Orchestina gigabulbus, Henrard & Jocqué, 2012

Henrard, Arnaud & Jocqué, Rudy, 2012, 3284, Zootaxa 3284, pp. 1-104 : 57-61

Orchestina gigabulbus new species

Figures 318–357, 607

TYPE: Holotype Male Ghana, Kakum Forest, primary forest, canopy, 159m, 5.33333°, -1.38333°, Nov. 25, 2005, Jocqué R., De Bakker D., Baert L. ( MRAC 228841 PBI _ OON 9010 ).

ETYMOLOGY: The species name is derived from the combination of ‘gigas’ (huge) and ‘bulbus’ referring to the very large male palpal bulbus, and is a noun in apposition.

DIAGNOSIS: The male of O. gigabulbus is recognized by the very large palpal bul ( Figs. 320, 327) and the embolus with a subapical knob ( Fig. 352), in combination with the shape of the modified setae on the labium ( Fig. 338). The female is characterized by the genitalic region with a stout, tube-shaped AUS with two knob-like lateral protrusions in front ( Fig. 332).

MALE (PBI_OON 9010). Total length 1.33. CEPHALOTHORAX: Carapace ( Figs. 318, 321, 322, 333, 334) yellow-brown, ovoid in dorsal view (CW/CL ≈ 0.77), pars cephalica strongly elevated in lateral view, anteriorly narrowed to between 0.5 and 0.75 times its maximum width, Clypeus vertical in lateral view. Eyes ALE-PME touching, PME circular; PLE-PME separated by less than PME radius. Sternum ( Fig. 320) as long as wide, yellowbrown, anterior margin with semicircular depression in the middle half; with small, finely granulate area in centre of anterior half, clearly visible with SEM ( Fig. 335); posterior margin extending posteriorly beyond anterior edges of coxae IV as single extension; color pattern with median and intercoxal band suffused with dark pigment; setae abundant, evenly scattered. Mouthparts: Chelicerae, endites and labium yellow-brown. Chelicerae ( Figs. 334, 336, 337) straight; with group of three strong, converging setae on distal part of each paturon. Labium ( Figs. 320, 337, 338, 342) diamond-shaped, with lateral margin more heavily sclerotized than sternum, anterior margin with two small tooth like outgrowths, separated by three setae; with 6 or more setae on anterior margin, subdistal region provided anteriorly with two pairs of needle like setae, central region with two pairs of wide, flattened, symmetric leaf shaped setae and with one small flattened seta in the middle. Endites ( Figs. 337, 339–341, 343) serrula absent, same as sternum in sclerotization, distal part slightly swollen, distally with curved ventral groove, delimiting short curved projection; inner margin with dense row of flattened, sinuous, strongly tapered setae. ABDOMEN: ovoid, ventral side with conical projection split by a large transverse opening ( Figs. 347, 348) corresponding with sperm pore, provided with rows of setae on anterior part; dorsum soft portions yellow-brown, with gray netlike pattern, dorsal chevron and pale lateral band poorly developed. Book lung covers small, round. Spinnerets: ALS with four spigots, PMS with one spigot, PLS with two spigots. LEGS: yellow-brown; patella plus tibia I longer than carapace (TL/CL ≈ 1.35) tarsi bearing claws with proximal tooth divided itself in three smaller teeth. Leg spines absent. Tarsus I superior claws with six teeth on lateral surface of proclaw, six teeth on median surface of proclaw, six teeth on lateral surface of retroclaw, six teeth on median surface of retroclaw; tarsus II superior claws with six teeth on lateral surface of proclaw, six teeth on lateral surface of retroclaw; tarsus IV superior claws with six teeth on lateral surface of proclaw, six teeth on lateral surface of retroclaw. Tarsal organ pear shaped; palpal tarsal organ oval, orientation transverse in relation to axis of cymbium ( Fig. 351); with three sensillae and small knob-like projection on retrolateral side. Tibia I and II with distal pore ( Figs. 357, 358). GENITALIA: Palp ( Figs. 327–329, 349–352) proximal segments yellow-brown; femur ventrally and proximally depressed; patella attached to tibia sub-basally; tibia almost four times as wide as femur; cymbium yellow-brown; bulb yellow-brown, tapering apically, strongly enlarged, as wide as palpal tibia; embolus dark, tube shaped, tapered apically with subapical knob ( Fig. 352).

