The global spread of misinformation on spiders

Non peer reviewe

An expert-curated global database of online newspaper articles on spiders and spider bites

Mass media plays an important role in the construction and circulation of risk perception associated with animals. Widely feared groups such as spiders frequently end up in the spotlight of traditional and social media. We compiled an expert-curated global database on the online newspaper coverage of human-spider encounters over the past ten years (2010-2020). This database includes information about the location of each human-spider encounter reported in the news article and a quantitative characterisation of the content-location, presence of photographs of spiders and bites, number and type of errors, consultation of experts, and a subjective assessment of sensationalism. In total, we collected 5348 unique news articles from 81 countries in 40 languages. The database refers to 211 identified and unidentified spider species and 2644 unique human-spider encounters (1121 bites and 147 as deadly bites). To facilitate data reuse, we explain the main caveats that need to be made when analysing this database and discuss research ideas and questions that can be explored with it.Peer reviewe

An expert-curated global database of online newspaper articles on spiders and spider bites

Mass media plays an important role in the construction and circulation of risk perception associated with animals. Widely feared groups such as spiders frequently end up in the spotlight of traditional and social media. We compiled an expert-curated global database on the online newspaper coverage of human-spider encounters over the past ten years (2010–2020). This database includes information about the location of each human-spider encounter reported in the news article and a quantitative characterisation of the content—location, presence of photographs of spiders and bites, number and type of errors, consultation of experts, and a subjective assessment of sensationalism. In total, we collected 5348 unique news articles from 81 countries in 40 languages. The database refers to 211 identified and unidentified spider species and 2644 unique human-spider encounters (1121 bites and 147 as deadly bites). To facilitate data reuse, we explain the main caveats that need to be made when analysing this database and discuss research ideas and questions that can be explored with it. </p

The global spread of misinformation on spiders

In the internet era, the digital architecture that keeps us connected and informed may also amplify the spread of misinformation. This problem is gaining global attention, as evidence accumulates that misinformation may interfere with democratic processes and undermine collective responses to environmental and health crises. In an increasingly polluted information ecosystem, understanding the factors underlying the generation and spread of misinformation is becoming a pressing scientific and societal challenge. Here, we studied the global spread of (mis-)information on spiders using a high-resolution global database of online newspaper articles on spider–human interactions, covering stories of spider–human encounters and biting events published from 2010–2020. We found that 47% of articles contained errors and 43% were sensationalist. Moreover, we show that the flow of spider-related news occurs within a highly interconnected global network and provide evidence that sensationalism is a key factor underlying the spread of misinformation. </p

Austrachelas Lawrence 1938

&lt;i&gt;Austrachelas&lt;/i&gt; Lawrence, 1938 &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Austrachelas&lt;/i&gt; Lawrence, 1938: 504; Dippenaar-Schoeman &amp; Jocqu&eacute;, 1997: 128; Haddad, Lyle, Bosselaers &amp; Ram&iacute;rez, 2009: 16. Type species: &lt;i&gt;Austrachelas incertus&lt;/i&gt; Lawrence, 1938, by original designation. &lt;b&gt;Diagnosis and description.&lt;/b&gt; see Haddad &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; (2009).&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Mbo, Zingisile, 2017, A new species of the endemic South African spider genus Austrachelas (Araneae: Gallieniellidae) and first description of the male of A. bergi, pp. 119-124 in Zootaxa 4323 (1)&lt;/i&gt; on page 119, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.1.9, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/897425"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/897425&lt;/a&gt

