CALLITRICHIA LEGRANDI (JOCQUÉ, 1985) COMB. NOV.

(FIGS 19M, 22M, 24M, 29; SUPPORTING INFORMATION, FIG. S2J)

Oedothorax legrandi Jocqué, 1985: 206, figs 21–27 (Dmf).

Type material: Holotype: Comoros: Mohéli, Miringoni, Chalet St. Antoine, 700m, rain forest, sieving litter, ♂ 11.xi.1983 (RMCA 161.072, examined) . PARATYPES: 5♀, same collecting site as holotype, sweepnet, 7.–8. xi.1984 (RMCA, examined); 1♂ 2♀, same collecting site as holotype, sweeping by night, 8.xi.1983 (RMCA, examined); 2♂, same location, pitfall, 6.–11.xi.1983 (RMCA, examined) .

Diagnosis:

Males: This species can be identified by the lack of prosomal modification and the particular shape of the tibial apophyses, with a vertically elevated TPS and a small TPA with one enlarged, slightly sclerotized setal base at tip.

Females: Can be distinguished from other Callitrichia species by the dorsal pattern of the opisthosoma, the shape and position of the spermatheca (e.g. less oval than Ca. holmi; less anteriorly situated than Ca. longiducta; separation between spermathecae wider than in Ca. juguma) and the position of copulatory opening (e.g. more anterior than Ca. muscicola).

Description:

Male (paratype, RMCA 161.055): Total length: 1.67. Prosoma: 0.72 long, 0.58 wide, unmodified (Fig. 19M). Eyes: AME-AME: 0.03, AME width: 0.05, AME- ALE: 0.02, ALE width: 0.06, ALE-PLE: 0.01, PLE width: 0.05, PLE-PME: 0.04, PME width: 0.06, PME- PME: 0.04. Clypeus: not hirsute, one sub-AME seta. Sternum: 0.42 long, 0.44 wide. Chelicerae: mastidia absent; stridulatory striae rows widely and evenly spaced (Fig. 22M). Legs: Tm I: 0.62. Pedipalp: patella prolateral proximal vertical macrosetae absent; TPS vertically oriented, tip scaly; TPA small, with one enlarged, slightly sclerotized setal base at tip (Fig. 29C, D); PC large, base not visible from dorsal view, distal setae close to distal clasp, distal-setae-bearing area slightly wide, distal clasp extended apically (Fig. 29A); T without papillae, PT without papillae, distal rim thin and smooth at margin; TS absent (Fig. 29E); MSA present; DSA tip straight; EM absent (Fig. 29A); ARP pointed; LER absent; VRP absent; TP tip slender; E retrolaterally spiral (Fig. 29E). Opisthosoma: dorsal pattern see Fig. 24M; PMS with mAP, AC absent; PLS with triad, AC absent (Fig. 29I).

Female (paratype, RMCA 160.870): Total length: 1.69. Prosoma: 0.66 long, 0.52 wide. Eyes: AME-AME: 0.02, AME width: 0.04, AME-ALE: 0.02, ALE width: 0.04, ALE-PLE: 0.01, PLE width: 0.05, PLE-PME: 0.05, PME width: 0.04, PME-PME: 0.05. Clypeus: not hirsute, one sub-AME seta. Sternum: 0.40 long; 0.41 wide. Legs: dorsal proximal macroseta on tibia I, II, III and IV 2.40, 2.43, 2.89 and 2.81 times diameter of tibia, respectively; Tm I: 0.69. Epigyne: Clade 13 characteristic morphology, borders between ventral and dorsal plates converging anteriorly and posteriorly, entrances of copulatory ducts into spermathecae directly dorsal to the exits of fertilization ducts (Fig. 29G, H). Opisthosoma: dorsal pattern similar to male; PMS with mAP, two AC, CY; PLS with triad, two CY, 3+ AC (Fig. 29J).

Variation: The measurements are based on examined material.

Males (N = 3, means in parentheses): Total length 1.51 – 1.67 (1.60). Prosoma: 0.63 – 0.76 (0.70) long, 0.52 – 0.62 (0.57) wide.

Females (N = 6, means in parentheses): Total length 1.50 – 1.99 (1.73). Prosoma: 0.65 – 0.75 (0.69) long, 0.50 – 0.55 (0.53) wide. Legs: dorsal proximal macroseta on tibia I, II, III and IV 2.04 – 2.46 (2.30), 2.00 – 2.64 (2.38, N = 5), 2.32 – 2.89 (2.66) and 2.52 – 3.30 (2.95) times diameter of tibia, respectively; Tm I: 0.58 – 0.69 (0.63).

Distribution: Comoros, only known from the type locality.

Habitat: Rain forest litter.

Remarks: Following the results of our phylogenetic analysis, this species is transferred to Callitrichia, a placement also consistent with the morphological traits of the species.

CALLITRICHIA LONGIDUCTA (BOSMANS, 1988) COMB.