, visible only in retrolatero-distal view, 2. Embolus pointed, straight and almost distad (lunatus-group males with retrolaterad embolus), 3. RTA short, stout, with broad massive base and moderately pointed to blunt apex. Females (Figs 8-10, 13-15) may be distinguished from other Palystes species by 1. Posterior margin of median septum distinctly concave as in P. stilleri Croeser, 1996, but shorter and not extending to or beyond epigastric furrow, 2. Internal duct system distinctly diff erent from other Palystes spp.: short copulatory ducts leading anteriorly to a wide atrium, where glandular appendages are arising; long wound ducts (= functional spermathecae?) running from medially to lateral, turning medially and then posteriorly to fertilisation ducts, 3. Glandular appendages not free (although it appears as such in a ventral view when observed in lactic acid; Figs 8, 13), but included in a transparent layer covering the anterior part of internal duct system (mainly atrium).
Etymology. In honour of Mr Jürgen Kreutzmann for supporting the systematic research, description of biodiversity and nature conservation in South Africa; noun in genitive case.
Colouration in ethanol : Reddish-brown with pattern consisting of white and red hairs and dark markings. Dorsal shield with two lateral longitudinal bands narrowing anteriorly and dark triangular pattern in front of fovea. Indistinct narrow bright median line in front of fovea. Clypeus with transversal band of dense bright hairs. Sternum dark reddish brown, without pattern. Labium dark reddishbrown proximally, with distal bright lip. Gnathocoxae brighter, especially at inner margins. Ventral and retrolateral coxae bright yellowish brown, prolateral sides dark brown. Chelicerae dark reddish brown, with two short longitudinal bands consisting of white hairs, one frontal and one lateral. Palpal femora yellowish brown, rest reddish brown as other appendages. Legs with small spine patches consisting of white hairs, tibiae annulated. Ventral femora I and II with white patch in distal half consisting of white hairs (more distinct in live specimens: Fig. 22). Dorsal tarsi with small longitudinal dark patch in distal half. Dorsal opisthosoma with solid black patch above heart surrounded by bright lanceolate area extending to spinnerets: Th is brighter area bordered especially in posterior half by darker part. Lateral opisthosoma becoming brighter to ventral side. Ventral opisthosoma with red patch between epigastric furrow and spinnerets becoming blackish anterior and posterior and including one pair of small white patches in the middle and four longitudinal lines of tiny muscle sigillae; further bright dots situated laterally of the red patch. For colouration of live specimen see Fig. 22.
Colouration in ethanol (Figs 20-21): As in male but in general with less distinct pattern. Pattern of dorsal shield of prosoma barely recognisable, heart patch of dorsal opisthosoma indistinct. Legs with fewer and shorter white hairs. Prolateral coxae bright yellowish brown. Chelicerae without lateral bright longitudinal band.
Colouration: in general there were distinct diff erences in contrast and strength of the pattern. Dorsal opisthosoma with patch above heart only marginally black, uniformly grey or with same colour as surrounding areas; in one female (PJ 3264) one lateral pair of small white patches was included in the middle of the heart. Ventral opisthosoma with paired white patches and white dots varying in size, shape and position. In one female (PJ 3266) an additional small unpaired white median patch was present between the paired patches and the spinnerets. Pattern of prolateral coxae varying from entirely yellowish brown to having dark patches to a diff erent degree with stronger markings in anterior coxae. Frontal longitudinal white bands of chelicerae varying in length.
Copulatory organ: In one female (PJ 3267) one slit sense organ was present (Fig.  13). Internal duct system may be more compact and right and left half more separated (Fig. 14). Th e median septum may be broader (Fig. 13) or exhibiting a median bulge in the concave posterior margin.
Distribution. Only known from the type locality (Figs 23-24). Biology. Retreats were built between apical leaves of Leucadendron plants (Fig.  25). Spiders were resting here during the day time.
Relationships. Palystes kreutzmanni sp. n. cannot be assigned to any of the species groups listed in Croeser (1996), as it shows a combination of character states confl icting with one or the other diagnosis including that of the genus Parapalystes. According to Croeser (1996) the colouration of the new species shows affi nities to the castaneus-group (solid black sternum), superciliosus-group (ventral femora I -II with a bright patch apically), and to Parapalystes (solid black sternum, heart patch solid brown in males). Th e female epigyne exhibits a uniquely shaped median septum (not tonguelike as in lunatus-group). It is most similar to P. stilleri, but shape and course of the internal duct system is distinctly diff erent than in any other species group listed above. Th ere seems to be a general bauplan of the internal duct system recognisable for Palystinae (incl. Palystes, Parapalystes, Sarotesius Pocock, 1898, Panaretella Lawrence, 1937, Anchonastus Simon 1898, ?Staianus Simon 1889: copulatory opening followed by an atrium (may be elongated), glandular appendages arising from this atrium, subsequent (in many species wound) ducts leading to fertilisations ducts. A median septum together with adjacent furrows is present, only in Anchonastus plumosus (Pocock, 1899) furrows in the anterior part are fused and not recognisable at the cuticular surface. P. kreutzmanni sp. n. is unique in having the fi rst intromittent part running from lateral antero-medially (in P. superciliosus group starting from median running anterolaterally).
Considering all these observations P. kreutzmanni sp. n. may be one species with mixed apomorphic character states, or characters previously used for diff erentiating species groups within Palystinae were symplesiomorphic. However, in both cases only a thorough revision of all taxa in question can help to understand character evolution and phylogenetic position of species and genera, and fi nally placing the new species correctly.
In the identifi cation key of Croeser (1996) males key out (if considering sternum of the new species black) at #16. Here a trichotomy should be inserted: 16 (15)