Martensikara jocheni, Jäger, 2021

Jäger, Peter, 2021, Two new enigmatic genera of huntsman spiders from Madagascar (Araneae Sparassidae), Zootaxa 4984 (1), pp. 335-346 : 336-339

Martensikara jocheni spec. nov.

Figs 1–13 , 36

Type material. MADAGASCAR: Toliara Province: Holotype female, Fort Dauphin, Mt Vasiha [ca S 24°55’43’’, E 46°44’27’’], 400 m elevation, primary forest, in valley, K. Emberton leg. 6.2.1995, 13a Ken ( MRCA 202.868 ). Paratype. 1 female , with same data as for holotype but: 700 m elevation, primary forest on slope, 5.– 6.2.1995, 11c Ken, ex MRCA 202.866 ( SMF) .

Etymology. The species is named for Jochen Martens to honour his achievements in arachnological research, directly by publishing a vast amount of excellent papers on Opiliones and indirectly through his collecting efforts in Nepal and other parts of the world. The specific epithet is a name in the genitive case.

Diagnosis. Small Sparassidae (body length of females: 8.1–8.9) with laterigrade legs. The following combination of characters distinguishes females of this species: 1. Median septum of epigyne longer than wide, with anchorshaped transversal bulge. 2. Internal duct system of vulva with transparent pockets touching each other medially; long longitudinal ducts leading to fertilisation ducts only slightly narrowing posteriorly.

Description. Male: unknown.

Female: PL 3.7, PW 3.4, AW 2.2, OL 4.4, OW 2.7. Sternum slightly longer (1.9) than wide (1.8), with 4 pairs of projections at coxae pointing in direction of coxae ( Fig. 11 ). Gnathocoxae distinctly longer (1.12) than wide (0.72), with uniserial serrula in usual position and of normal length (i.e. not reduced as in the genus May Jäger & Krehenwinkel, 2015). Labium length 1.9, width 1.8. Eyes ( Fig. 5 ): eye rows in dorsal view straight to slightly procurved (posterior eyes); median eyes and lateral eyes roughly equal in size ( Figs 5 , 10 ). AME 0.21, ALE 0.25, PME 0.23, PLE 0.27, AME–AME 0.16, AME–ALE 0.13, PME–PME 0.32, PME–PLE 0.30, AME–PME 0.26, ALE–PLE 0.19, clypeus height at AME 0.32, clypeus height at ALE 0.25. Cheliceral furrow with 4 promarginal and 6 retromarginal teeth plus 17–26 intermarginal denticles in patch close to promarginal teeth. Retromargin of chelicerae close to fang base with 4 escort setae ( Fig. 6 ). Spination: palp: 131, 001, 2121, 1013; legs: femur I 223(2), II 222, III 321, IV 221; patella I–IV 000; tibia I 001 11(13), II 101 12(13), III–IV 2024; metatarsus I–III 2024, IV 3024. Leg formula 2143. Measurements of palp and legs: palp 4.7 (1.3, 0.7, 1.1, -, 1.6), I 13.0 (3.5, 1.8, 3.6, 3.0, 1.1), II 15.1 (4.2, 1.9, 4.2, 3.6, 1.2), III 11.5 (3.4, 1.5, 3.0, 2.6, 1.0), IV 12.4 (3.6, 1.4, 3.2, 3.1, 1.1). Scopulae on tarsi and metatarsi I–IV sparse. Metatarsus III with single small ventro-distal bristle embedded in scopula; metatarsus IV ventro-distally with three bristles in transversal row and a longitudinal double row of bristles along axis of metatarsus. Trilobate membrane with moderately distinct median hook and lateral projections, the latter slightly longer and larger than median hook ( Fig. 7 ). Claw of female palp with 6 secondary teeth, all of them shorter than primary tooth ( Fig. 8 ); leg claws with 10 uniserial teeth and straight to slightly sigmoid dorsal side ( Fig. 9 ). Opisthosoma oval ( Fig. 10 ).

Copulatory organ as described in diagnosis ( Figs 1–4 ). Epigynal field longer than wide, sub-rectangular, rounded at corners, with one pair of slit sensilla, on one side slightly separated from epigynal field, on the other side included in epigynal field, with anterior bands (i.e. longitudinal muscle attachment field) indistinct and included in epigynal field. Epigynal furrows running in a slightly curved course from anteriorly situated copulatory openings to epigastric furrow. Internal duct system simple, with transparent spermathecal pockets close to copulatory openings, and with slightly oblique, bulged stripes best seen in caudal view. Glandular pores (GP in Fig. 4 ) present medially in duct system, at base of transparent pocket. Ducts running posteriorly following epigynal furrows; fertilisation ducts distinct, acute, anteriad. Large genital plug covering entire median septum (removed and stored in microvial).

Colouration in ethanol ( Figs 10–13 ). Yellowish brown. Dorsal shield of prosoma with narrow, marble-like striae and sparse cover of dark setae; fovea distinct; eyes with dark pigment distinctly observable. Chelicerae dark yellowish brown. Legs yellowish brown. Sternum, leg coxae, gnathocoxae light yellowish, labium darker. Opisthosoma greyish, dorsally with 1 pair of patches close to heart region and ca 9 transversal chevrons; ventrally with small patch in front of spinnerets, the latter light yellowish.

Dorsal shield of prosoma with a pair of scars (bite marks) in posterior third.

Variation. Female paratype with PL 4.2, OL 4.7. Spination: Femur I 223, II 222(1), III 321, IV 321; tibia I 001 11(12), II 101 12. Epigyne with smaller genital plug. Colouration slightly darker than in holotype, i.e. prosoma dorsally with lateral margins dark. Dorsal shield of prosoma with three scars (bite marks), a large one on the left side, two smaller ones on the right side, one of them in anterior half.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality in southern Madagascar ( Fig. 36 : green triangle).

Natural History. Nothing is known so far about the natural history of this species. The spiders examined were collected from primary forests. Bite marks were found on both females so far available and examined. In the genera May and Thunberga these were interpreted as scars made by males during the mating process.

Figures

FIGURES 1–9. Martensikara jocheni gen. & spec. nov., holotype female (Madagascar, Fort Dauphin, Mt. Vasiha, MRCA 202.868). 1–4 Copulatory organ (1 epigyne, ventral; 2 vulva, dorsal; 3 vulva, caudal; 4 schematic course of left internal duct system, dorsal). 5 Eyes, dorsal. 6 Left chelicera, ventral. 7 Trilobate membrane of metatarsus, right leg II, dorsal. 8 Right palpal claw, retrolateral. 9 Retrolateral claw of left leg II, retrolateral. AB—anterior bands of epigynal field, CO—copulatory opening (with mating plug), EF—epigynal field, FD—fertilization duct, GP—glandular pores, SS—slit sensillum, TB—transversal bulge of median septum, TP—transparent pockets of internal duct system.

FIGURES 10–13. Martensikara jocheni gen. & spec. nov., holotype female (Madagascar, Fort Dauphin, Mt. Vasiha, MRCA 202.868), habitus (10 dorsal, 11 ventral, 12 frontal, 13 lateral). Arrows indicating position of bite marks.

FIGURES 30–36. 30–35 Deelemanikara christae gen. & spec. nov., females from Madagascar (30–33 holotype from Beparasy, MRCA 142.748; 34–35 female from Antsirabe, MRCA 142.587), habitus (30 dorsal, 31, 35 ventral, 32, 34 frontal, 33 lateral). 36 Localities of Martensikara jocheni gen. & spec. nov. (green triangle) and of Deelemanikara christae gen. & spec. nov. (red circles) on Madagascar.