Austrachelas bergi Haddad, Lyle, Bosselaers & Ramirez 2009

&lt;i&gt;Austrachelas bergi&lt;/i&gt; Haddad, Lyle, Bosselaers &amp; Ram&iacute;rez, 2009 (Figs 4, 5, 8&ndash;10) &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Austrachelas bergi&lt;/i&gt; Haddad, Lyle, Bosselaers &amp; Ram&iacute;rez, 2009: 17, figs 1, 52, 53.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Diagnosis.&lt;/b&gt; Females of &lt;i&gt;A. bergi&lt;/i&gt; share with &lt;i&gt;A. entabeni&lt;/i&gt; &lt;b&gt;sp. nov.&lt;/b&gt; an epigyne with a large tongue-shaped anterior hood, but can be recognized from the latter species by the anterior pentagonal membranous concavity into which the anterior hood is inserted (Fig. 4), which is absent in the latter species (Fig. 3). Males of &lt;i&gt;A. bergi&lt;/i&gt; are unique in the genus by the presence of a large proximal apophysis and smaller distal dorsal apophysis on the male palpal tibia, in addition to the distal RTA found in all of the species (Figs 5, 8&ndash;10).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Description. Female.&lt;/b&gt; Described by Haddad &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; (2009).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Male.&lt;/b&gt; Measurements: CL 3.04, CW 2.20, FL 0.29, SL 1.65, SW 1.30, AL 3.45, AW 2.05, TL 6.50, AME&ndash;AME 0.03, AME&ndash;ALE 0.01, ALE&ndash;ALE 0.22, PME&ndash;PME 0.04, PME&ndash;PLE 0.07, PLE&ndash;PLE 0.38.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 2.15 + 1.10 + 1.55 + 1.22 + 0.83 = 6.85; II 1.90 + 1.07 + 1.43 + 1.08 + 0.80 = 6.28; III 1.65 + 0.88 + 0.95 + 1.26 + 0.73 = 5.47; IV 2.25 + 1.08 + 1.70 + 2.02 + 0.85 = 7.90.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Carapace orange, slightly paler along midline, with series of 10-12 transverse ridges lateral to eye region, stronger anteriorly, progressively shallower posteriorly; AER strongly procurved, laterals larger than medians; AME separated by distance equal to 1/3 their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 1/8 AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 6/5 AME diameter at AME, equal to 5/6 ALE diameter at ALE; PER straight, laterals larger than medians; PME separated by distance slightly less than 1/2 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 4/5 PME diameter. Chelicerae deep orange-brown, with eight coarse transverse ridges on anterior surface of paturon; promargin with four teeth, proximal tooth smallest, second tooth largest, third and fourth teeth progressively smaller; retromargin without teeth. Sternum and mouthparts bright yellow-brown. Legs all creamy-yellow, leg I with slightly brighter yellow tinge. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1, II pl 1, III pl 2 do 2 rl 1, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I &amp; II spineless, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I &amp; II spineless, strongly scopulate, III &amp; IV scopulate in distal half, III pl 5 rl 5 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 5 rl 5 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2; palp: femora do 2. Abdomen pale grey dorsally, with faint mottled creamy-grey chevron, pale grey laterally and ventrally, with grey ring around spinnerets; dorsum and venter lacking scutum or other sclerites, except two pairs of weak dorsal sigilla and small, oval post-epigastric sclerites. Male palpal tibia with proximal and distal retrolateral apophyses, and small triangular dorsal apophysis (Figs 5, 8&ndash;10); proximal retrolateral heel of cymbium strongly pronounced; median tegular apophysis broad, curved and elongate; embolus arc-shaped, with two lobes on inner margin, tip strongly curved (Figs 5, 8).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Material examined.&lt;/b&gt; SOUTH AFRICA: &lt;i&gt;Limpopo&lt;/i&gt;: Mariepskop State Forest, Northern Drakensberg, 23&deg;35.06'S, 30&deg;51.81'E, 1350m a.s.l., leg. D. Ubick &amp; S. Prinsloo, 13.X.1999, 1&female; (CAS, CASENT 9072380). &lt;i&gt;Mpumalanga&lt;/i&gt;: Songimvelo Nature Reserve, Diepgezet, 25&deg;56'41''S, 31&deg;06'10''E, 1420m a.s.l., leg. D. &amp; S. Ubick, 20&ndash;23.III.2001 (pitfalls, ravine with indigenous forest), 1&male; (CAS, CASENT 9072375).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Distribution.&lt;/b&gt; Previously known only from the type locality near Nelspruit [Mbombela], this species is recorded from an additional site in Mpumalanga Province near the Swaziland border, as well as from the Limpopo Province for the first time, extending its distribution range to approximately 275 km (Fig. 11).&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Mbo, Zingisile, 2017, A new species of the endemic South African spider genus Austrachelas (Araneae: Gallieniellidae) and first description of the male of A. bergi, pp. 119-124 in Zootaxa 4323 (1)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 120-122, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.1.9, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/897425"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/897425&lt;/a&gt

Austrachelas entabeni Mbo 2017, sp. nov.

