Paroecobius private, Magalhães & Santos, 2018

Magalhães, Mayara D. F. & Santos, Adalberto J., 2018, The spider family Oecobiidae in Madagascar, including four new species and a new record, Zootaxa 4527 (1), pp. 37-48 : 42-44

Paroecobius private sp. nov.

( Figs 3 C–D, 5E, 6)

Etymology. The specific name refers to the character Private, from the American 3D, computer-animated comedy film “Penguins of Madagascar ”.

Type material. Female holotype (CASENT 9013402) from Madagascar: Toliara, Atsimo-Andrefana, Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa (24°6’S 43°45’S), 6.7 km 130° SE Efoetse, 23.0 km 174° S Beheloka, 18–22 March 2002, B.L. Fisher et al. leg. (BLF6160).

Diagnosis. Females of Paroecobius private differ from other species of the genus by the wide hood of the epigynum. The hood is also thin, not covering the atrium ( Fig. 3C ). Internally, the spermathecae differ from those of all other species of Paroecobius by having the fertilization and copulatory ducts connected to a constricted, wrinkled projection of the spermathecae ( Figs 3D , 5E ).

Description. Male. Unknown.

Female (holotype). Carapace homogeneously pale yellow. Anterior median eyes the largest, black and surrounded by a black ring, remaining eyes translucent. Clypeus pale yellow, with projection evenly rounded. Chelicerae, labium, endites, sternum, pedipalps, legs and spinnerets homogeneously pale yellow. Opisthosoma dorsally pale yellow, evenly covered with white spots, ventrally pale yellow. Epigynum are very translucent, the hood is slightly sclerotized ( Fig. 3C ). Total length 1.22. Carapace 0.46 long, 0.51 wide. Tibia I length 0.25, II 0.28, III 0.25, IV 0.25. Opisthosoma 0.76 long, 0.61 wide.

Distribution. Madagascar, province of Toliara ( Fig. 6 ).

Additional material examined. None, known only from the type material.

Figures

FIGURE 3. Paroecobius spp. A–B, Paroecobius rico sp. nov., female epigynum (CASENT 9014210). A, ventral view. B, dorsal, cleared. The dashed line on the right of the spermatheca represents a reconstruction of this structure, which has been damaged during the manipulation. C–D, Paroecobius private sp. nov., female epigynum (CASENT 9013402). C, ventral view. D, dorsal, cleared. Scale bars: 0.1 mm. Abbreviations: CD, copulatory duct; CO, copulatory openings; FD, fertilization ducts; Gl, internal glandular chamber; H, hood; UE, uterus externus. Arrows: copulatory openings.

FIGURE 5. A–D, Oecobius kowalskii sp. nov. A–B, male palpus (CASENT 9004911). A, retrolateral view; B, ventral. C–D, female epigynum (CASENT 9012520). C, ventral view; D, dorsal, digested. E, Paroecobius private sp. nov. female epigynum (CASENT 9013402), cleared, dorsal view. F, Paroecobius skipper sp.nov. female epigynum (CASENT 9012019), digested, dorsal view. Scale bars: 100 µm. Abbreviations: CA copulatory atrium; CD, copulatory duct; E, embolus; FD, fertilization ducts; H, hood; OEA, Oecobiidae embolic apophysis; OTA, Oecobiidae tegular apophysis; OTL I, Oecobiidae tegular lobe I; S, spermathecae; T, tegulum; UE, uterus externus. Arrows: copulatory openings.

FIGURE 6. Geographic distribution records of Oecobius Lucas, 1846 in Madagascar (red) and Paroecobius Lamoral, 1981 (yellow) in the Afrotropical region. Red circle: Oecobius marathaus Tikader, 1962; red squares: Oecobius kowalskii sp. nov.; yellow square: Paroecobius private sp. nov.; yellow triangle: Paroecobius rico sp. nov.; yellow circles: Paroecobius skipper sp. nov.; yellow diamond: Paroecobius wilmotae Lamoral, 1981; yellow cross: Paroecobius nicolaii Wunderlich, 1995. Geographic coordinates for continental African Paroecobius were obtained from Wunderlich (1995) and from Google Earth, for P. nicolaii and P. wilmotae respectively.