Cheiracanthium fisheri, 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 : 313-315

Cheiracanthium fisheri sp. nov.

Figs 29–30 , 43–48

Type material from Madagascar: Holotype ♂ & allotype ♀, Fianarantsoa, Forêt de Analalava, 29.6 km 280ºW Ranohira, 22º35’30”S, 45º07’42”E, 1–5.II.2003, Fisher & Griswold, et al. ( CASC 9005861). Paratypes: 1♀, Antsiranana, Forêt d’Orangea, 3.6 km 128ºSE Remena, 12º15’32”S, 49º22’29”E, 22–28.II.2001, J.J. Rafanomezantzoa, et al. ( CASC 9002397); 1♀, Mahajanga , Park National d’Ankarafantsika, Forêt de Tsimaloto, 18.3 km 46ºNE de Tsaramandrosa, 16º13’41”S, 46º08’37”E, 2–8.IV.2001, J.J. Rafanomezantzoa ( CASC 9002858); 3♂ 3♀, Toliara, Réserve Privé Berenty, F. de Bealoka, Mandraré River, 14.6 km 329ºNNW Amboasary, 24º57’25”S, 46º16’17”E, 3–8.II.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. ( CASC 9012411, 9012445); 1♂, Toliara, Réserve Privé Berenty, 8.6 km 314ºNNW Amboasary, 25º00’28”S, 46º18’22”E, 6.II.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. ( CASC 9012561); 1♀, Toliara, Forêt de Mite, 20.7 km 29ºWNW Tongobory, 23º31’27”S, 44º07’17”E, 27.II–3.III.2002, B.L. Fisher, et al. ( CASC 9014132).

Etymology. The name is a patronym in honour of Brian Fisher, one of the collectors of the holotype.

Diagnosis. C. fisheri sp. nov. is similar to C. ampijoroa sp. nov., C. andranomay sp. nov., C. ambrense sp. nov., C. anjozorobe sp. nov., C. ashleyi sp. nov., C. griswoldi sp. nov. and C. rothi sp. nov. in the dumbbell-shaped spermathecae and the U-shaped CA. In C. fisheri sp. nov. and C. griswoldi sp. nov. females the copulatory ducts proceed not just anteriorly, but first posteriorly and then anteriorly. C. fisheri sp. nov. is separated from C. griswoldi sp. nov. by the copulatory ducts being shorter (compare Figs 45 and 69). C. fisheri sp. nov. males are differentiated by the RTA ending in two points (compare Figs 41–42, 47–48 , 111–112). C. fisheri sp. nov. is also a larger species than C. ashleyi sp. nov. and C. rothi sp. nov.

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Description. Female: (n = 6): TL = 11.63 (10.7–12.2); CL = 5.12 (4.7–5.6); CW = 3.62 (3.2–4.0); OAL = 0.63 (0.60–0.70); OAW = 2.28 (2.1–2.5); CLL = 0.16 (0.15–0.20). Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; cheliceral fang furrow with six teeth of unequal size, PMT:RMT = 3:3 ( Fig. 43 ). Measurements: AME–AME 0.30; AME–ALE 0.65; AME diameter 0.20; PME–PME 0.45; PME–PLE 0.70; PME diameter 0.20; MOQAW 0.70; MOQPW 0.85; CI (CL/CW) 1.33; LL:CL 6.17; STL 2.6; STW 1.8. Leg measurements: I—8.1+2.4+9.0+9.4+3.2 = 32.1; II—5.3+2.0+5.0+5.5+1.4 = 19.2; III—3.8+1.5+3.0+4.0+1.2 = 13.5; IV—5.5+2.0+5.0+6.0+1.4 = 19.9; palp—2.9+0.9+1.9+2.0 = 7.7. Leg spines: I 0-1p-1p, 2v-2v- 0, 2v- 2v-1v; II 0-1p-1p, 0- 2 v-0, 2 v1 p- 2v-1v; III 0- 1p1r-1p1r, 0-1p, 2v-2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r; IV 0-1p-1p1r, 0-1r, 2v-2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen ( Fig. 29 ): reddish-yellow with a faint heartmark. Epigynum ( Figs 44–45 ): wider than long with two depressions separated by a septum; copulatory openings situated medially in the depressions; internally, copulatory ducts proceed anterio-laterally, curving posteriorly before turning anteromedially to end medially in the dumbbell-shaped spermathecae; fertilization ducts exit spermathecae posteriomedially.

Male: (n = 5): TL = 10.32 (8.5–12.1); CL = 4.78 (3.6–5.9); CW = 3.36 (2.3–3.8); OAL = 0.59 (0.45–0.70); OAW = 2.02 (1.5–2.3); CLL = 0.17 (0.10–0.20). Chelicerae: similar to female, except more robust, with PMT:RMT = 3:3 ( Fig. 46 ). Measurements: AME–AME 0.20; AME–ALE 0.45; AME diameter 0.25; PME–PME 0.40; PME–PLE 0.50; PME diameter 0.20; MOQAW 0.70; MOQPW 0.80; CI (CL/CW) 1.31; LL:CL 7.57; STL 2.5; STW 1.7. Leg measurements: I—8.5+2.3+10.2+10.3+3.5 = 34.8; II—5.7+1.9+5.7+5.8+1.5 = 20.6; III—4.2+1.5+3.4+4.4+1.2 = 14.7; IV—5.9+1.9+5.5+6.4+1.5 = 21.2; palp—3.4+0.9+1.8+1.7 = 7.8. Leg spines: I 0-1p-1p, 2v-2v- 0, 2v- 2v-1v; II 0-1p-1p, v- 2v- 1p, 0-3 v1 p- 1v; III 0-1p1r-1p1r, 0-1p1r-0, 2v-2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r; IV 0- 1p1r-1p1r, 0-1r-0, 2v-2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen ( Fig. 30 ): similar in colour to female, but slightly more elongate. Palp ( Figs 47–48 ): cymbium elongate, longer than or nearly equal to tibia length, with a long, proximally curled apophysis without flattened extensions before the apex; RTA ending with beaked point at apex; TA unsclerotized, long and bent at apex; EM long, almost encircling tegulum, ending at CON apex; CON unsclerotised but distinct.

Distribution. Several localities both from northern and southern parts of Madagascar ( Fig. 49 ).

Habitat. Forests, including littoral rainforest, dry tropical forest and gallery forest.

Figures

FIGURES 25 – 30. Digital photographs of habitus, dorsal view: 25. Cheiracanthium anjozorobe sp. nov. female; 26. C. anjozorobe sp. nov. male; 27. C. ashleyi sp. nov. female; 28. C. ashleyi sp. nov. male; 29. C. fisheri sp. nov. female; 30. C. fisheri sp. nov. male.

FIGURES 43 – 48. Cheiracanthium fisheri sp. nov.: 43. Schematic line drawing of female cheliceral teeth; 44 – 45. female genitalia, dorsal and ventral views; 46. Schematic line drawing of male cheliceral teeth; 47 – 48. male palp, retrolateral and ventral views.

FIGURES 49 – 54. Distribution maps: 49. Cheiracanthium fisheri sp. nov.; 50. C. foulpointense sp. nov.; 51. C. furculatum Karsch, 1879; 52. C. griswoldi sp. nov.; 53. C. insulare (Vinson, 1863); 54. C. joquei sp. nov..