Opopaea bemarivo, 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 : 73-76

Opopaea bemarivo , new species

Figures 363–386; map 1

TYPES: Male holotype and female allotype from Mahajanga province: Réserve spéciale de Bemarivo, 23.8 km 223 ° SW Besalampy, 16 ° 559300S, 44 ° 229060E, 30 m, EF19 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), tropical dry forest, 19–23 November 2002, coll. Fisher and Griswold et al., BLF6692 (CASC PBI_OON 3786).

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

DIAGNOSIS: Males of O. bemarivo resemble those of O. kirindy in having the anterior margin of the cymbiobulbus more or less tubular (figs. 379, 381 and 530, 531), but can be distinguished from those of other Opopaea species by having at the anterior margin of the cymbiobulbus a sclerotized line starting from the anterior margin of fenestra to the tip of the palp and curving downward toward a truncated tip (fig. 383) and by having the tip with two short, sclerotized lateral extensions directed toward the prolateral side. Females of bemarivo can be easily distinguished from other species by having the postgynum depression short, narrow, sclerotized, and U-shaped and the postgynum depression ridge thick and sclerotized (figs. 365, 385–386).

DESCRIPTION: Male (holotype) (PBI_ OON 3786). Small species. Total length 1.15. Color: yellowish orange. Carapace: pars cephalica rather flat, not elevated posteriorly with one row of four denticles and two hairs (figs. 375–377), carapace anteriorly narrowed to about one third its maximum width. Carapace anterolateral corners without sclerotized triangular extension. Clypeus low, not rebordered. Chilum absent. Eyes very small. ALE and PME largest. ALE oval, PME and PLE circular; PME darkened compared to other eyes; posterior eye row straight viewed from above, slightly procurved from front; ALE separated 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 smooth and shiny, without pits, shape of posterior part between coxae IV hexagonal (fig. 378). Area between coxae III unmodified, without lumps, setae sparse, dark, needlelike, densest medially and laterally, originating from surface, without hair tufts (figs. 375–378). Male palp posterior margin with two large, smooth posterior protuberances. Palpal fenestra small and round, located at one third the length of the palp, fenestral top thin, not raised as in O. kirindy . Area before fenestra sclerotized and

more or less thick but not raised like a dome, becoming thinner toward the tip. Cymbiobulbus slightly shorter than patella. Palpal femur length about half the length of palpal patella (figs. 363–364, 379–380, 383–384).

Female (allotype) (PBI_OON 3786). Total length 1.32. Yellowish orange, abdomen oval to cylindrical, and not flattened posteriorly. Epigynum scutal ridge thin, weakly sclerotized, bearing a small round parmula on a thin sclerotized plate in its median part (figs. 365, 385–386).

MEASUREMENTS: Male (holotype) ( PBI _ OON 3786 ). TL: 1.15 ; CL: 0.54; CW: 0.40; CH: 0.21; AL: 0.64; AW: 0.37; ALE: 0.04; PME: 0.04; PLE: 0.03; EGW: 0.12; ALE- ALE: 0.02; ALE-PLE: 0; PME-PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0.01; CBL: 0.17; CBW: 0.07; CBL/PTL: 0.85; FI: 0.09.

Female (allotype) ( PBI _ OON 3786 ). TL: 1.32 ; CL: 0.59; CW: 0.42; CH: 0.21; AL: 0.80; AW: 0.46; ALE: 0.04; PME: 0.04; PLE: 0.03; EGW: 0.11; ALE-ALE: 0.02; ALE-PLE: 0; PME-PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0; EFL: 0.13; LAL: 0.05; PGI (LAL/EFL): 0.38; PDL/ LAL: 0.60; PDW/EFL: 0.23.

VARIATION: Male: TL: 1.15–1.19; CL: 0.53–0.54; CW: 0.38–0.40; AL: 0.63–0.66; AW: 0.37–0.38.

Female: TL: 1.25–1.32; CL: 0.56–0.59; CW: 0.40–0.42; AL: 0.74–0.80; AW: 0.45–0.46.

NATURAL HISTORY: O. bemarivo was mostly found in tropical dry forest at low elevations (30 m).

DISTRIBUTION: O. bemarivo was found in southwestern Madagascar in the province of Mahajanga (Bemarivo) (map 1).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: MADA- GASCAR: Mahajanga: Réserve spéciale de Bemarivo, 23.8 km 223 ° SW Besalampy, 16 ° 559300S, 44 ° 229060E, 30 m, EF19 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), tropical dry forest, 19–23 November 2002, coll. Fisher and Griswold et al., BLF6692 (CASC PBI_OON 3786), 38, 3♀.