Opopaea maroantsetra, 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 : 114-117

Opopaea maroantsetra , new species

Figures 85, 648–682; map 2

TYPES: Male holotype and female allotype from Madagascar: Toamasina: Forêt de Maroantsetra, Ambohivoangy, 1946, 15.44309 ° S, 49.7351 ° E, J. Millot (NHM PBI_OON 34311). Ambodifototra, ˆle ı Nosy Boraha, Sainte- Marie, Antsarahaka. Lonkintsy, près de l’hôtel La Crique, proximité plage, 0–10 m, 17.0042 ° S, 49.8559 ° E, 07 December 1989, C. Lienhard (NHM PBI_OON 35135), 1♀ paratype.

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

DIAGNOSIS: Males of O. maroantsetra can most easily be distinguished from those of other Opopaea species by a globulous cymbiobulbus longer than patella with a very large proximal bulge. Palp tip very short, sclerotized at the top and curved upward (figs. 648, 649, 664, 665, 668, 669, 672–682). Females of O. maroantsetra can be easily recognized by a more or less thick and weakly sclerotized scutal ridge that medially curves inward and is fused with the postgynum depression ridge, bearing at its posterior top a round parmula (figs. 650, 670, 671).

717. Epigynum, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.

DESCRIPTION: Male (holotype) (PBI_ OON 34311). Small species. Total length 1.28. Color: yellowish orange. Carapace: pars cephalica not elevated posteriorly with one row of two sets of four recurved denticles (figs. 661, 662). Carapace anterolateral corners without sclerotized triangular extension. Clypeus low, not rebordered. Chilum absent. Eyes small to medium sized. ALE and PME largest and oval, PLE circular; PME darkened compared to other eyes, posterior eye row straight viewed from above, slightly 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 then slightly constricted into a short rectangular (figs. 663). Lateral margins of area between coxae III unmodified, without lumps; setae sparse but evenly distributed, originating from surface, without hair tufts. Cymbiobulbus posterior margin with a very large and smooth proximal protuberance and a small distal one. Palpal fenestra large and located near the tip of the palp, fenestral top depressed (figs. 648, 649, 664, 665, 668, 669, 672–682).

Female (paratype from Ambodifototra) (PBI_OON 35135). Total length 1.56. Yellowish orange, abdomen elongated and not flattened posteriorly, ventral scutum posterior end usually rectangular. Postgynum depression one third longer than the distance between the lateral apodemes and one and a half times deeper than the distance between epigastric furrow and the shallow groove connecting the tracheal spiracles; ridge very thick and weakly sclerotized (figs. 147, 690, 691).

MEASUREMENTS: Male (holotype) ( PBI _ OON 34311). TL: 1.28 ; CL: 0.52; CW: 0.41; CH: 0.23; AL: 0.76; AW: 0.50; ALE: 0.07; PME: 0.06; PLE: 0.05; EGW: 0.17; ALE- ALE: 0.01; ALE-PLE: 0.01; PME-PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0.01; CBL: 0.19; CBW: 0.1; CBL/ PTL: 1.18; FI: 0.06.

729. Dorsal view. 730. Ventral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

Female (paratype from Ambodifototra) ( PBI _OON 35135). TL: 1.56 ; CL: 0.57; CW: 0.44; CH: 0.24; AL: 0.96; AW: 0.62; ALE: 0.06; PME: 0.07; PLE: 0.06; EGW: 0.16; ALE-ALE: 0.01; ALE-PLE: 0.01; PME- PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0.01; EFL: 0.12; LAL: 0.06; PGI (LAL/EFL): 0.5; PDL/LAL: 0.33; PDW/EFL: 0.58.

VARIATION: Male: TL: 1.28–1.41; CL: 0.52–0.58; CW: 0.41–0.46; AL: 0.76–0.82; AW: 0.50–0.51.

NATURAL HISTORY: O. maroantsetra was mostly found in rainforests, secondary forests near the beach, mango plantations, and dead wood at low elevation (around 15 m).

DISTRIBUTION: O. maroantsetra was mostly found on the east coast and in the north of Madagascar in the provinces of Toamasina and Antsiranana (Maroantsetra, Ambodifototra. Foulpointe, Andoany) and on Mohéli, one of the islands of the Comoros (map 2).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: MADA- GASCAR: Antsiranana: Sous-préf Andoany (Hell-ville), Nosy be, Réserve Lokobe, forêt secondaire près d’Ampasipony, S13.39796 °, E48.32439 °, 15 m, 29 November 1983, general collecting, sous écorces. B. Hauser (NHM PBI_OON 35137), 1♀. Toamasina: Foulpointe, forêt de lagune, S17.6813 °, E49.51057 °, October 1993, aspirateur, bois pourri, Pauly A. (MRAC PBI_OON 9795), 18. Forêt sur argile, tamisage litière, December 1993, Pauly A. (MRAC PBI_OON 9799), 18. COMOROS: Mohéli: Miringoni, plantation d’Ilang ilang, mangiers et arbre longeant la plantation, litière, tamisage, 04 November 1993, R. Jocqué (MRAC PBI_ OON 28571), 18.