Opopaea itampolo, 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 : 90-93

Opopaea itampolo , new species

Figures 487–509; map 3

TYPES: Male holotype and female allotype from Toliara province, Mahafaly plateau, 6.2 km 74 ° ENE Itampolo, spiny forest/ thicket, 18 ° 489220S, 48 ° 209130E, 1068 m, EH11, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), 21–25 February 2002, coll. B.L. Fisher et al. (CASC PBI_OON 35036).

ETYMOLOGY: The species is named after the Malagasy tribe from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: Males of O. itampolo can be easily distinguished from those of other Opopaea species by the very simple cymbiobulbus tapering anteriorly, thinner but almost the same size as the patella, with a buttonlike and more or less sclerotized tip (figs. 130, 131, 538, 539, 542, 543). Females of O. itampolo resemble those of O. berenty and O. antsalova by having a V-shaped postgynum depression, but in O. itampolo the V-shape is very long, reaching the shallow groove connecting the two tracheal spiracles, and the postgynum depression ridge is very thick and sclerotized (figs. 489, 509).

DESCRIPTION: Male (holotype) (PBI_ OON 35036). Small species. Total length 1.22. Color: yellowish orange. Carapace: pars cephalica not elevated posteriorly with one row of two widely separated sets of two denticles (figs. 500, 501). Carapace anterolateral corners without sclerotized triangular extension. Clypeus low, not rebordered. Chilum absent. Eyes medium sized to large. ALE and PME 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, slightly open up laterally near the end. Lateral margins of area between coxae III unmodified, without lumps; setae abundant, evenly distributed, originating from surface, without hair tufts (figs. 482–502). Palp posterior margin with two barely visible protuberances: a smooth and very wide proximal one and a small and more pointed distal one. Palpal fenestra elongated (oval), oriented obliquely and located at one third the length of the palp, fenestra top not raised, area before fenestra slightly sclerotized. Palpal femora about one half the length of palpal patella and inserted almost medially to it (figs. 487, 488, 503, 504, 507, 508).

Female (allotype) (PBI_OON 35036). Total length 1.42. Yellowish orange, abdomen oval and not flattened posteriorly. Epigastric scutal ridge not divided, sclerotized, and bearing an inverted triangle-shaped parmula across its median part (figs. 489, 509).

MEASUREMENTS: Male (holotype) ( PBI _ OON 35036). TL: 1.22 ; CL: 0.58; CW: 0.47; CH: 0.30; AL: 0.70; AW: 0.50; ALE: 0.07; PME: 0.07; PLE: 0.06; EGW: 0.19; ALE- ALE: 0.03; ALE-PLE: 0.01; PME-PME: 0;

PLE-PME: 0; CBL: 0.16; CBW: 0.08; CBL/ PTL: 0.72; FI: 0.11.

Female (allotype) ( PBI _OON 35036). TL: 1.42 ; CL: 0.59; CW: 0.47; CH: 0.28; AL: 0.82; AW: 0.57; ALE: 0.08; PME: 0.06; PLE: 0.06; EGW: 0.17; ALE-ALE: 0.03; ALE-PLE: 0.01; PME-PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0; EFL: 0.13; LAL: 0.06; PGI (LAL/ EFL): 0.46; PDL/LAL: 0.83; PDW/EFL: 0.46.

VARIATION: Male: TL: 1.22–1.22; CL: 0.56–0.58; CW: 0.44–0.47; AL: 0.67–0.70; AW: 0.48–0.50.

Female: TL: 1.40–1.42; CL: 0.59–0.61; CW: 0.47–0.47; AL: 0.82–0.84; AW: 0.57–0.62.

NATURAL HISTORY: O. itampolo was mostly found in spiny forest at 1068 m elevation.

DISTRIBUTION: O. itampolo mostly found in southern Madagascar in the province of Toliara (Itampolo, Tsimanampetsotsa) (map 3).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: MADA- GASCAR: Toliara: Mahafaly plateau, 6.2 km 74 ° ENE Itampolo, spiny forest/thicket, 18 ° 489220S, 48 ° 209130E, 1068 m, EH11, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood, 21–25 February 2002, coll. B.L. Fisher et al. (CASC PBI_OON 35036), 18, 1♀.