Chummidae, a new spider family (Arachnida, Araneae) from South Africa

The paper reports on a new family of spiders from the eastern Cape region i n South Africa. Chummidae, new family, are small, three-clawed spiders, rec ognized by the abdomen with strong dorsal scutum, provided with a frontal f ield of stiff macrosetae in large sockets. Further apomorphies are the abse nce of a fovea, the reduction of posterior and median spinnerets, the absen ce of major ampullate gland spigots, and the presence of branched lateral t racheae and of a hair-basket around the cheliceral fang. The type genus Chu mma, is represented by two species, both known from male and female - the t ype species C. inquieta sp. nov. and C gastroperforata sp. nov. The males o f the latter species are remarkable for having two pairs of abdominal pocke ts, which play a role during mating.