Sarax abbatei

Natural history The holotype was collected in Showli Berd Cave, in the middle of the desert, surrounded by xerophilic vegetation outside (Messana et al. 1985). Another arthropod described from the same cave showed no adaptation to subterranean life (Taiti & Ferrara 1985). However, S. abbatei comb. nov. exhibits characters, such as reduced eyes, which suggest it may be restricted to the cave.

Figs 135 – 136; Table 9

Supplementary description CARAPACE. Six anterior setae (Fig. 136 A); frontal process triangular (Fig. 136 C). Small granules densely scattered between ocular triads and among sulci. Median eyes reduced; median ocular tubercle very shallow with pair of setae; lateral eyes reduced, situated near carapace margins, seta posterior to lateral ocular triad. STERNUM. Tritosternum projected anteriorly, short, reaching base of pedipalp coxae (Fig. 136 B); with typical setation; other sternal platelets narrow and projected, pair of setae situated anteriorly on plaque; pentasternum with two setae posteriorly. OPISTHOSOMA. Ventral sac cover absent. GENITALIA. Female genital operculum with short setae posteromedially; projected posteromedially; gonopod plunger-like; markedly sclerotized border posterior to gonopod projections. Male genitalia unknown. CHELICERAE. Retrolateral surface of basal segment without projection, opposite to bifid tooth; retrolateral surface of claw with row of setae basally to medially; claw with four teeth; bifid tooth on basal segment with ventral cusp larger than dorsal cusp. PEDIPALPS. Coxae without seta encircled by round carina and two setae at margin. Femur with three or four dorsal spines and four ventral spines (Fig. 136 E – F); three prominent setiferous tubercles between dorsal spine 1 and proximal margin; ventral spine between spine 1 and proximal margin. Patella with three dorsal spines in primary series (Fig. 136 E); prominent tubercle distal to spine I; two ventral spines (Fig. 136 F); two small setiferous tubercles between spine I and distal margin. Tibia with ventral spine distally and two setae between spine and distal margin. Tarsus with two small dorsal spines, distal spine slightly larger than proximal spine, near cleaning brush (Fig. 136 D); cleaning brush with 29 or 30 setae. LEGS. Tibia of leg I with 22 articles; tarsus I with 36 articles (Delle-Cave 1986). Leg IV basitibia with three pseudo-articles (Delle-Cave 1986); trichobothrium bt situated medially on pseudo-article; distitibia trichobothrium bc situated closer to sbf than to bf; sc and sf series each with six trichobothria. Measurements See Table 9.

Diagnosis Based on Weygoldt (2005), this species may be separated from other species of Sarax in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia by the following combination of characters: small size; female genital operculum rounded posteriorly, pointed medially, with group of setae posteriorly, gonopods small, cone shaped, plunger-like; bifid tooth on basal segment of chelicera with ventral cusp larger than dorsal cusp; leg IV basitibia with three articles. It shares this character with S. bengalensis comb. nov., S. bispinosus comb. nov. and S. pakistanus comb. nov. from which it may be distinguished by the thick, plunger-like gonopods of the female genitalia and by leg IV basitibia trichobothrium bc situated near sbf.

Remarks The holotype is a small, pale specimen, missing the first pair of legs. It was originally described in the genus Charinus. Delle-Cave (1986) noted that the combination of characters of S. abbatei comb. nov. is unusual and contemplated proposing a new genus to accommodate it. Weygoldt (2005) redescribed the species. It is hereby transferred to Sarax based on the phylogenetic analyses of Miranda et al. (2021).

Distribution Known only from the type locality.

Etymology Patronym honoring Ernesto Abbate (Delle-Cave 1986).

Type material Holotype SOMALIA • ♀; Campione 12, Tratto 20, Grotta do Showli Berdi; [02 ° 18 ′ 51.78 ″ N, 42 ° 16 ′ 56.53 ″ E]; Bardera; 15 Mar. 1984; Spedizione Biologica in Somalia del Centro di Studio per la Faunistica ed Ecologia Tropicali del C. N. R. (Florence) leg.; MZUF 1896 – 167.