Brignolia cardamom, Platnick & Dupérré, 2011

Platnick, Norman I. & Dupérré, Nadine, 2011, The Goblin Spider Genus Brignolia (Araneae, Oonopidae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2011 (349), pp. 1-131 : 64-68

Brignolia cardamom , new species

Figures 333–366

TYPES: Male holotype and female allotype taken by sifting in forest near river at an elevation of 950 m in the Cardamom Hills, between Pambanar and Peermade, Kerala, India (Nov. 9, 1972; C. Besuchet, I. Löbl), deposited in MHNG (PBI_OON 12320, 12565) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: Males can be recognized by the relatively short, dorsally excavated, and distally blunt palpal bulb (figs. 341–348), females by the very large, anteriorly directed triangular protrusion extending anteriorly from the posterior spiracular groove (figs. 362, 365, 366).

MALE (PBI_OON 12510, figs. 333–352): Total length 1.98. Carapace orange-brown, with dark brown egg-shaped patches behind eyes; pars cephalica strongly elevated in lateral view; posterolateral edge without pits, posterior declivity steep, with distinct shoulders, posterior margin squared. Sternum covered with small round pits. Scuto-pedicel region with deeply W-shaped scutal ridge, so weak at middle as to resemble two V-shaped ridges but with row of tubercles opposite pedicel triangles, singlemost anterior tubercle enlarged. Palpal bulb dorsally excavated, with broad tip.

FEMALE (PBI_OON 12816, figs. 353– 366): Total length 2.02. Postepigastric area with wide, anteriorly directed triangular projection originating near posterior spiracular groove; posterior tube slightly convolut- ed.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: India: Kerala: Cardamom Hills, Periyar, around Hotel Aranya Nivas , Nov. 5, 1972, sifting, tree bases, elev. 950 m (C. Besuchet, I. Löbl, MHNG PBI_OON 12788), 1 -. Tamil Nadu: Cardamom Hills , 6 km NE Kumily, Nov. 3, 1972, sifting, elev. 700 m (C. Besuchet, I. Löbl, MHNG PBI_OON 12510), 3 -; Palni Hills, 29 km E Kodaikanal, near Oothu , Nov. 11, 1972, elev. 1100 m (C. Besuchet, I. Löbl, MHNG PBI_OON 12816), 2 U ; Palni Hills , 36 km E Kodaikanal, Nov. 16, 1972, sifting, forest near river, elev. 850 m (C. Besuchet, I. Löbl, MHNG PBI_OON 12333), 1 U ; Palni Hills , 39 km E Kodaikanal, Nov. 11, 1972, sifting, elev. 650 m (C. Besuchet, I. Löbl, MHNG PBI_OON 12815), 2 U ; Varushanad Hills, Suruli Falls , Nov. 8, 1972, forest sifting, elev. 550 m (C. Besuchet, I. Löbl, MHNG PBI_OON 12593), 1 -.

DISTRIBUTION: Kerala and Tamil Nadu, India.

Figures

Figs. 333–340. Brignolia cardamom, new species, male. 333. Carapace, dorsal view. 334. Same, anterior view. 335. Same, posterior view. 336. Cephalothorax, ventral view. 337. Abdomen, anterior view. 338. Same, ventral view. 339. Carapace, lateral view. 340. Abdomen, lateral view.

Figs. 341–348. Brignolia cardamom, new species, male. 341, 345. Left palp, prolateral view. 342, 346. Same, retrolateral view. 343. Left palpal bulb, prolateral view. 344. Same, retrolateral view. 347. Same, dorsal view. 348. Same, ventral view.

Figs. 349–356. Brignolia cardamom, new species, male (349–352) and female (353–356). 349, 353. Carapace, posterior view. 350, 354. Posterior margin of carapace, dorsal view. 351, 355. Abdomen, anterior view. 352, 356. Pedicel tube, ventral view.

Figs. 357–366. Brignolia cardamom, new species, female. 357. Carapace, dorsal view. 358. Same, anterior view. 359. Same, posterior view. 360. Cephalothorax, ventral view. 361. Abdomen, anterior view. 362. Same, ventral view. 363. Carapace, lateral view. 364. Abdomen, lateral view. 365. Genitalia, ventral view. 366. Same, dorsal view.