Cheiracanthium madagascarense, Lotz, L. N., 2014

Lotz, L. N., 2014, New species of Cheiracanthium (Araneae: Eutichuridae) from Madagascar and the Comoros Islands, Zootaxa 3857 (3), pp. 301-332 : 324-325

Cheiracanthium madagascarense sp. nov.

Figs 82–83 , 88–93

Type material from Madagascar: Holotype ♀ and paratype (allotype) ♂, Belalanda, 5 km N Tuléar, 23º21’S, 43º40’E, 23.III.1994, A. Pauly ( MRAC 201502). Other paratypes: 1♂ 3♀, same data as holotype ( MRAC 201489, 201502); 1♀, Sarodrana, 23º33’S, 43º45’E, 26.IV.1965, L. Bigot ( MRAC 131535); 1♂, Tuléar, 23º21’S, 43º40’E, VI.1965, L. Bigot ( MRAC 131536); 1♂, Beanana, 15º44’S, 49º28’E, II.1970, A. Lambillon ( MRAC 142609); 5♂, Tamatave, 25 km W Morarano Chrome, 17º45’S, 47º59’E, IV–VI.1991, A. Pauly ( MRAC 174367, 174410, 174458); 3♂, Tamatave, Morarano Chrome, 17º39’S, 47º52’E, XI, X.1991, IV.1992, A. Pauly ( MRAC 174586, 205620, 205782); 6♂ 5♀, Foulpointe, 17º40’S, 49º31’E, 1994, 1995, A. Pauly ( MRAC 177724, 201823, 206054, 206253, 206553, 206580, 206748); 1♀, Tamatave, pont Onibé, 17º39’S, 49º28’E, 19.I.1993, A. Pauly ( MRAC 200416); 1♂ 1♀, Tananarive, La Madraka, 18º54’S, 47º55’E, 10.III.1994, A. Pauly ( MRAC 201263); 1♂ 2♀, Berenty, 25º00’S, 46º18’E, IV.1994, A. Pauly ( MRAC 201805); 1♂, Environs de Mahajunga, 15º40’S, 46º20’E, IV.1994, A. Pauly ( MRAC 201853); 2♂ 1♀, Tamatave, Manakambahiny near Vavaténe, 17º27’S, 49º21’E, II.1995, A. Pauly ( MRAC 206448206760, 207172); 4♂, Ampasikibo, South-East, 17º40’S, 49º31’E, I–IV.1997, F. Kuklinski ( MRAC 206624, 206631); 1♀, Tamatave, Razanaka, 18º10’S, 49º23’E, IV.1995, A. Pauly ( MRAC 206679); 1♀, Tamatave, Sahalangina, 17º27’S, 48º56’E, III.1995, A. Pauly ( MRAC 206785); 1♂ 1♀, Tamatave, Volorano, 17º27’S, 48º54’E, IV–VI.1991, A. Pauly ( MRAC 206855); 1♂, Ambatolampy, 19º23’S, 47º26’E, I.1999, R. van Esbroek ( MRAC 208476); 2♂ 5♀, Toliara, Park National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Forêt de Bemanateza, 20.7 km 81ºE Efoetse, 23 km 131ºSE Beheloka, 23º59’32”S, 43º52’50”E, 22–26.III.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. ( CASC 9000430, 9013449, 9013466); 2♂ 1♀, Toliara, Park National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Mitoho Cave, 6.4 km 77ºENE Efoetse, 17.4 km 170ºS Beheloka, 24º02’50”S, 43º45’11”E, 18–22.III.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. ( CASC 9000635, 9014245); 1♂ 1♀, Toliara, 7 km 156ºSSE Lavanono, 25º26’16”S, 44º59’19”E, 17.II.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. ( CASC 9000457); 1♂, Toliara, Forêt de Mahavelo, Isantoria River, 24º45’30”S, 46º09’26”E, 28.I–1.II.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. ( CASC 9010021); 1♀, Toliara, 3.5 km 236ºSW Marovalo, 25º33’14”S, 45º15’21”E, 14.II.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. ( CASC 9012758); 1♂, Toliara, Forêt de Mite, 20.7 km 29ºWNW Tongobory, 23º31’27”S, 44º07’17”E, 27.II–3.III.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. ( CASC 9014131); 2♂, Antsiranana, Réserve Spéciale de l’Anivorano Nord, 12º51’49”S, 49º13’33”E, 16–21.II.2001, J.J. Rafanomezantsoa, et al. ( CASC 9000985); 3♂ 5♀, Antsiranana, Park National Montagne d’Ambre, 12º31’13”S, 49º10’45”E, 2001, R. Harin’Hala ( CASC 9001751, 9001807, 9001871, 9001889, 9001912); 1♀, Antsiranana, Park National Montagne d’Ambre, 12.2 km 211ºSSW Joffreville, 12º35’47”S, 49º09’34”E, 2–7.II.2001, R. Harin’Hala ( CASC 9007966); 1♂ 1♀, Antsiranana, Sakalava Beach, 12º15’46”S, 49º23’51”E, 31.V–7.VI.2001, R. Harin’Hala ( CASC 9002001); 3♂ 3♀, Antsiranana, 7 km N of Joffreville, 12º20’S, 49º15’E, 2001, R. Harin’Hala ( CASC 9002056, 9002080, 9002119, 9002149); 2♀, Antsiranana, 12º15’46”S, 49º23’42”E, VIII–IX.2001, R. Harin’Hala ( CASC 9005078, 9005087); 1♂, Fianarantsoa, S bank of creek E of Hotel Thermal, 21º15.8’S, 47º27.3’E, 20.XI.1998, V.E. Lee & K.J. Ribardo ( CASC); 5♂ 5♀, Fianarantsoa, Park National Ranomafana, near park entrance, 21º14.3’S, 47º26’E, 22.IV.1998, C.E. Griswold, et al. ( CASC); 1♀, Fianarantsoa, Park National Ranomafana, Talatakely, 21º14.9’S, 47º25.6’E, 19–30.IV.1998, C.E. Griswold, et al. ( CASC); 1♀, Fianarantsoa, Perinet, 18º55’S, 48º25’E, 1-3.VIII.1992, V. & B. Roth ( CASC). Paratypes from Comoros Islands: 1♂, Mohéli, lac d’Iconi, 12º15’S, 43º45’E, 17.XI.1983, R. Jocqué ( MRAC 160799); 1♂, Entre Combani et Bouyouni, piste vers le nord, 12º47’S, 45º06’E, 22.VII.1998, E. Tybaert, et al. ( MRAC 208332).

