Cheiracanthium mahajanga, Lotz, L. N., 2014

Lotz, L. N., 2014, New species of Cheiracanthium (Araneae: Eutichuridae) from Madagascar and the Comoros Islands, Zootaxa 3857 (3), pp. 301-332 : 325-326

Cheiracanthium mahajanga sp. nov.

Figs 84 , 94–96

Type material from Madagascar: Holotype ♀, Mahajanga , Réserve d’Ankoririka, 10.6 km 13ºNE Tsaramandroso, 16º16’02”S, 46º02’55”E, 9–14.IV.2001, J.J. Rafanomezantsoa ( CASC 9006366). Paratype: 1♀, Toliara, Forêt de Beroboka, 5.9 km 131ºSE Ankidranoka, 22º13’59”S, 43º21’59”E, 12–16.III.2002, B.L. Fisher, et al. ( CASC 9014364).

Etymology. The name is a noun in apposition of the type locality.

Diagnosis. Females of C. mahajanga sp. nov. are differentiated by the knotted shape of the copulatory ducts ( Fig. 96 ). Male unknown.

Description. Female: (n = 2): TL = 5.15 (5.0–5.3); CL = 2.15 (2.0–2.3); CW = 1.65 (1.6–1.7); OAL = 0.30 (0.3–0.3); OAW = 0.95 (0.9–1.0); CLL = 0.05 (0.05–0.05). Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; cheliceral fang furrow with five teeth of unequal size, PMT:RMT = 2:3 ( Fig. 94 ). Measurements: AME–AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.10; AME diameter 0.15; PME–PME 0.15; PME–PLE 0.15; PME diameter 0.15; MOQAW 0.40; MOQPW 0.45; CI (CL/CW) 1.25; LL:CL 4.95; STL 1.05; STW 0.90. Leg measurements: I—2.6+0.9+2.5+2.7+1.2 = 9.9; II—2.0+0.8+1.7+1.8+0.7 = 7.0; III—1.4+0.7+1.1+1.5+0.6 = 5.3; IV—2.1+0.8+1.8+2.2+0.7 = 7.6; palp—0.9+0.3+0.6+0.9 = 2.7. Leg spines: I 0-1p-0, - 1v- 0, 2v- 0- 1 v; II 0-0-1p, 0, 2v -0- 1 v; III 0-0-1p1r, 0-1p1r-0, 2 v1 p1r-0-3 v1 p1r; IV 0, 0-0-1r, 2 v1 p1r-2v-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen ( Fig. 84 ): creamy-yellow with indistinct heartmark. Epigynum ( Figs 95– 96 ): wider than long, with a transverse subtriangular central depression; copulatory openings in lateral edges of depression; internally, copulatory ducts proceed anterolaterally, curving around anterior part of spermathecae before ending anteriorly; fertilization ducts exit spermathecae posteromedially. Male: unknown.

Distribution. Only known from two localities in western Madagascar ( Fig. 116 ). Habitat. Collected in tropical dry forest.

Figures

FIGURES 81 – 84. Digital photographs of habitus, dorsal view: 81. Cheiracanthium ludovici Lessert 1921 female; 82. C. madagascarense sp. nov. female; 83. C. madagascarense sp. nov. male; 84. C. mahajanga sp. nov. female.

FIGURES 94 – 96. Cheiracanthium mahajanga sp. nov.: 94. Schematic line drawing of female cheliceral teeth; 95 – 96. female genitalia, dorsal and ventral views.

FIGURES 113 – 118. Distribution maps: 113. Cheiracanthium leucophaeum Simon, 1897; 114. C. ludovici Lessert 1921; 115. C. madagascarense sp. nov.; 116. C. mahajanga sp. nov.; 117. C. ransoni sp. nov.; 118. C. rothi sp. nov..