&lt;i&gt;Austrachelas entabeni&lt;/i&gt; sp. nov. (Figs 1&ndash;3, 6, 7) &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Diagnosis.&lt;/b&gt; Females of &lt;i&gt;A. entabeni&lt;/i&gt; &lt;b&gt;sp. nov.&lt;/b&gt; are most closely related to &lt;i&gt;A. bergi&lt;/i&gt;, sharing an elongate anterior epigynal hood (generally broader than long in other congeners). In &lt;i&gt;A. entabeni&lt;/i&gt; &lt;b&gt;sp. nov.&lt;/b&gt; the attachment of the anterior hood diverges anteriorly and the lateral hoods are small (arrows in Fig. 3), while in &lt;i&gt;A. bergi&lt;/i&gt; the anterior hood is inserted at the posterior end of a membranous pentagonal anterior concavity, and the lateral hoods are elongate (arrows in Fig. 4). Male unknown.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Description. Female.&lt;/b&gt; Measurements: CL 3.53, CW 2.55, FL 0.30, SL 1.94, SW 1.45, AL 4.90, AW 2.80, TL 8.35, AME&ndash;AME 0.02, AME&ndash;ALE 0.01, ALE&ndash;ALE 0.22, PME&ndash;PME 0.05, PME&ndash;PLE 0.08, PLE&ndash;PLE 0.46.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Length of leg segments (sequence from femur to tarsus, and total): I 2.30 + 1.31 + 1.75 + 1.26 + 0.78 = 7.40; II 2.19 + 1.30 + 1.63 + 1.24 + 0.78 = 7.14; III 1.85 + 0.99 + 1.12 + 1.38 + 0.73 = 6.07; IV 2.50 + 1.29 + 1.79 + 2.15 + 0.85 = 8.58.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Carapace orange-brown with faint black mottling and radiating striae, slightly paler medially (Fig. 1); AER strongly procurved, laterals larger than medians; AME separated by distance equal to 1/5 their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 1/10 AME diameter; clypeus height equal to 4/3 AME diameter at AME, equal to 3/5 ALE diameter at ALE; PER straight, laterals larger than medians; PME separated by distance equal slightly less than 1/2 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance slightly more than 1/2 PME diameter. Chelicerae deep red-brown, with coarse transverse ridges; promargin with four teeth, proximal tooth smallest, second tooth largest, third and fourth teeth progressively smaller; retromargin with one small denticle, positioned between second and third promarginal teeth. Sternum and mouthparts bright orange-brown. Legs all orange in colour. Leg spination: femora: I pl 1 do 1, II pl 1 do 1, III pl 2 do 2, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I &amp; II spineless, III pl 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I &amp; II spineless, strongly scopulate, III &amp; IV scopulate in distal half, III pl 5 rl 4 plv 1 rlv 1 vt 2, IV pl 5 rl 5 plv 2 rlv 1 vt 2; palp: femora do 2, patellae pl 1, tibiae pl 2 do 2 plv 1, tarsus pl 1 do 2 rl 1 plv 2 rlv 2. Abdomen dark grey dorsally, with creamy-grey chevron markings (Fig. 1); paler grey laterally and ventrally, with dark grey mottled markings and V-shaped mediolateral marking ventrally (Fig. 2); dorsum and venter lacking scutum or other sclerites, except two small pairs of dorsal sigilla and small post-epigastric sclerites. Female epigyne diverging posteriorly, with long narrow tongue-like anterior hood and small lateral hoods (Figs 3, 6); copulatory openings situated medially, just posterior to anterior hood, entrance ducts curving laterally, entering ST 2 on their ventral surface; ST 2 positioned anterolaterally, with broad loop and globose end, connected broadly to adjacent oval posterior ST 1 (Fig. 7).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Type material.&lt;/b&gt; Holotype &female;: SOUTH AFRICA: &lt;i&gt;Limpopo&lt;/i&gt;: Soutpansberg Mountains, ca. 20km N of Levubu, Entabeni Forest, 22&deg;59'S, 30&deg;17'E, 1360m a.s.l., leg. C. Griswold, 1&ndash;2.XII.1996 (CAS, CASENT 9072373).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Distribution.&lt;/b&gt; Presently known only from the type locality in the Soutpansberg Mountains in the northern Limpopo Province (Fig. 11). Together with the new distribution data for &lt;i&gt;A. bergi&lt;/i&gt; presented below, &lt;i&gt;A. entabeni&lt;/i&gt; &lt;b&gt;sp. nov.&lt;/b&gt; extends the range of the genus approximately 300 km to the north of its previously known distribution (Haddad &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2009). The updated distribution of the genus presented here suggests a possibility that &lt;i&gt;Austrachelas&lt;/i&gt; may be recorded from Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Mozambique in the future.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Mbo, Zingisile, 2017, A new species of the endemic South African spider genus Austrachelas (Araneae: Gallieniellidae) and first description of the male of A. bergi, pp. 119-124 in Zootaxa 4323 (1)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 119-120, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4323.1.9, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/897425"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/897425&lt;/a&gt

Drassodella amatola Mbo & Haddad 2019, sp. nov.

