Opopaea tsimaloto, Daniela & Andriamalala & D.C. & Hormiga & D.C., 2013

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 : 128-132

Opopaea tsimaloto , new species

Figures 50, 52, 785–815; map 5

TYPES: Male holotype and female allotype from Mahajanga province: PN Ankarafantsika, Forêt de Tsimaloto, 18.3 km 46 ° NE de Tsaramandroso, 16 ° 139410S, 46 ° 89370E, 135 m elevation, 2–8 April 2001, tropical dry forest, EF19 sifted litter, coll. Fisher and Griswold, et al. (CASC PBI_OON 3658).

ETYMOLOGY: The species epithet is a name in apposition taken from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: Males of O. tsimaloto can be most easily distinguished from those of other Opopaea species by having the cymbiobulbus with three posterior protuberances (a large, smooth proximal one and two small distal ones, one smooth and one sharp close to palp tip) and the palp tip rounded, bearing short sclerotized extensions that pile on top of each other (figs. 786, 802, 806). Females of O. tsimaloto can be distinguished by having both the scutal ridge and the postgynum depression ridge medially thickened, sclerotized, and forming an inverted arc shape, the first bearing a cylindrical parmula (figs. 787, 807, 808).

DESCRIPTION: Male (holotype) (PBI_ OON 3658). Small species. Total length 1.20. Color: body, legs and palp yellow, patella yellow. Carapace: pars cephalica not elevated with one almost continuous row of two sets of two denticles and a hair (figs. 798, 799), anteriorly narrowed to one half its maximum width. Carapace anterolateral corners without sclerotized, triangular extension. Clypeus low, not rebordered. Chilum absent. Eyes small. ALE largest. ALE circular, PME oval, PLE circular; 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, microsculptures only in furrows, shape of posterior part between coxae IV hexagonal. Lateral margins of area between coxae III unmodified, without lumps; setae sparse, dark, needlelike, densest laterally, originating from surface, without hair tufts (figs. 797–800). Abdomen oval, squared posteriorly, not flattened laterally. Palpal fenestra large, more or less elongated, and enlarged posteriorly. Fenestra top flat. Cymbiobulbus thinner, about half the length of patella, and of the same color as patella (figs. 785, 786, 801, 802, 805, 806, 809–815).

Female (allotype) (PBI_OON 3658). Total length 1.35. Postgynum depression as long as two thirds the distance between the epyginal furrow and the line connecting the tracheal spiracles and as wide as one third the distance

between the two lateral apodemes; ridge medially thick and sclerotized (figs. 787, 807, 808).

MEASUREMENTS: Male (holotype) ( PBI _ OON 3658 ). TL: 1.20 ; CL: 0.54; CW: 0.40; CH: 0.22; AL: 0.65; AW: 0.38; ALE: 0.06; PME: 0.05; PLE: 0.04; EGW: 0.14; ALE- ALE: 0.01; ALE-PLE: 0; PME-PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0; CBL: 0.17; CBW: 0.07; CBL/ PTL: 0.80; FI: 0.08.

Female (allotype) ( PBI _ OON 3658 ). TL: 1.35 ; CL: 0.56; CW: 0.41; AL: 0.77; AW: 0.49; EFL: 0.12; LAL: 0.05; PGI: 0.68; PDL/ LAL: 0.62; PDW/EFL: 0.39.

VARIATION: TL: 1.20–1.35; CL: 0.55–0.56; CW: 0.40–0.41; AL: 0.65–0.77; AW: 0.38–0.49.

NATURAL HISTORY: O. tsimaloto was found in tropical dry forest and montane rainforest from 80–1410 m elevations.

830. Dorsal view. 831. Ventral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

DISTRIBUTION: O. tsimaloto has been recorded from the northwest, southwest, and central western parts of Madagascar in the provinces of Mahajanga, Toliara, and Antananarivo (Ankarafantsika, Ankoririka, Kirindy, Ambohitantely) (map 5).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: MADA- GASCAR: Mahajanga: PN Ankarafantsika, Ampijoroa Station Forestière, 40 km 306 ° NW Andranofasika, S16 ° 199150, E46 ° 489380, 130 m elevation, 26 March–01 April 2001, tropical dry forest, EF19 sifted litter, coll. Fisher and Griswold et al., BLF3522 (CASC PBI_OON 3659), 28, 4♀. Forêt de Tsimaloto, 18.3 km 46 ° NE de Tsaramandroso, S16 ° 139410, E46 ° 89370, 135 m elevation, 2–8 April 2001, tropical dry forest, EF19 sifted litter, coll. Fisher et al. (CASC PBI_OON 3658), 108, 17♀. Réserve d’Ankoririka, 10.6 km 13 ° NE de Tsaramandroso, S16 ° 16920, E46 ° 29550, 210 m elevation, 9–14 April 2001, tropical dry forest, EF19 sifted litter, coll. Fisher et al. (CASC PBI_OON 3739), 1♀. Toliara: PN de Kirindy Mite, 16,3 km 127 ° SE Belo sur Mer, S20 ° 479430, E44 ° 89490, 80 m elevation, 06–10 December 2001, tropical dry forest, EF19 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), coll. Fisher et al. (CASC PBI_OON 3659), 3♀. 18 km NNW Betroka, S23 ° 099480, E45 ° 589070, 825 m elevation, 09–14 December 1994, flight intercept traps, M. Ivie and A. Pollock (CASC PBI_OON 3596), 1♀. Antananarivo: Réserve spéciale d’Ambohitantely, forêt d’Ambohitantely, 20.9 km 72 ° NE d’Ankazobe, S18 ° 139310, E47 ° 179130, 1410 m elevation, 17–22 April 2001, montane rainforest, EB09 sifted litter, coll. Fisher and Griswold et al., BLF3694 (CASC PBI_OON 3128), 58, 2♀.