Hovops ikongo, Artigas, Sandra Mónica Rodriguez & Corronca, Jose Antonio, 2014

Artigas, Sandra Mónica Rodriguez & Corronca, Jose Antonio, 2014, New species and distribution records of selenopid spiders of the genus Hovops Benoit in Madagascar (Araneae, Selenopidae), Zootaxa 3780 (3), pp. 547-557 : 548-551

Hovops ikongo sp. n.

Figs 8–17 , 36 , 39

Type material. Holotype: female, Madagascar, Fianaratsoa Province, Ranomafana National Park: Talatakely, 21º14.9´S, 47º25.6´E, 19–30 April 1998, Griswold et al. leg., deposited in CAS.

Other material examined. MADAGASCAR: Fianarantsoa Province: Parc Nationale Ranomafana: Talatakely, 21°14´S, 47°25´E, 1 female and 2 immatures, 19–30 April 1998, 2 females, 1 subadult male, 1 immature, 5–18 April 1998, 3 females, 1 immature, 19–30 April 1998, N. Penny, C. Griswold, D. Kavanaugh, M. Raherilalao, J. Ranorianarisoa, J. Schweikert & D. Ubick leg. ( CAS); Parc Nationale Ranomafana: Maharira Camp, 21°S, 47°30´E, 1 female, 22 March 1992, V. & B. Roth leg., 2 immatures, 12 April 1992, Roth leg., 3 immatures, 9.IV.92, Emile for Kariko/Roth leg. (all MCZ), 1 female, April 1992, V. & B. Roth leg. ( USNM); Maharira trail, 1 subadult male, 10 April 1992, Georges for Kariko/Roth leg. ( MCZ); Ranomafana, 21°12´S, 47°27´E, 1 female, 19–20 July 1992, V. & B. Roth leg. ( CAS).

Etymology. The specific name is dedicated to one tribe of Tanala, the Ikongo (forest people), which is the most recent tribe to arrive at Madagascar some 250 years ago. This name is to be treated as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Hovops ikongo sp. n. is characterized by the presence of several ventral spines on the anterior tibiae and metatarsi ( Figs 10–11 ), more than in other species that share some epigynal characters ( H. vezo sp. n., H. betsileo , and H. merina ). The shape of the middle field and the lateral lobes of the epigyne of H. ikongo sp. n. is shared with H. merina (fig. 5d, Corronca & Rodriguez Artigas 2011) and H. vezo sp. n. ( Fig. 32 ), but the copulatory ducts differs ( Figs 17 , 36 ), being wider than in H. merina and H. lidiae .

Description. Female (holotype): Total body length 10.64. Prosoma 4.77 long, 5.11 wide. Opisthosoma 5.87 long, 3.61 wide. Eye diameter and interdistances: AME 0.22, ALE 0.20, PME 0.18, PLE 0.27, AME-AME 0.31, AME-ALE 0.68, AME-PME 0.15, PME-PME 1.07, PME-PLE 0.65, PLE-PLE 2.53, ALE-ALE 2.12. Leg formula: 2431. Leg measurements: I—Fe 4.60, Pat+Tib 6.40, Mt 3.20, Ta 1.30, total 15.50; II—5.90, 7.20, 4.00, 1.30, total 18.40; III—5.70, 6.40, 3.40, 1.30, total 16.80, IV—5.80, 6.40, 4.00, 1.30, total 17.20. Leg spination: Fe I—d1.1.0, pr1.1.0, II–IV—d1.1.0; Tib I—v2.2.2.2.2.1 (left leg), v2.2.2.2.2.2.1 (right leg), II—v2.2.2.2.1.1, III–IV—no spines; Mt I—v2.3.2 (left), v2.2.2 (right), II—v2.2.2, III—v1.0.0, IV—no spines. Prosoma reddish-brown, legs reddish-yellow, and opisthosoma brown with a medial and lateral yellow-brown pattern ( Fig. 8 ). Prosoma and legs with feathery hairs that are longer on the legs. Opisthosoma with iridescent scale-like hairs, and dark short setae. Cheliceral teeth formula: 3–3 ( Figs 12–13 ).

Note. All mature specimens revised showed the same formula of spination as in the female holotype, but in some specimens differences between the sides were observed. Cheliceral teeth formula was the same in all revised specimens.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. Madagascar, Fianarantsoa Province.

Figures

FIGURE 39. Records of the new species and new records of H. pusillus and H. legrasi.

FIGURES 8 – 17. Hovops ikongo sp. n. 8 female habitus, dorsal view; 9 eye arrangement; 10 spination of the anterior tibia and metatarsus, ventral view; 11 spination of the anterior tibia and metatarsus, retrolateral view; 12 prosoma, ventral view; 13 detail of the cheliceral teeth; 14 details of the major ampullate spigots on the spinnerets; 15 epigyne, ventral view; 16 idem, cleared; 17 vulva, dorsal view. Scales: 8, 9, 12 – 14 = 1 mm; 15 – 17 = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 35 – 38. Drawings of the vulvae of the new species of Hovops, here described. 35 H. antakarana sp. n.; 36 H. ikongo sp. n.; 37 H. menabe sp. n.; 38 H. vezo sp. n. Abbreviations: CD—copulatory duct; FD—fertilization duct; LL—lateral lobe; SP—spermatheca. Scales = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 27 – 34. Hovops vezo sp. n. 27 female habitus, dorsal view; 28 eye arrangement; 29 spination of the anterior tibia and metatarsus, ventral view; 30 detail of cheliceral teeth; 31 detail of iridescent scale-like hairs; 32 epigyne, ventral view; 33 idem, cleared; 34 vulva, dorsal view. Scales: 27 – 28, 30 = 1 mm; 32 – 34 = 0.2 mm.