Abstract
A new genus and three new species of the spider family Palpimanidae Thorell, 1870 from Kenya are described. Sceliscelis Oketch & Li, gen. nov. is close to Sarascelis Simon, 1887 and Scelidocteus Simon, 1907 but differs in the structure of the male palp. The new species reported are Sceliscelis marshi Oketch & Li, sp. nov., Scelidocteus taitave Oketch & Li, sp. nov., and Hybosida machondogo Oketch & Li, sp. nov.Sceliscelis marshisp. nov. is described from males and females collected from Tsavo in south Kenya. Scelidocteus taitavesp. nov. can be distinguished from other congeners, as well as from the morphologically similar Scelidomachus socotranus Pocock, 1899, by the shape of the palpal “conductor”. Hybosida machondogosp. nov. differs from other six-eyed Hybosida spp. by possessing rudimentary posterior median eyes.
Highlights
Palpimanidae Thorell, 1870 is a small family of araneophagous spiders recognized by the coriaceous carapace, haplogyne genitalia, two spinnerets and especially by the first pair of legs with dorsally enlarged femora and well-developed prolateral scopula on the tibia, metatarsus and tarsus
Within Africa, the family is known to include 56 species belonging to 12 genera (WSC 2020), some of these species are certainly misplaced in the family (Zonstein and Marusik 2013; Zonstein et al 2018)
More than 800 spider species and subspecies belonging to 55 families are known from Kenya (WSC 2020)
Summary
Palpimanidae Thorell, 1870 is a small family of araneophagous spiders recognized by the coriaceous carapace, haplogyne genitalia, two spinnerets and especially by the first pair of legs with dorsally enlarged femora and well-developed prolateral scopula on the tibia, metatarsus and tarsus. Leg lengths and palp segments are given in the following sequence: total (femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, tarsus). Color in alcohol: carapace, sternum, chelicerae, labium, leg I coxa and epigastric scutum uniformly reddish orange to reddish brown, entire palp and most of leg I slightly paler reddish orange, legs II–IV with yellowish femur and patella and darkened distal segments.
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