Tusitala bandama sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: EEBC6433-A67D-4F3D-80D0-53357C06CB80

Fig. 72

Diagnosis

This species is related to Tusitala guineensis Berland & Millot, 1941 . Both species have short seminal ducts, but can be separated by their course, forming a single loop in Tusitala bandama sp. nov., absent in T. guineensis . These species also differ in the form of the spermathecae, which are two-chambered in T. bandama, whereas T. guineensis only has a broadened distal part of the seminal ducts, forming small reservoirs preceding the spermathecae.

Etymology

The specific name is a noun in apposition, taken from the type locality.

Material examined

Holotype IVORY COAST • ♀; Lamto, Bandama Forest; 1 Sep. 1975; “sur branches”; MNHN.

Description

Male

Unknown.

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.7, width 2.3, height 1.0. Eye field length 1.4, anterior width 2.0, posterior width 2.1. Abdomen length 2.7, width 1.8. General appearance as in Fig. 72A.

CARAPACE. Oval, reddish brown, vicinity of eyes black, anterior eyes encircled by white scales, some long brown bristles at first row of eyes. Carapace covered with brown hairs, white hairs form patch at posterior edge of eye field and transverse line behind anterior eyes and wide band on slopes. Clypeus with a few white hairs. Chelicerae long, dark brown with two teeth on promargin and two-apex tooth on retromargin (Fig. 72B). Labium and endites brown with whitish tips, sternum light brown.

ABDOMEN. Ovoid, generally brownish (brown hairs form vague pattern on yellow background), light band on anterior margin stretches to sides (Fig. 72A). Venter creamy with traces of dark lines, sides mottled. Spinnerets brownish.

LEGS. Yellow, bearing brown and white hairs, spines brown.

EPIGYNE. As in Fig. 72C–D. Seminal ducts broad, relatively short, spermathecae composed of two spherical chambers (Fig. 72E).

Distribution

Only known from the type locality, Lamto, Ivory Coast.