FEMALE (PBI_OON 0008997). As in male except as noted. Total length 1.69. CEPHALOTHORAX: Carapace ( Figs. 323, 324) elongate oval in dorsal view (CW/CL ≈ 0.65). Clypeus sloping forward in lateral view. Sternum ( Fig. 326) longer than wide; furrow between coxae I–II poorly developed and smooth. Mouthparts: Labium anterior margin indented at middle, with lateral margin more heavily sclerotized than sternum. Endites ( Figs. 344–346) serrula present in single row. Female palp ( Fig. 355) spines absent; tarsal organ ( Fig. 356) piriform, with three sensilla visible. ABDOMEN: without long posterior extension, rounded posteriorly; dorsum soft portions dorsal chevron and pale median band poorly developed. Spinnerets: ALS with five spigots. LEGS: patella plus tibia I near as long as carapace (TL/CL ≈ 1.00). Tarsus II superior claws with eight teeth on lateral surface of proclaw, eight teeth on median surface of proclaw, eight teeth on lateral surface of retroclaw, eight teeth on median surface of retroclaw; tarsus III superior claws with six teeth on lateral surface of proclaw, six teeth on median surface of proclaw, six teeth on lateral surface of retroclaw. GENITALIA ( Figs. 330–332): Genital area with recurved slit ( Figs. 353, 354). Ventral view: central dark, tube-shaped area (AUS), slightly wider caudally, anteriorly with two knob-like lateral projections (Pr). Dorsal view, lateral extensions (Ex) distally frayed, not surpassing stout, central tubular structure (AUS); ARe not visible in our preparations, probably fused at base of AUS; posterior receptaculum absent.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: GHANA: Kakum forest , primary forest, canopy, 5.33333°, -1.38333°, Nov. 25, 2005, De Bakker D., Jocqué R. & Baert L., 1♀ paratype ( MRAC 228838 PBI _ OON 8999 ); as previous, 14♀ paratypes ( MRAC 228834 PBI _ OON 9000 ); as previous, 1♂ paratype ( MRAC 228833 PBI _ OON 9001 ); as previous, 16♂ paratypes ( MRAC 228843 PBI _ OON 9006 ); as previous, 1♀ paratype ( MRAC 228963 PBI _OON 33892).as previous, Nov. 19, 2005 4♀ paratypes ( MRAC 228769 PBI _OON 16781); as previous, 1♀ paratype ( MRAC 228834 PBI _OON 33149); as previous, 1♂ paratype ( MRAC 228843 PBI _OON 33150); as previous, Nov. 17, 2005, 1♀ paratype ( MRAC 228825 PBI _OON 33301); as previous, Nov. 15, 2005, 5♀ paratypes ( MRAC 228832 PBI _OON 33303); as previous, Nov. 25, 2005, 2♀ paratypes ( MRAC 228831 PBI _OON 33304); as previous, Nov. 18, 2005, 2♂ paratypes ( MRAC 228830 PBI _OON 33305); as previous, Nov. 21, 2005, 1♀ paratype ( MRAC 228829 PBI _OON 33306); as previous, 3♂ paratypes ( MRAC 228840 PBI _OON 33417); as previous, 1♂ paratype ( MRAC 228835 PBI _OON 33418); as previous, 3♀ paratypes ( MRAC 228826 PBI _OON 33631); as prevous, secondary forest, canopy, Nov. 17, 2005, Jocqué R., De Bakker D., Baert L., 9♀ paratypes ( MRAC 228837 PBI _ OON 8998 ); as previous, 1♂ paratype ( MRAC 228839 PBI _OON 33645); as previous, 1♀ paratype ( MRAC 228837 PBI _OON 33646); as previous, 9♀ paratypes ( MRAC 228839 PBI _ OON 8983 ); as previous, 1♂ paratype ( MRAC 228827 PBI _ OON 8984 ); as previous, 1♀ paratype ( MRAC 228842 PBI _ OON 8995 ); as previous, 1♀ paratype ( MRAC 228836 PBI _ OON 8996 ); as previous, 1♀ paratype ( MRAC 228828 PBI _ OON 8997 ) .

DISTRIBUTION: Only known from the type locality, the Kakum Forest in Ghana ( Fig. 607) .