Wadicosa paulyi sp. nov.

Figs 1–10

Type material. Holotype Ƌ and allotype ♀ from MADAGASCAR. Toamasina, Razanaka (18.77°S 48.88°E), Apr. 1995 (A. Pauly, MRAC 206686). — Paratype. MADAGASCAR. Toamasina, Manambato (17.45°S 48.68°E), 4–5 Apr. 1995 (A. Pauly, MRAC 206837), 1♀.

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym in honour of Dr Alain Pauly, the sole collector of this species and of rich spider material from Africa, notably Madagascar, preserved in MRAC. Diagnosis. The species differs from all known congeners by its large body size (see Table 1); the male differs from all known congeners by its transversal tegular apophysis being broad, laminar and slightly curved (Figs 1–2); the female by the shape of the epigyne, having long transverse portions from septum occupying the posterior epigynal cavities (Figs 6–7).

Femur Patella Tibia Metatarsus Tarsus Total

Male (holotype)*

I (left leg) 4.70 1.90 4.25 - - - (right leg) (4.40) (1.65) (3.95) (4.45) (2.00) (16.45) II 4.60 1.80 4.10 4.50 2.10 17.10 III 4.40 1.65 3.80 5.00 2.05 16.90 IV (left leg) 5.50 1.90 5.00 7.20 2.80 22.40 (right leg) (4.60) (1.55) (4.20) (5.75) (2.30) (18.40) Female (allotype)

I 5.50 2.20 4.80 4.90 2.15 19.55 II 5.40 2.20 4.50 4.90 2.15 19.15 III 5.00 1.90 4.25 5.35 2.10 18.60 IV 6.15 2.15 5.60 7.90 2.95 24.75

*It is obvious that right legs I and IV have been regenerated, thus not fully developed.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 8.8; carapace 4.55 long, 3.70 wide.

Cephalothorax (Fig. 10). Carapace brown with jagged yellow median field in thoracic part. Behind PLE, in front of cephalic-thoracic junction, a transverse row of four yellow spots. Lateral bands broken into large irregular yellow blotches. Thoracic part covered with short dark hairs, in yellow parts in addition with whitish hairs. Clypeus laterally yellowish, medially greyish. Chelicerae brown. Sternum yellowish.

Eyes. Width of row I 75 (somewhat procurved as seen from in front), row II 99, row III 135, row II–III 94. Diameter of AME 17, ALE 13, PME 34PLE 32. Distance between AME 10, between AME and ALE 3.

Abdomen (Fig. 10). Dorsum blackish grey with yellowish spots, median ones arranged in transverse pairs, each spot with a dark dot in the middle. Lanceolate stripe dark greyish. Venter greyish yellow with dense adpressed light pubescence and scattered short dark hairs.

Legs (Table 2). Dusky yellowish with greyish brown annulation (Fig. 10). Coxae ventrally yellow. Ti I with two retrolateral spines.

Palp (Figs 1–5). Dusky yellowish with greyish brown markings. Most of femora greyish brown. Ti distally with numerous thin light hairs. Cymbium brownish, with pubescence of thin light hairs in addition to scattered dark hairs. Retrolateral rim of alveolus densely furnished with long whitish hairs covering adjacent parts of bulbus. Tegular apophysis broad, laminar (Fig. 1), distally bent ventrad (Figs 1–2). Retrolateral tegular process wide, most of it sclerotized, distally rounded, anteriorly with rounded incision (Fig. 5, arrow). Conductor relatively long and narrow (Fig. 3). Embolus long and narrow, slightly S-shaped in curvature (Fig. 3).

Female (allotype). Total length 9.9 mm; carapace 5.05 mm long, 4.15 mm wide.

Cephalothorax and abdomen. Similar to male.

Eyes. Width of row I 82 (somewhat procurved as seen from in front), row II 110, row III 152, row II–III 104. Diameter of AME 19, ALE 15, PME 41 PLE 38. Distance between AME 11, between AME and ALE 4.

Legs (Table 2). Similar to male.

Epigyne (Figs 6–9). Heavily sclerotized, wider than long. Foveolae more (Fig. 6) or less confluent (Fig. 7) in front of short septal ridge that posteriorly continues into a very short septum, which in turn widens into two long transverse portions (arms). The latter occupy most of the epigynal cavities, leaving a long narrow space in front (Figs 6–8). Spermathecae tumid, rounded, extending far ahead of foveolae (Figs 8–9).

Size variation. Carapace length of female paratype 4.95 mm.

Distribution. Madagascar (Fig. 11).