Drassodella amatola sp. nov. Figs 1, 14, 70, 86, 157, 158, 172–175 Etymology. The species name is a noun in apposition of the mountain range (Amatola Mountains) where the type locality is found. Diagnosis. Drassodella amatola sp. nov. is distinct amongst species of this group by the absence of any dorsal markings on the abdomen, which is uniformly black. Furthermore, females can easily be distinguished by small, arc-shaped anterior hood, narrow median septum and large ST II that touch along their mesal margin (Figs 70, 172, 173), while clearly separated in the other species (Figs 71–77). Males are easily distinguished from others in the genus by the slightly curved transverse embolus and the strongly prolaterally protruding basal half of the tegulum (Figs 86, 174, 175). They are most similar to D. baviaans sp. nov., but can be recognized by the smaller median apophysis and the broader embolus tip (compare Figs 174 and 180). Description. Female (Holotype, Hogsback, NCA 2007/1188). Measurements: CL 2.78, CW 2.14, AL 3.60, AW 2.00, TL 6.52 (6.22–7.36), FL 0.22, SL 1.49, SW 1.32, CH 0.13, AME-AME 0.07, AME-ALE 0.02, ALE-ALE 0.25, PME-PME 0.19, PME-PLE 0.12, PLE-PLE 0.49, PERW 0.63, MOQAW 0.24, MOQPW 0.28, MOQL 0.17. Length of leg segments: I 2.00 + 1.16 + 1.56 + 1.52 + 1.16 = 7.40, II 1.96 + 1.04 + 1.40 + 1.36 + 1.14 = 6.90, III 1.70 + 1.00 + 1.24 + 1.36 + 0.96 = 6.26, IV 2.44 + 1.28 + 1.90 + 2.56 + 1.20 = 9.38. General appearance as in Figs 1 and 157. Carapace black; white feathery setae forming upsilon marking, running from PME towards posterior margin, diverging after fovea. Clypeus height equal to 1.86 AME diameter; AME smaller than ALE; AME separated by distance equal to their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.29 AME diameter; PME smaller than PLE; PME separated by distance equal to 2.38 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1.50 PME diameter. Chelicerae dark-brown, yellow at distal margin; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest, proximal tooth smallest, median tooth closer to proximal tooth than distal tooth; retromargin with two teeth, distal tooth slightly larger. Endites dark brown, mottled on promarginal surface and medially. Labium dark brown, anterior margin pale yellow at maxillar hair tuft; slightly longer than wide. Sternum brown. Legs with proximal segments dark-brown, with black mottling, distal segments orange. Leg spination: femora: I do 1, II do 1, III do 5, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 2 do 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, III pl 4 rl 4 plv 2 rlv 2, IV pl 4 do 2 rl 4 plv 1 rlv 2 vt 2; palpal spination: femora do 2 rl 1; patellae do 1 rl 1; tibiae do 1 rl 2; tarsi do 2 rl 2 plv 1. Abdomen uniformly black (Figs 1, 157); lateral sigilla above booklungs sub-oval; venter pale with sparse hairs; two paired rows of tiny sclerites running from epigastric fold to spinnerets, inner rows with fewer sclerites. Spinnerets brown. Epigyne with small shallow anterior hood, anterior and posterior margins strongly recurved, lateral ends slightly rounded; lateral margins of median septum weakly sclerotised, converging mesally from anterior hood posteriorly to ST II; ST I, ST II and connecting ducts orange-brown; ST II bean-shaped, touching along their mesal margins, much larger than subspherical ST I (Figs 70, 172, 173). Male (Paratype, Hogsback, NCA 2014 /699). Measurements: CL 2.80, CW 2.08, AL 2.72, AW 1.40, TL 6.48 (6.32–6.68), FL 0.48, SL 1.42, SW 1.20, CH 0.15, AME-AME 0.08, AME-ALE 0.02, ALE-ALE 0.25, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.14, PLE-PLE 0.55, PERW 0.65, MOQAW 0.21, MOQPW 0.25, MOQL 0.32. Length of leg segments: I 2.08 + 1.04 + 1.60 + 1.44 + 1.14 = 7.30, II 1.80 + 0.96 + 1.36 + 1.36 + 1.06 = 6.54, III 1.64 + 0.84 + 1.06 + 1.46 + 0.88 = 5.88, IV 2.44 + 1.12 + 1.62 + 2.50 + 1.06 = 8.74. General appearance as in Fig. 158. Carapace black, with faint radiating mottling; distinct upsilon marking of white feathery setae present, comprising median line from PME, diverging after fovea. Clypeus height equal to 2.50 AME diameter; AME smaller than ALE; AME separated by distance equal to 1.33 their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.33 AME diameter; PME smaller than PLE; PME separated by distance equal to 1.43 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance twice PME diameter; Chelicerae dark brown anteriorly, brown to red-brown posteriorly; promargin with three teeth, proximal tooth smallest, median tooth largest, median tooth closer to proximal tooth than distal tooth; retromargin with two teeth, equal in size. Endites dark brown, paler brown at maxillar hair tuft. Labium dark brown. Sternum dark brown. All legs slightly mottled, proximal segments dark brown, distal segments yellow-brown. Leg spination: femora: I do 1, II do 1 rl 1, III do 4, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2, IV pl 2 do 2 plv 2 rlv 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, III pl 4 do 1 rl 4 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 4 do 1 rl 4 plv 1 rlv 2 vt 2; palpal spination: femora do 3 rl 1; patellae rl 1; tibiae pl 1 rl 3; tarsi rl 2. Abdomen uniformly black; lateral sigilla above booklungs sub-oval; venter pale, with sparse thin hairs. Spinnerets brown. Palp dark brown; RTA long, largely obscured in ventral view by retrolateral heel of cymbium; in retrolateral view triangular, with broad base and rounded tip; cymbium broad, 1.55 times longer than wide, distal end broadly rounded; tegulum protruding prominently on prolateral side basally; embolus originating from distal prolateral mound, transverse and directed retrolaterally; median apophysis stout, hook-shaped (Figs 86, 174, 175). Type material. Holotype &female;: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province: Amatola Mountains, Hogsback, 32°36.285'S, 26°56.580'E, 27.III.2007, leg. C. Haddad (active search, knee down, Afromontane forest) (NCA 2007 /1188). Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Eastern Cape Province: Amatola Mountains, Hogsback, 32°36.285'S, 26°56.580'E, 25. III.2007, leg. C. Haddad (sifting leaf litter, Afromontane forest), 1&female; (NCA 2007 /1159), 1&male; (NCA 2007 /3841). Distribution. Known only from the type locality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa (Fig. 188).Published as part of Mbo, Zingisile & Haddad, Charles R., 2019, A revision of the endemic South African long-jawed ground spider genus Drassodella Hewitt, 1916 (Araneae: Gallieniellidae), pp. 1-62 in Zootaxa 4582 (1) on pages 39-41, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4582.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/264372

