Two new species of dark sac spiders of the genus Patelloceto Lyle & Haddad, 2010 (Trachelidae) from Kenya

Abstract

Abstract Patelloceto Lyle & Haddad, 2010 is a small genus of dark sac spiders from the Afrotropical region, diagnosed by very distinct morphology of the genitalia, males with femoral, patellar, and tibial apophyses, females with a broad membranous median septum separating the small lateral spermathecae, and long, oblique, lateral epigynal hoods flanking copulatory openings. Here, two new species of Patelloceto are described from Kenya, from material collected by John and Frances Murphy almost half a century ago. Both new species are diagnosed and illustrated, an updated map of the distribution of the genus is provided, as well as an updated key to species of the genus. The number of Patelloceto species is increased from three to five, and the number of trachelid spiders recorded from Kenya is increased from four to six.