Etymology. The name is derived from Madagascar, the country from which most records originate.

Diagnosis. C. madagascarense sp. nov. is similar to C. africanum , but females are differentiated by the thinner copulatory ducts ( Fig. 90), and males are differentiated by RTA with a single pointed apex ( Figs 92–93).

Description. Female: (n = 10): TL = 6.14 (5.1–7.4); CL = 2.53 (2.1–3.1); CW = 1.92 (1.6–2.3); OAL = 0.41 (0.35–0.50); OAW = 1.11 (0.85–1.45); CLL = 0.05 (0.05–0.08). Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; cheliceral fang furrow with six teeth of unequal size, PMT:RMT = 3:3 ( Fig. 88). Measurements: AME–AME 0.15; AME–ALE 0.15; AME diameter 0.15; PME–PME 0.20; PME–PLE 0.20; PME diameter 0.15; MOQAW 0.40; MOQPW 0.45; CI (CL/CW) 1.35; LL:CL 3.72; STL 1.30; STW 1.05. Leg measurements: I—2.5+1.0+2.4+2.4+1.0 = 9.3; II—1.9+0.9+1.8+1.8+0.8 = 7.2; III—1.5+0.7+1.1+1.3+0.6 = 5.2; IV—2.1+0.9+1.9+2.2+0.8 = 7.9; palp—0.9+0.4+0.5+0.9 = 2.7. Leg spines: I 0-0-1p, 0, 2v- 0- 1 v; II 0-0-1p, 0, 2v- 0- 1 v; III 0-1p1r-1p1r, 0-1p1r-0, 2v- 1p1r-3 v1 p1r; IV 0-0-1p1r, 0-0-1r, 2 v1 r-1p1r-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen ( Fig. 82 ): creamy-yellow with a slight heartmark.

Epigynum ( Figs 89–90): wider than long, with a large transverse central depression; copulatory openings in anterio-lateral sides of depression; internally, copulatory tubes proceed anteriorly, then loop around before turning posteriorly to end anterolaterally in small round spermathecae; fertilization ducts exit spermathecae posteromedially.

Male: (n = 10): TL = 5.65 (5.3–6.4); CL = 2.53 (2.2–2.7); CW = 1.88 (1.6–2.2); OAL = 0.37 (0.35–0.40); OAW = 0.98 (0.8–1.2); CLL = 0.05 (0.05-0.05). Chelicerae: similar to female, except longer, with PMT:RMT = 3:3 ( Fig. 91). Measurements: AME–AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.15; AME diameter 0.15; PME–PME 0.15; PME–PLE 0.15; PME diameter 0.15; MOQAW 0.40; MOQPW 0.45; CI (CL/CW) 1.44; LL:CL 5.62; STL 1.2; STW 1.0. Leg measurements: I—3.7+1.2+4.0+4.2+1.5 = 14.6; II—2.8+1.0+2.1+3.0+1.0 = 9.9; III—1.8+0.8+1.6+2.2+0.8 = 7.2; IV—2.9+1.0+2.6+3.5+1.0 = 11.0; palp—1.2+0.4+0.6+1.1 = 3.3. Leg spines: I 0-1p-1p1r, 2v- 3v-2v, 2v- 1v-1v; II 0- 1p-1p, 1v-1v- 1p, 2v- 1v-1v; III 0-1p1r-1p1r, 0-0-1p1r, 2 v1 p1r-1 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r; IV 0-1p-1p1r, 1v- 1r-1p1r, 2 v1 p1r- 2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen ( Fig. 83 ): slightly more elongate than in female. Palp ( Figs 92–93): cymbium elongate, about equal to tibia plus patella length, with apophysis pointing proximally; RTA with a single point at apex; TA sclerotized, swollen distally, with a long point next to CON at apex; in some cases the TA also have a small point at the apex on the retrolateral side; EM long, almost encircling tegulum, ending at CON apex; CON unsclerotised but distinct.

Distribution. Comoros and Madagascar ( Fig. 115 ).

Habitat. Forest, spiny forest/thicket, dry forests, littoral forests, plantations and cultivated lands.

Figures

FIGURES 81 – 84. Digital photographs of habitus, dorsal view: 81. Cheiracanthium ludovici Lessert 1921 female; 82. C. madagascarense sp. nov. female; 83. C. madagascarense sp. nov. male; 84. C. mahajanga sp. nov. female.

FIGURES 113 – 118. Distribution maps: 113. Cheiracanthium leucophaeum Simon, 1897; 114. C. ludovici Lessert 1921; 115. C. madagascarense sp. nov.; 116. C. mahajanga sp. nov.; 117. C. ransoni sp. nov.; 118. C. rothi sp. nov..