Drassodella quinquelabecula Tucker 1923

&lt;i&gt;Drassodella quinquelabecula&lt;/i&gt; Tucker, 1923 &lt;p&gt;Figs 2, 73, 89, 163, 164, 184&ndash;187&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Drassodella quinquelabecula&lt;/i&gt; Tucker, 1923: 311, fig. 40A, B (Holotype &male;: &lt;b&gt;SOUTH AFRICA&lt;/b&gt;: &lt;i&gt;Western Cape Province&lt;/i&gt;: Caledon, 34&deg;13'S, 19&deg;25'E, VII.1910, leg. W.F. Purcell, SAM ENW-X150065&mdash;examined).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Diagnosis.&lt;/b&gt; Females of &lt;i&gt;D. quinquelabecula&lt;/i&gt; are most similar to those of &lt;i&gt;D. purcelli&lt;/i&gt;, but can be recognised by their generally lighter colouration and different markings (compare Figs 162 and 163), and the narrower and strongly recurved anterior hood (Figs 72, 184), which is broader and with an almost straight anterior margin in &lt;i&gt;D. purcelli&lt;/i&gt; (Figs 72, 182). Males have a palpal structure most similar to &lt;i&gt;D. aurostriata&lt;/i&gt; &lt;b&gt;sp. nov.&lt;/b&gt;, but differ in having a curved, retrodistally-directed median apophysis and a broad curved embolus (Fig. 186), while &lt;i&gt;D. aurostriata&lt;/i&gt; &lt;b&gt;sp. nov.&lt;/b&gt; has a prolaterally-directed hook-like median apophysis and a narrow oblique embolus (Fig. 178).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Description. Female (De Hoop Nature Reserve, NCA 2016/2820).&lt;/b&gt; Measurements: CL 1.72, CW 1.28, AL 2.20, AW 1.00, TL 4.16 (3.16&ndash;4.20), FL 0.12, SL 0.84, SW 0.76, CH 0.08, AME-AME 0.05, AME-ALE 0.02, ALE-ALE 0.17, PME-PME 0.06, PME-PLE 0.08, PLE-PLE 0.32, PERW 0.38, MOQAW 0.13, MOQPW 0.16, MOQL 0.21.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Length of leg segments: I 1.08 + 0.60 + 0.88 + 0.84 + 0.74 = 4.14, II 1.08 + 0.54 + 0.78 + 0.80 + 0.68 = 3.88, III 1.00 + 0.48 + 0.68 + 0.88 + 0.56 = 3.60, IV 1.56 + 0.62 + 1.22 + 1.60 + 0.76 = 5.76.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;General appearance as in Figs 2, 163. Carapace brown, with dark mottling outlining cephalic region; upsilon marking formed by brown, erect setae and white feathery setae from eye region to posterior margin, diverging behind fovea. Clypeus height equal to 1.60 AME diameter; AME smaller than ALE; AME separated by distance equal to their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.40 AME diameter; PME smaller than PLE; PME separated by distance slightly larger than their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1.60 PME diameter. Chelicerae dark brown; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest, distal tooth smallest, median tooth closer to proximal tooth than distal tooth; retromargin with two subequal teeth, close together. Endites brown, cream anteriorly, pale at maxillar hair tuft. Labium brown, cream anteriorly, longer than wide. Sternum brown, setae evenly dispersed. Legs pale yellow-brown, with faint black mottling on all segments except tarsi; tibiae I and II with broad white median rings, patellae and tibiae III and IV with narrow proximal and distal yellow rings. Leg spination: femora: I do 1 rl 1, II do 1 rl 1, III pl 2 do 2 rl 2, IV pl 1 do 2 rl 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I &amp; II spineless, III pl 1 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I spineless, II plv 1 rlv 1, III pl 4 rl 4 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 4 do 1 rl 4 plv 1 rlv 2 vt 2; palpal spination: femora do 3; patellae do 2; tibiae do 2 rl 3; metatarsi pl 2 do 1 rl 3 rlv 1. Abdomen creamy-brown medially, black laterally, posterior half with five faint black chevron markings; two pairs of white dorsolateral spots of feathery setae; large white spot of feathery setae above spinnerets (Fig. 163); venter light brown. Spinnerets cream. Epigyne with shallow crescentshaped anterior hood, lateral ends terminating abruptly; lateral margins of median septum weakly sclerotised, forming ovoid extension from anterior hood posteriorly to ST I, short posterior section diverging slightly; ST II and connecting ducts yellow, ST I yellow-brown; ST II oval, directed anteromedially, separated by nearly double their width, similar in size to oval ST I (Figs 73, 184, 185).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Male (De Hoop Nature Reserve, NCA 2016/2820).