Orchestina saaristoi, Henrard & Jocqué, 2012

Henrard, Arnaud & Jocqué, Rudy, 2012, 3284, Zootaxa 3284, pp. 1-104 : 88-92

Orchestina saaristoi new species

Figures 573–605, 607

Orchestina manicata Simon, 1893 ( Saaristo & van Harten, 2006: 148, misidentification). TYPE: Holotype male: Democratic Republic of the Congo: Bandundu : Basoko, Old palm plantation, 60 years old, canopy, 1.23333°, 23.60000°, July 30, 2009, D. De Bakker (MRAC PBI_OON 33165).

ETYMOLOGY: The species name is a patronym in honor of Michael Saaristo, who described the Yemeni specimens of the species.

DIAGNOSIS: Both sexes of O. saaristoi have an elongate carapace which is strongly narrowed in front of the eyes and a well-defined net-shaped pattern ( Figs. 573, 578). The male is further recognized by the bifid embolus ( Figs. 602–605) and the shape of the labium and the endites ( Fig. 575). The female is recognized by the bell-shaped pattern in the genital area ( Figs. 583–584).

Note : Saaristo & van Harten (2006) identified specimens from Yemen as O. manicata Simon, 1893 , probably on the basis of the redescription by Dalmas (1916). We have examined the type specimens from the Paris collection (MNHN AR 6034) originating from Sri Lanka. They were compared to the males and females identified by Saaristo & van Harten from Yemen (♀: MZT AA 3.638 and ♂: MZT AA 3.064). Both our specimens and those of Saaristo & van Harten clearly differ with the O. manicata types from Sri Lanka and appear to be conspecific. They are described here as a new species .

MALE (PBI_OON 33895). Total length 1.00. CEPHALOTHORAX: Carapace ( Figs. 573, 576, 591) yellowbrown, elongate oval in dorsal view (CW/CL ≈ 0.71), pars cephalica strongly elevated in lateral view, anteriorly narrowed to 0.49 times its maximum width or less, carapace surface covered with small platelets in SEM view; non-marginal pars cephalica setae absent from lateral side. Clypeus sloping forward in lateral view, very narrow in dorsal view. Eyes ALE-PME touching, PME squared; PLE-PME separated by less than PME radius. Sternum ( Figs. 574, 575) longer than wide, yellow-brown, anterior margins straight, posterior margin extending posteriorly beyond anterior edges of coxae IV as single extension, color pattern with tiny dark sepia spots forming dark stripes radiating from anterior half of sternum; setae abundant, evenly scattered. Mouthparts: Chelicerae, endites and labium yellow. Chelicerae ( Figs. 589–590) straight; retromargin with row of teeth ( Fig. 590). Labium ( Figs. 575, 594, 595) anterior margin not indented at middle, spade-shaped, posterior part slightly narrowed, fused to sternum; central part slightly sclerotised, with strongly procurved, sclerotised posterior and lateral margins; anterior margin triangular ending in narrow pointed prong, surrounded by distal membranous part; with 6 or more setae on anterior margin, anteriorly with three aligned setae, central part with four setae in a diamond shaped pattern. Endites ( Figs. 592, 593) serrula present in single row, anteromedian tip with one strong, tooth-like projection, much more heavily sclerotized than sternum, anterior part bifid, one prong with sclerotized truncate tip, one with flattened, pectinate setae. ABDOMEN ( Figs. 573-574, 576): globular; dorsum soft portions pale white, with dark posterior end. Book lung covers small. Spinnerets: ALS with four spigots, PMS with one spigot, PLS with two spigots. LEGS: yellow; patella plus tibia I nearly as long as carapace (TL/CL ≈ 1,04). Leg spines absent. Tarsi bearing carpeted setae below claws ( Fig. 596). Tarsal organ pear shaped ( Figs. 597, 598). GENITALIA: Palp ( Figs. 580–582, 599–601) proximal segments yellow; femur narrowed at base, with ventral groove; patella attached to tibia basally; tibia twice as wide as femur; cymbium yellow, tapered towards tip, setae densest on prolateral face; bulb white, stout, ovoid; embolus ( Figs. 602–605) dark, strong, almost as wide as base of femur, at an angle of about 100° with longitudinal axis of bulbus, cylindrical through most of its length and compressed at tip, with dorsal transparent ridge ending in sharp conical extension, ventrally with transversal triangular extension, distal tip with two prongs.

FEMALE (PBI_OON 33960). As in male except as noted. Total length 1.25. CEPHALOTHORAX: Carapace ( Figs. 577, 578): Clypeus very narrow in dorsal view. Sternum ( Fig. 579) anterior part slightly depressed medially, with anterior margins rounded. Mouthparts: Chelicerae retromargin not examined; Labium rounded, with sclerotized posterior and lateral margins. Female palp with strong prolateral setae ( Fig. 579). ABDOMEN ( Figs. 577– 579): without long posterior extension, rounded posteriorly. Pedicel tube short. Epigastric area frontal setae thickened, with numerous scattered setae. Spinnerets: PMS with two spigots, PLS with three spigots. LEGS: patella plus tibia I near as long as carapace (TL/CL ≈ 0,98). GENITALIA ( Figs. 583–588): Ventral view: genital area lightly sclerotized and internal structures visible through cuticle, ARe a large bell-shaped structure, encloses AUS, poorly delimited darker longitudinal structure. Dorsal view: ARe dome-shaped; AUS cylindrical with anterior part inflated; subapical lateral protrusions (Pr) long, procurved and pointing backward; posterior plate (Pp) wide, semicircular, anteriorly concave; posterior receptaculum absent.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Bandundu : Basoko, Old palm plantation, 60 years old, canopy, 1.23333°, 23.60000°, Mar. 07, 2009, De Bakker D., 1♂ paratype ( MRAC PBI _OON 33565) ; as previous, June 07, 2009, 1♂ ( MRAC 228718 PBI _OON 33895); as previous, 1♀ paratype ( MRAC 228719 PBI _OON 33896); as previous, Mar. 07, 2009, 2♀ paratypes ( MRAC 228716 PBI _OON 33954); as previous, 1♂ paratype ( MRAC 228714 PBI _OON 33956); as previous, 2♂ paratypes ( MRAC 228713 PBI _OON 33957); as previous, 2♀ paratypes ( MRAC 228712 PBI _OON 33958). Equateur: Mbangi, Old secondary forest, canopy, 2.11666°, 21.73333°, June 23, 2009, De Bakker D., 1♀ paratype ( MRAC 228711 PBI _OON 33959); as previous, 1♀ paratype ( MRAC 228710 PBI _OON 33960); Monzé (Engengele), Old secondary forest, canopy, 2.03333°, 22.73333°, June 23, 2009, De Bakker D., 1♀ paratype ( MRAC 228709 PBI _OON 33961). NIGERIA: Ibadan, IITA site, 7.23333°, 3.50000°, Aug. 02, 1981, Russell-Smith, A., 1♂ 1♀ ( MRAC 177381 PBI _OON 29231) .

DISTRIBUTION: Known from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria and Yemen ( Fig. 607).