Four new species of the sac spider genus Planochelas Lyle & Haddad, 2009 (Araneae, Trachelidae) from central and southern Africa

By

Khoza, Thembile T.
Lyle, Robin

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019-7-24

Original Publication

African invertebrates : a journal of biodiversity research

Volume

60

Series / Issue

Issue: 2

Pages

147--164

Subjects

Afrotropical , arboreal sac spider , canopy/tree fogging , endemic species , South Africa , Trachelidae

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Pietermaritzburg, South Africa Council of the Natal Museum 2001-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/AfrInvertebr.60.35269

 

Abstract

The genus Planochelas Lyle & Haddad, 2009 is endemic to the Afrotropical region. Members of the genus are very small, arboreal sac spiders. They are mainly collected by canopy fogging in tropical forest and savanna. In this study, four new species of Planochelas are described: P.brevissp. nov., P.jocqueisp. nov. (Democratic Republic of the Congo) and P.haddadisp. nov., P.neethlingisp. nov. (South Africa). An updated key to the genus is provided, and the new species are illustrated by photographs and drawings. A distribution map for the genus is provided. This paper increases the number of species in the genus to seven.