ANNALS 



OF THE 



SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM 



1. -Descriptions of New Genera and Species of South African 

 Solpugidae, with 8 text figures. By W. F. PURCELL, Ph.D., 

 First Assistant. 



THE present paper contains descriptions of a new Solpuya, a new 

 Blossia, and 3 new genera of the family Solpugidce. Two of the new 

 genera are remarkable on account of the apparent absence of a 

 flagellum on the chelicerae of the adult male, a character not hitherto 

 found in any South African form and known only in the North 

 American genus Eremobatcs. 



As it is of the greatest importance to ascertain the maturity and 

 sex of a specimen, when identifying it, it may be advisable to point 

 out clearly the important sexual differences presented by the 

 structure of the first abdominal sternite. All the South African forms 

 in the Collection (including all known South African genera) were 

 examined, and it was found that adult specimens could always be 

 readily distinguished from immature specimens and the sex 

 ascertained with certainty, quite independently of the presence of a 

 flagellum. The sex of immature forms, although not usually required,, 

 can also be ascertained, at least in older individuals, but less readily 

 than in the adult. 



Adult male. The sternite or hardened cuticula of the ventral 

 surface of the first abdominal segment is composed of a right and 

 left half joined together along the median line by soft skin. The 

 sexual opening is a median longitudinal slit situated near the middle 

 of the sternite in a convexly raised, spindle-shaped, oval or even 



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