Opopaea concolor (Blackwall, 1859), 1899

Daniela, Andriamalala, D. C., Hormiga, Gustavo & D. C., 2013, Systematics Of The Goblin Spider Genus Opopaea (Araneae, Oonopidae) In Madagascar, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2013 (380), pp. 1-156 : 34-40

Opopaea concolor (Blackwall, 1859) Figures 101–134; map 4

Oonops concolor Blackwall, 1859: 265 (male and female syntypes from Madeira, should be in the Department of Entomology, Oxford University, not examined).

Opopaea concolor: Kulczynski, 1899: 339 , pl. 6, fig. 25; Wunderlich, 1987: 63, figs. 24–26; Saaristo, 2001: 333, figs. 22, 23a, 23b, 24a, 24b, 25a, 25b, 26a, 26b, 27; Saaristo, 2007: 136, figs. 90–92; Saaristo and Marusik, 2008: 20, figs. 13–21, 119–121, 123–132, 193, 199, 218, 228; Platnick and Dupérre´, 2009: 43, figs. 73–104.

DIAGNOSIS: Females of O. concolor can be easily recognized by a small sclerotized, teardrop-shaped parmula, completely detached from a thin, sclerotized scutal ridge and a postgynum depression constricted in its median part where it surrounds the parmula (figs. 103, 123).

NOTE: No males of this species have been found from the Madagascar collection studied. Therefore, only the female is described here. However, illustrations of a male from Mexico (PBI_OON 34433) from our loans are provided.

DESCRIPTION: Female from Besalampy (PBI_OON 36291, figs. 103, 104–106, 123). Medium-sized species. Total length 1.44. Color: yellowish orange. Carapace: pars cephalica not elevated posteriorly, with one row of two sets of three denticles (figs. 114, 115). Carapace anterolateral corners without sclerotized triangular extension. Clypeus low, not rebordered. Chilum absent. Eyes small. ALE largest. ALE oval, PME and PLE circular; PME darkened compared to other eyes; posterior eye row straight viewed from above, procurved from front; ALE separated by less than their radius, ALE-PLE separated by less than ALE radius, PME touching throughout most of their length, PLE-PME separated by less than PME radius. Sternum longer than wide with radial furrows between coxae; surface smooth, without pits, shape of posterior part between coxae IV hexagonal, not constricted (fig. 116). Lateral margins of area between coxae III unmodified, without lumps; setae more or less abundant and evenly distributed, originating from surface, without hair tufts (figs. 113–116). Epigynum with a postgynum depression half the length of distance between epigastric furrow and shallow groove connecting tracheal spiracles and as wide as distance between the two lateral apodemes. Postgynum depression ridge thin and very weakly sclerotized (figs. 103, 123).

MEASUREMENTS: Female from Besalampy (PBI_OON 36291). TL: 1.44; CL: 0.59; CW: 0.45; CH: 0.19; AL: 0.91; AW: 0.60; ALE: 0.07; PME: 0.05; PLE: 0.05; EGW: 0.15; ALE- ALE: 0.02; ALE-PLE: 0; PME-PME: 0; PLE- PME: 0; EFL: 0.12; LAL: 0.08; PGI (LAL/ EFL): 0.66; PDL/LAL: 0.62; PDW/EFL: 1.

VARIATION: Female. TL: 1.44–1.46; CL: 0.59–0.59; CW: 0.45–0.45; AL: 0.88–0.91; AW: 0.60–0.62.

NATURAL HISTORY: O. concolor was mostly found in palm forest and in rainforest at 10 m and 1990 m elevations.

DISTRIBUTION: Mostly found in the southcentral and west coast regions of Madagascar in the provinces of Fianarantsoa and Mahajanga (map 4).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: MADAGASCAR: Mahajanga: Besalampy, Marofototra palm forest, 17 km W Besalampy, 16 ° 43.309S, 44 ° 25.429E ; 10 m, palm trees on sand, malaise, 06–13 October 2008, M. Irvin, R. Harin’Hala ( CASC PBI _OON 36291), 1♀ . Fianarantsoa: Résèrve Andringitra, 8.5 km SE Antanitotsy, 22 ° 109S, 46 ° 589E, 1990 m, sifting litter, rainforest. 06 March 1997. B.L. Fisher ( CASC PBI _OON 35056), 1♀. SEY- CHELLES: St. Helena East : E. Prosperous Bay plain, 1000–1100 ft, Rec. Decelle J. and Leleup N, 5–6 May 1967 ( MRAC PBI _OON 34454), 18; ( MRAC PBI _OON 34466) , 1♀ 29 April 1967 ( MRAC PBI _OON 34453), 1♀ St. Helena, E. Great Stone Top, Rec. Decelle J. and Leleup N, 18 April 1967 ( MRAC PBI _OON 34468), 1♀ . MEXICO: Hidalgo, Taxquillo ( Tzindejeh ), 29 July 1966, Jand W. Ivie ( AMNH PBI _OON 34433), 38 .