Conothele truncicola, Saaristo, Michael I., 2002

Saaristo, Michael I., 2002, New species and interesting new records of spiders from Seychelles (Arachnida, Araneaea), Phelsuma 10, pp. 1-32 : 3-4

Conothele truncicola n. sp. ( Figs. 1-5 )

Conothele sp.?, Hirst 1911: 49.

Gen. sp. ign., Saaristo 1999: 1.

Types: Holotype female from Silhouette, Belle Vue, an Syzygium cuminis , 18.01.1999, M. Saaristo & J. Gerlach leg. ( MZT AA 0.724 ) and 6juvenile paratypes with same data ( MZT AA 0.725 ) .

Other material examined: Silhouette, Belle Vue , one juvenile. 11.09.1999, J. Gerlach leg. ( MZT AA 1.304 ) and in the valley above Anse Mondon , one juvenile, 10.08.2000, J. Gerlach leg.( MZT AA 1.317 ) ; Mahé Morn e Blanc, 350m, secondary tropical rainforest , 1f, 01.08.1984, USSR. Zool. Exped. ( ZMMU) ;.

Etymology: Named as truncicola which refers to its habit ofbuilding its well camouflaged, silken tubes in small crevices on tree trunks.

Diagnosis: This medium-sized(TL=ca.12), dark coloured species can be distinguished from all other Seychellian therasophids by the U-shaped fovea on carapace.

Description: Female holotype (male unknown): Carapace length 5.04, length of abdomen 6.58. Carapace and appendages very dark brown, sternum and ventral sides of coxae lighter. Abdomen blackish with purplish hue, venter lighter. Carapace glabrous, with a few hairs. Eyes in three rows on small, rounded elevation. Fovea Ushaped. Chelicerae with 5 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth; rastellum formed by some 12 special hairs. Endites with numerous short, black special hairs, apex of labium with some eight similar hairs and two of them near the base of labium. Legs spinose; pro- and retrolateral sides of tarsi, metatarsi, and tibiae of palps and legs I and II densely covered with short, hooked spines. Tibia III with a basal, saddle-like, glabrous depression. Vulva consisting a triangular sack with a pair ofdorsal tubular, thin walled extensions with more or less spherical, thick walled end parts.

Distribution: This apparently endemic species is found on Mahé (Hirst 1911: Conothele sp.?) and Silhouette ( Saaristo 1999: Gen. sp. ign).

Discussion: According to Main (1985) most Conothele species are terrestrial but at least one, C. arboricola Pocock, 1898 from New Britain is arboreal. Considering the long distance between Seychelles and New Britain as well as the sedentary life style of mygalomorphids as general, I assume that the Seychellian species is different from that found on New Britain.

Figures

Fig. 1. Conothele truncicola n. sp. - Female dorsally. - Scale bar = 2.0 mm. Orig.

Figs 2 - 5 Conothele truncicola n. sp 2: Vulva ventarally. 3: Right chelicer ventrally. 4: Maxillae, labium, sternum. 5: Right tibia III laterally. Scale = 1 mm. Orig.