&lt;/b&gt; Measurements: CL 1.64, CW 1.20, AL 1.60, AW 0.88, TL 3.44 (3.12&ndash;3.60), FL 0.16, SL 0.90, SW 0.76, CH 0.07, AME-AME 0.04, AME-ALE 0.02, ALE-ALE 0.17, PME-PME 0.06, PME-PLE 0.08, PLE-PLE 0.31, PERW 0.37, MOQAW 0.13, MOQPW 0.16, MOQL 0.20.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Length of leg segments: I 0.96 + 0.56 + 0.88 + 0.78 + 0.70 = 3.88, II 1.00 + 0.70 + 0.68 + 0.76 + 0.62 = 3.76, III 0.88 + 0.40 + 0.64 + 0.80 + 0.54 = 3.26, IV 1.44 + 0.60 + 1.14 + 1.56 + 0.64 = 5.38.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;General appearance as in Fig. 164. Carapace creamy-brown, with brown striae; dense white feathery setae cover carapace. Clypeus height equal to 1.40 AME diameter; AME smaller than ALE; AME separated by distance slightly smaller than their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.40 AME diameter; PME equal to PLE; PME separated by distance slightly larger than their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1.60 PME diameter. Chelicerae brown proximally, paler distally; promargin with teeth, median tooth largest, proximal and distal teeth subequal; retromargin with two closely-positioned subequal teeth. Endites brown, cream anteriorly, pale at maxillar hair tuft. Labium brown, longer than wide, cream anteriorly. Sternum light brown. Legs with orange-brown proximal segments, tarsi pale; tibiae I and II with broad white median rings, patellae and tibiae III and IV with narrow proximal and distal yellow rings. Leg spination: femora: I do 1 rl 1, II do 1 rl 1, III pl 2 do 2 rl 2, IV do 3 rl 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I &amp; II spineless, III pl 1 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I spineless, II plv 1 rlv 1, III pl 4 rl 4 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 4 do 1 rl 4 plv 1 rlv 2 vt 2; palpal spination: femora do 3; patellae do 2; tibiae spineless; tarsi pl 2 do 1 rl 3 rlv 1. Abdomen orangebrown, dark grey laterally (Fig. 164), with five faint chevrons in posterior third of the abdomen; two pairs of large dorsolateral spots of white feathery setae; small white spot of feathery setae above spinnerets; venter cream; postepigastric sclerites present, lateral sclerites absent. Palp pale yellow-brown; RTA long, largely obscured in ventral view by retrolateral heel of cymbium; in retrolateral view subtriangular, directed dorsally but slightly curved ventrally, with narrow base and rounded tip; cymbium quite narrow, 1.92 times longer than wide, narrowed to rounded point distally; embolus originating prolaterally, curved and finger-like, with rounded tip; median apophysis curved, directed retrodistally (Figs 89, 186, 197).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Additional material examined. SOUTH AFRICA:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Western Cape Province&lt;/i&gt;: Caledon, 34&deg;13'S, 19&deg;25'E, VII.1910, leg. W.F. Purcell, 1&male; (SAMC ENW-X 150440); De Hoop Nature Reserve, Potberg, fynbos, 34&deg;22.237'S, 20&deg;32.482'E, 7.IV.2004, leg. C. Haddad (searching, under rocks), 3&male; 2 subadult &female; (NCA 2016 /2820); Knysna, Uitzicht Annex, 34&deg;00'S, 23&deg;20'E, 19.X.1988, leg. L.N. Lotz (pitfall traps), 2&female; (NMBA 8617); Swartberg Nature Reserve, Gamkaskloof, 33&deg;21'S, 21&deg;41'E, XII.1999, leg. Z. van der Walt (on ground), 1&female; (NCA 2002 /196).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Other record.&lt;/b&gt; A live female specimen was photographed (Fig. 2) by Peter Webb in the Aardvark Nature Reserve in the Western Cape (33&deg;49'S, 21&deg;08'E), but was unfortunately not collected. The colouration of this specimen matches live specimens collected by the second author in the De Hoop Nature Reserve; particularly, the pale bands on the legs of this species and the orange-brown carapace distinguish this species from others in the genus.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Distribution.&lt;/b&gt; Known from several localities in the Western Cape (Fig. 188).&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Mbo, Zingisile &amp; Haddad, Charles R., 2019, A revision of the endemic South African long-jawed ground spider genus Drassodella Hewitt, 1916 (Araneae: Gallieniellidae), pp. 1-62 in Zootaxa 4582 (1)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 46-48, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4582.1.1, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/2643724"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/2643724&lt;/a&gt

