Cheiracanthium shilabira, Lotz, L. N., 2015

Lotz, L. N., 2015, New Species of the Spider Genus Cheiracanthium from Continental Africa (Araneae: Eutichuridae), Zootaxa 3973 (2), pp. 321-336 : 332-333

Cheiracanthium shilabira sp. nov.

Figs 43–48

Type material. Holotype ♀, KENYA: Kakamega Forest, Ileo, 00º13’N, 34º54’E, 31.VIII.2002, D. Shilabira Smith ( MRAC 220234); Paratypes: ♂, Kakamega Forest, 00º13’N, 34º54’E, 20.IV.2000, D. Shilabira Smith ( MRAC 220506); 1♂, 1♀, Kakamega Forest, 00º13’N, 34º54’E, 3–10.II.2002, D. Shilabira Smith ( MRAC 212628); 1♂, Kakamega Forest, near Guarry, 00º13’N, 34º54’E, 3.I.2001, D. Shilabira Smith ( MRAC 212716); 1♀, Kakamega Forest, Lirhanda hills, 00º13’N, 34º54’E, 3.VIII.2002, D. Shilabira Smith ( MRAC 220490); 1♀, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Mongbwalu, 01º57’N, 30º02’E, VIII.1937, Mme. Scheitz ( MRAC 22941); 1♀, Mboa, Beni-Irumu-Bunia road, Mutembo plains, 00º38’S, 29º30’E, XII.1973 – I.1974, M. Lejeune ( MRAC 158778).

Etymology. The species is a noun in apposition for the collector of the holotype, D. Shilabira Smith.

Diagnosis. C. shilabira sp. nov. females are most similar to those of C. boendense sp. nov. ( Fig. 3 ) and C. peregrinum Thorell, 1899 (see Lotz 2007a: fig. 96) in having two pockets in the anterior edge of the epigynal depression, but differ from these species by the bend in the copulatory ducts before they enter the spermathecae ( Figs 45 ); Males differ from other Afrotropical species of Cheiracanthium by the thumb’s-up shape of the TA ( Fig. 47 ).

Description. Female: (n = 5): TL = 8.22 (7.5–8.8); CL = 3.40 (3.0–3.6); CW = 2.50 (2.2–2.7); OAL = 0.53 (0.45–0.60); OAW = 1.42 (1.3–1.5); CLL = 0.09 (0.08–0.10). Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; fang furrow with six teeth of unequal size, PMT:RMT = 3:3 ( Fig. 43 ). Measurements: AME–AME 0.20; AME–ALE 0.30; AME diameter 0.20; PME–PME 0.35; PME–PLE 0.35; PME diameter 0.15; MOQAW 0.60; MOQPW 0.65; CI (CL/ CW) 1.26; LL:CL 4.15; STL 1.7; STW 1.5. Leg measurements: I—3.8+1.4+3.5+3.9+1.5 = 14.1; II— 3.1+1.3+2.6+3.0+1.1 = 11.1; III—2.4+1.0+1.7+1.9+0.9 = 7.9; IV—3.2+1.3+2.6+3.6+1.1 = 11.8; Palp— 1.4+0.6+0.9+1.4 = 4.3. Leg spines: I 0-0-1p, 0, 2v- 0- 1 v; II 0-0-1p, 0, 2v- 0- 1 v; III 0-1p1r-1p1r, 0-0-1p1r, 1v- 1p1r- 3v 1p1r; IV 0-0-1r, 0-0-1r, 2v-1 v1 p1r- 3v 1p1r. Abdomen: creamy-yellow with faint heartmark. Epigynum ( Figs 44– 45 ): wider than long, with broad central depression; copulatory openings posterio-medially in depression; internally, copulatory tubes proceed laterally, then anteriorly, curving medially before turning posteriorly, then medially after a small bend, to end laterally in spermathecae; fertilization tubes enter spermathecae anteriomedially.

Male: (n = 3): TL = 7.33 (7.2–7.5); CL = 3.27 (3.1–3.5); CW = 2.57 (2.5–2.7); OAL = 0.52 (0.50–0.55); OAW = 1.23 (1.2–1.3); CLL = 0.10 (0.1–0.1). Chelicerae: similar to female, except longer, with PMT:RMT = 3:3 ( Fig. 46 ). Measurements: AME–AME 0.15; AME–ALE 0.20; AME diameter 0.20; PME–PME 0.20; PME–PLE 0.25; PME diameter 0.20; MOQAW 0.55; MOQPW 0.60; CI (CL/CW) 1.24; LL:CL 6.00; STL 1.5; STW 1.3. Leg measurements: I—4.7+1.4+5.1+5.4+2.0 = 18.6; II—3.6+1.2+3.5+4.0+1.4 = 13.7; III —2.7+1.1+2.2+3.2+1.1 = 10.3; IV—3.8+1.2+3.4+4.5+1.3 = 14.2; Palp—1.6+0.6+0.9+1.5 = 4.6. Leg spines: I 0-1p-1p1r, 1v-6v- 0, 2v- 0- 1 v; II 0-1p1r-1p1r, 1v- 0-1p, 2v- 0- 1 v; III 0-1p1r-1p1r, 0-0-1p1r, 2v-1 v1 p1r- 3v 1p1r; IV 0-1p1r-1p1r, 0-1r-1p1r, 2v 1r- 7v 1p1r- 3v 1p1r. Abdomen: slightly more elongate than female. Palp ( Figs 47–48 ): cymbium elongate, equal to tibia plus patella length, with apophysis that points proximally, with single point at apex; RTA ending with two points at apex, one sharp and one rounded, the sharp apex is not seen from the retro-lateral side; TA sclerotized, shaped like a “thumb’s-up” sign; EM long, almost encircling tegulum, ending at CON apex; CON not sclerotized but distinct.

Distribution. Found in the central part of equatorial Africa ( Fig. 57 ).

Habitat. Collected by Malaise and pitfall traps in forests.

Figures

FIGURES 40 – 51. 40 – 42 C. schenkeli Caporiacco, 1949: 40 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 41 male palp, ventro-lateral view; 42 same, retrolateral view. 43 – 48 C. shilabira sp. nov.: 43 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 44 epigynum, ventral view; 45 same, dorsal view; 46 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 47 male palp, ventro-lateral view; 48 same, retrolateral view. 49 – 51 C. tanzanense sp. nov.: 49 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 50 male palp, ventro-lateral view; 51 same, retrolateral view.

FIGURES 1 – 12. 1 – 3 Cheiracanthium boendense sp. nov.: 1 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 2 epigynum, ventral view; 3 same, dorsal view. 4 – 6 C. falcis sp. nov.: 4 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 5 male palp, ventro-lateral view; 6 same, retrolateral view. 7 – 9 C. foordi sp. nov.: 7 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 8 epigynum, ventral view; 9 same, dorsal view. 10 – 12 C. ghanaense sp. nov.: 10 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 11 epigynum, ventral view; 12 same, dorsal view.

FIGURES 56 – 57. Distribution maps: 56 C. schenkeli Caporiacco, 1949 (square). 57 C. shilabira sp. nov. (circle), C. tanzanense sp. nov. (triangle).