Description of a new genus and three new species of the family Palpimanidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from Kenya

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 marshi sp. nov. is described from males and females collected from Tsavo in south Kenya. Scelidocteus taitave sp. 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 machondogo sp. nov. differs from other six-eyed Hybosida spp. by possessing rudimentary posterior median eyes.