Drassodella Hewitt 1916

Genus &lt;i&gt;Drassodella&lt;/i&gt; Hewitt, 1916 &lt;p&gt; &lt;i&gt;Drassodella&lt;/i&gt; Hewitt, 1916: 209; Tucker, 1923: 309; Roewer, 1954: 384, 1467; Bonnet, 1956: 1556; Platnick, 1989: 457; Dippenaar-Schoeman &amp; Jocqu&eacute;, 1997: 166; Jocqu&eacute; &amp; Dippenaar-Schoeman, 2006: 126.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Type species:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Drassodella salisburyi&lt;/i&gt; Hewitt, 1916, by original designation.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Diagnosis:&lt;/b&gt; &lt;i&gt;Drassodella&lt;/i&gt; can be recognised from &lt;i&gt;Austrachelas&lt;/i&gt; by the following: 1) carapace almost always with an median upsilon marking of white feathery setae and the lateral margins with a narrow fringe of white feathery setae, which are absent in &lt;i&gt;Austrachelas&lt;/i&gt;; 2) usually with striped or spotted dorsal markings on the abdomen, which are rarely absent (e.g. Figs 1&ndash;4), while &lt;i&gt;Austrachelas&lt;/i&gt; have chevron markings (see Haddad &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2009: figs 1&ndash;15); 3) shield-shaped sternum (Fig. 26), while oval in &lt;i&gt;Austrachelas&lt;/i&gt; (see Haddad &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2009: fig. 17); 4) anterior legs with weakly scopulate metatarsi and tarsi (Figs 34, 39&ndash;42), while densely scopulate in &lt;i&gt;Austrachelas&lt;/i&gt; (see Haddad &lt;i&gt;et al.&lt;/i&gt; 2009: figs 24&ndash;26, 33); 5) posterior metatarsi with the pro- and retrolateral dorsal spines occurring singly (i.e. pl 3 rl 3), while usually paired in &lt;i&gt;Austrachelas&lt;/i&gt; (i.e. pl 6 rl 4-6).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Description:&lt;/b&gt; Small to medium spiders, body length 2.56&ndash;9.85 mm. Carapace broad, oval, cephalic region slightly narrowed, broadest between coxae II and III (Figs 5&ndash;8); in lateral profile raised evenly along midline, sloping gently posteriorly (Fig. 9); posterior margin rebordered, moderately concave above pedicel (Figs 10, 18); eight eyes in two rows (4:4); lateral eyes set on low tubercles; all eyes surrounded by black rings; AER slightly recurved when viewed dorsally (Figs 5, 19), straight or slightly recurved when viewed from front; AME smaller or equal to ALE; AME separated by more than half their diameter, closer to ALE than to each other; PER slightly recurved, broader than AER (Fig. 19); PME flattened, transversely oval, more or less the same distance between each other and PLE; PME smaller than PLE. Clypeus slightly larger than AME diameter, with few long erect setae; surface smooth, sparsely covered in short straight and feathery setae; usually black, rarely yellow-orange or brown with reticulate black mottling, usually with white feathery setae forming an inverted Y-shaped (upsilon) dorsal marking along midline, with split posterior to fovea (Fig. 18); lateral margins with narrow fringe composed of white feathery setae (Figs 20, 21), rarely without dorsal markings; several long erect setae scattered between fovea and posterior margin (Fig. 18); fovea short to elongate, narrow.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Chelicerae usually moderately protruding in males, slightly angled and/or vertically orientated in females, slightly tapering distally (Figs 5&ndash;8); surface finely granulate, with many moderately long erect setae on anterior surface of paturon; cheliceral escort seta (&lt;i&gt;sensu&lt;/i&gt; Ram&iacute;rez 2014: fig. 15B) present, promarginally near fang base (Fig. 22); condyle (boss) small to large (Fig. 9); fangs moderately elongate (Fig. 22), with fine ridges near opening of venom ducts; promargin with three teeth, retromargin with two teeth (Fig. 23). Chilum single, distinct, triangular in shape; endites obliquely depressed, very broad, slightly sinuous, widest medially, without median groove, with distinct dense maxillar hair tuft and serrula (Figs 24, 25); labium slightly longer than broad or as long, posterolateral margins of labium with distinct sclerotized groove; anterior portion slightly inclined, posterior portion short; anterior margin with erect setae, slightly concave medially.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Sternum shield-shaped, longer than broad, with blunt apex posteriorly (Figs 11, 26); anterior margin concave or straight, widest at coxae II. Intercoxal sclerites present between coxae I &amp; II, II &amp; III, III &amp; IV; precoxal triangles present; pleural bars weakly to moderately sclerotised, isolated or fused (Fig. 9). Pedicel composed of broad dorsal sclerite and inverted Y- or V-shaped ventral sclerite (Figs 9&ndash;11).