Opopaea kirindy, Daniela & Andriamalala & D.C. & Hormiga & D.C., 2013

Daniela, Andriamalala, D. C., Hormiga, Gustavo & D. C., 2013, Systematics Of The Goblin Spider Genus Opopaea (Araneae, Oonopidae) In Madagascar, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2013 (380), pp. 1-156 : 93-98

Opopaea kirindy , new species

Figures 510–544; map 1

TYPES: Male holotype and female allotype from Toliara province, 48 km ENE Morondava, 20 ° 040S, 44 ° 390E, 30 m, general collecting, tropical dry, 04–10 January 1991, P.M. Olson (MCZ PBI_OON 28203).

ETYMOLOGY: The species epithet is a name in apposition taken from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: Males of O. kirindy can be distinguished from those of other Opopaea species by their cymbiobulbus longer than the patella, tapering toward a tubular and sclerotized tip, which curves downward. Posterior edge of fenestra thick and heavily sclerotized (figs. 510, 511, 526, 527, 530, 531). Females of O. kirindy can be easily recognized by a thick and sclerotized epigynal scutal ridge, and a parmula almost invisible dorsally, round, small, and hanging below the posterior edge of the scutal ridge (figs. 512, 532, 533).

DESCRIPTION: Male (holotype) (PBI_ OON 28203). Large and very hairy species. Total length 1.96. Color: dark orange. Carapace: pars cephalica strongly elevated medially with numerous rows of thick and stiff hairs (figs. 523, 524). Carapace anterolateral corners without sclerotized triangular

594. Dorsal view. 595. Ventral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

extension. Clypeus low, not rebordered. Chilum absent. Paturons proximal have bosses. Eyes large. ALE largest. ALE oval, PME squared, PLE circular; PME not darkened compared to other eyes, posterior eye row straight viewed from above, slightly procurved from front; ALE separated almost by their radius, ALE-PLE separated by less than ALE radius, PME touching throughout most of their length, PLE-PME separated by less than PME radius. Sternum longer than wide with radial furrows between coxae, surface more or less punctuated, without pits, shape of posterior part short, rectangular, and not constricted. Area between coxae III with one U-shaped median protrusion (fig. 525); setae extremely abundant and evenly distributed, originating from surface, without hair tufts (figs. 522–533). Palp posterior margin with two large and smooth distal and proximal protuberances. Palpal fenestra large and located at one third of the palp, enlarged posteriorly, fenestral top slightly raised, posterior margin heavily sclerotized, area before fenestra not raised, but also heavily sclerotized and extending toward the tip (figs. 510, 511, 526, 527, 530, 531, 534–544).

Female (allotype) (PBI_OON 28203). Total length 1.91. Dark brown orange, abdomen round and not flattened posteriorly. Postgynum depression short and more or less wide, with ridge not sclerotized (figs. 512, 532, 533).

MEASUREMENT: Male (holotype) ( PBI _ OON 28203). TL: 1.96 ; CL: 0.81; CW: 0.67; CH: 0.36; AL: 1.18; AW: 0.93; ALE: 0.12; PME: 0.10; PLE: 0.09; EGW: 0.29; ALE- ALE: 0.03; ALE-PLE: 0.02; PME-PME: 0;

PLE-PME: 0; CBL: 0.31; CBW: 0.12; CBL/ PTL: 1.03; FI: 0.14.

Female (allotype) PBI _OON 28203). TL: 2.2 ; CL: 0.87; CW: 0.73; CH: 0.46; AL: 1.57; AW: 1.15; ALE: 0.11; PME: 0.10; PLE: 0.09; EGW: 0.29; ALE-ALE: 0.04; ALE-PLE: 0.03; PME-PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0; EFL: 0.25; LAL: 0.12; PGI (LAL/EFL): 0.44; PDL/LAL: 0.50; PDW/EFL: 0.64.

VARIATION: Male: TL: 1.90–1.99; CL: 0.81–0.83; CW: 0.67–0.68; AL: 1.11–1.29; AW: 0.91–0.93.

Female: TL: 2.17–2.20; CL: 0.85–0.87; CW: 0.71–0.73; AL: 1.33–1.57; AW: 1.04–1.15.

NATURAL HISTORY: O. kirindy was mostly found in tropical dry forest and primary tropical deciduous forest at low elevations (30–40 m).

DISTRIBUTION: O. kirindy was mostly found in southwestern Madagascar in the province of Toliara (Morondava, Kirindy) (map 1).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: MADA- GASCAR: Toliara: 48 km ENE Morondava, 20 ° 040S, 44 ° 390E, 30 m, general collecting, tropical dry, 04–10 January 1991, P.M Olson (MCZ PBI_OON 28204), 2♀. (MCZ PBI_OON 28203), 18. Kirindy forest station, 47 km NE Morondava, S20 ° 04914.70, E44 ° 39944.70, 40 m elevation, 06–08 February 2009, primary tropical deciduous forest, sifting leaf litter, C. Griswold, A. Saucedo, and H. Wood (CASC PBI_OON 35049), 18, 1♀.

615. Epigynum, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.1 mm.