Monatractides convexiscutata (K. Viets, 1958)

(Figs. 18A–E, 19A–E, 25B–C, 26B–C, 44A)

Torrenticola (Torrenticola) convexiscutata K. Viets 1958: 102 .

New records. Ghana: stream Asukuma, Kakum NP, 5º 26.995 N, 1º 25.071 W, alt. 131 m asl., 12.ii.2013 Smit 1/2[1 juvenile]/0 (1/1/0 mounted).

Morphology. General features —Idiosoma roundish; shoulder platelet elongated (shoulder/frontal platelets L ratio 1.7–1.9); frontal margin medially with large anterolaterally pointed apodemes (Figs. 18D–E); Cxgl-4 located far anteriorly, near tips of Cx-I; gnathosomal bay V-shaped; suture line of Cx-IV distinct, originating from lateral edge of genital field; line of primary sclerotization close to posterior margin of genital field; excretory pore and Vgl-2 well separated from the line of primary sclerotization, Vgl-2 posterior to excretory pore; gnathosoma elongated in lateral view, rostrum truncated (Fig. 19E); P-2 shorter than P-4, ventral and dorsal setae of P-2 and P- 3 relatively strong and long, P-2 and P-3 distal margins without pointed tips; P-4 swollen in distal half, with two ventral setae, one of which is very long and away from distal edge (Figs. 19A–B). Male: medial margin of Cx-II/III relatively short; genital field small and rounded, ejaculatory complex with small proximal chamber, carina anterior long (Figs. 19D, 44A). Female: genital field large and rounded.

Measurements. Male—Idiosoma (ventral view: Figs. 18A, 26B) L 483, W 378; dorsal shield (Figs. 18B, 25A) L 426, W 332, L/W ratio 1.28; dorsal plate L 391; shoulder platelets L 153, W 54, L/W ratio 2.8; frontal platelets L 88, W 62–63, L/W ratio 1.4; shoulder/frontal platelets L ratio 1.74. Gnathosomal bay L 86, Cx-I total L 197, Cx-I mL 112, Cx-II+III mL 70; ratio Cx-I L/Cx-II+III mL 2.8; Cx-I mL/Cx-II+III mL 1.6. Genital field L/W 97/94, ratio 1.03; ejaculatory complex L 150; distance genital field-excretory pore 91, genital field-caudal idiosoma margin 114. Gnathosoma vL 85; chelicera total L 109; palp total L 154, dL/H, dL/H ratio: P-1, 17/17, 1.0; P-2, 39/28–29, 1.35; P-3, 30/23, 1.3; P-4, 43/14 [maximum 20], 3.1 [2.1]; P-5, 25/8, 3.2; P-2/P-4 ratio 0.89; dL of I-L-2–6: 43, 52, 55, 54, 62–62; I-L-6 H 26, dL/H I-L-6 ratio 2.35.

Female—Idiosoma (ventral view: Figs. 18C, 26C) L 547, W 413; dorsal shield (Fig. 25C) L 453, W 362, L/W ratio 1.25; dorsal plate L 422; shoulder platelets L 145–148, W 50–52, L/W ratio 2.88–2.91; frontal platelets L 78–81, W 53, L/W ratio 1.47–1.53; shoulder/frontal platelets L ratio 1.8–1.9. Gnathosomal bay L 78, Cx-I total L 184, Cx-I mL 106, Cx-II+III mL 65; ratio Cx-I L/Cx-II+III mL 2.8; Cx-I mL/Cx-II+III mL 1.6. Genital field L/W 117/122, ratio 0.96; distance genital field-excretory pore 134, genital field-caudal idiosoma margin 148. Gnathosoma vL 99; chelicera total L 119; palp total L 155, dL/H, dL/H ratio: P-1, 19/18–19, 1.0; P-2, 39/28, 1.4; P-3, 31/21–22, 1.43; P-4, 43/14, 3.1; P-5, 23/7, 3.2; P-2/P-4 ratio 0.91; dL of I-L-2–6: 41, 53, 58, 57, 64; I-L-6 H 25, dL/H I-L-6 ratio 2.61.

Remarks. The specimens from stream Asukuma agree well in general morphology with Monatractides convexiscutata (K. Viets, 1958), a species originally described from Cameroon (K. Viets 1958), and later on reported by Cook (1966) from Liberia.

Distribution. West Africa: Cameroon (K. Viets 1958), Liberia (Cook 1966), Ghana (new record).