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Legs long and moderately thin (Figs 1&ndash;4), leg formula 4123; anterior pairs of legs weakly spined, posterior pairs of legs moderately to strongly spined; trochanters notched; femora with curved elongate ventral setae (Figs 27, 28); patellar indentation narrow, with large lyriform organ at proximal end (Figs 29, 30); tibiae with distal lyriform organ retrolaterally (Fig. 31); tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi with several trichobothria, feathery and chemosensory setae (Figs 31&ndash;33, 35&ndash;37); posterior legs with single or paired ventral metatarsal spines; feathery setae present on all leg segments (e.g. Figs 29, 33, 34), usually dorsally and laterally situated on metatarsi and tarsi; metatarsi and tarsi weakly scopulate (Figs 34, 39&ndash;42), anterior metatarsi usually scopulate in distal half only, tarsi scopulate for entire length; tarsal organ oval and slightly elevated (Fig. 38); tarsi with paired dentate claws, usually with 3-5 teeth, situated dorsally to claw tufts comprising tenent setae (Figs 35, 43); claw tufts denser on anterior (Fig. 40) than posterior tarsi (Fig. 43); females with ventral row of erect setae on palpal femur.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Abdomen oval-elongate, with yellow, white or cream dorsal stripes or spots, or without markings, on black or grey background (Figs 1&ndash;4, 12&ndash;14); dorsum covered in short erect and feathery setae, markings comprising dense feathery setae (Fig. 44); dorsum with two pairs of small sigilla, posterior pair more widely separated (Figs 12, 14), often with additional pair of sclerites on anterior margin above pedicel (Fig. 15) and laterally above booklungs; males with short dorsal abdominal scutum anteriorly, absent in females; several fine straight erect setae on anterior margin above pedicel; pale ventrally (Fig. 16), with one or two lines of tiny sclerites usually present, sometimes absent, with few scattered feathery setae between short straight setae (Fig. 45); epigastric region weakly sclerotised, and post-epigastric sclerites weakly to strongly sclerotized (Fig. 16), between short straight setae.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Spinnerets (analysed with SEM observations only in females of &lt;i&gt;D. guttata&lt;/i&gt; &lt;b&gt;sp. nov.&lt;/b&gt; and &lt;i&gt;D. tolkieni&lt;/i&gt; &lt;b&gt;sp. nov.&lt;/b&gt;): ALS conical, nearly cylindrical, not widely separated, with sclerotized apical segment (Figs 17, 47); single major ampullate gland spigot and numerous piriform gland spigots present (Fig. 48); PMS with two (Fig. 17) or three rows of cylindrical gland spigots, single minor ampullate gland spigot and many aciniform gland spigots (Fig. 49); PLS with aciniform gland spigots, cylindrical gland spigots, single minor ampullate gland spigot and nubbins (Fig. 50); PLS longer and more widely separated than ALS (Fig. 17).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Female epigynes with distinct anterior hoods, lateral hoods only present in &lt;i&gt;D. melana&lt;/i&gt; species group (Fig. 51); anterior hood transverse, median septum broad and subrectangular in &lt;i&gt;D. melana&lt;/i&gt; species group (Figs 60&ndash;69), variable but generally more longitudinal in &lt;i&gt;D. salisburyi&lt;/i&gt; species group (Figs 70&ndash;77); epigyne muscle sigilla (Figs 51, 52) broad or elongate, sometimes absent; longitudinal ridge of median septum sometimes broadened posteriorly; copulatory openings forming narrow slit laterally on median septum (Fig. 51); copulatory ducts very short, entering ST II along mesal margin (Fig. 53); ST II anterior to ST I, with broad, medially-curving duct linking them (Figs 60&ndash;69); ST II with widely spaced glandular pores on spermathecal head (Fig. 54).&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt; Male palp with broad oval cymbium, tapering distally, with sparse to dense cymbial scopula present dorsally (Figs 55&ndash;57, 78&ndash;92); embolus in &lt;i&gt;D. melana&lt;/i&gt; species group originating prolaterally, forming broad arch, with fine retrolateral tip (Figs 57&ndash;59, 78&ndash;85), subtriangular and variably orientated in &lt;i&gt;D. salisburyi&lt;/i&gt; species group (Figs 86&ndash; 92); embolus with one or two basal prongs prolaterally in &lt;i&gt;D. melana&lt;/i&gt; species group (Figs 57&ndash;59), absent in &lt;i&gt;D. salisburyi&lt;/i&gt; species group; median apophysis hook-shaped in &lt;i&gt;D. melana&lt;/i&gt; species group (Fig. 59), subtriangular or forming stout hook in &lt;i&gt;D. salisburyi&lt;/i&gt; species group (Figs 86&ndash;92); retrolateral tibial apophysis simple, triangular.&lt;/p&gt;Published as part of &lt;i&gt;Mbo, Zingisile &amp; Haddad, Charles R., 2019, A revision of the endemic South African long-jawed ground spider genus Drassodella Hewitt, 1916 (Araneae: Gallieniellidae), pp. 1-62 in Zootaxa 4582 (1)&lt;/i&gt; on pages 5-12, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4582.1.1, &lt;a href="http://zenodo.org/record/2643724"&gt;http://zenodo.org/record/2643724&lt;/a&gt