Opopaea ankarana, 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 : 53-57

Opopaea ankarana , new species

Figures 19, 24, 49; 98, 232–262; map 1

TYPES: Male holotype and female allotype from Antsiranana: Réserve spéciale de l’Ankarana, 13.6 km 192 ° SSW Anivorano Nord, 12 ° 519490S, 49 ° 139330E, 210 m, EF19 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), tropical dry forest, 16–20 February 2001, coll. Fisher and Griswold, et al. (CASC. PBI_OON 2004).

344. Dorsal view. 345. Ventral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

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

DIAGNOSIS: Males of O. ankarana can be most easily distinguished from those of other Opopaea species by the tip of the cymbiobulbus large, round, pointing downward, thinner on prolateral side, with a very short sclerotized extension directed on the prolateral side (figs. 232–233, 248–249, 252–253, 256–262). Females of O. ankarana can be easily recognized by a thick and straight scutal ridge, not divided and bearing a large median parmula (figs. 234, 254–255).

DESCRIPTION: Male (holotype) (PBI_ OON 2004). Small species. Total length 1.26. Color: orange to yellowish orange. Carapace: pars cephalica elevated posteriorly with one row of two sets of two denticles, carapace anteriorly narrowed to about one third its maximum width (figs. 245–246). Carapace anterolateral corners without sclerotized triangular extension. Clypeus low, not rebordered. Chilum absent. Eyes large. ALE, PME, and PLE subequal, ALE and PLE oval, PME squared; PME darkened compared to other eyes; posterior eye row straight or slightly procurved from above, 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 slightly longer than wide with radial furrows between coxae; surface smooth and more or less hairy, without pits, posterior part between coxae IV slightly constricted into a short rectangle, which is slightly sclerotized toward posterior edge, median part swollen into an elongated, sharply raised, and sclerotized lump (fig. 247). Area between coxae III unmodified, lateral margins without lumps. Sternum setae more or less abundant, dark, needlelike, evenly distributed, originating from surface, without hair tufts. Abdomen oval and not flattened laterally toward posterior end. Palp posterior margin with two huge, smooth protuberances and slightly curved downward (figs. 252, 256). Palpal femora less than half the size of palpal patella and inserted at one third its length. Palpal fenestra round, large, and enlarged anteriorly, located at one third the palp, fenestra top sclerotized and greatly raised toward the tip (figs. 232–233, 248–249, 252– 253, 256–262).

Female (allotype) (PBI_OON 2004). Total length 1.66. Orange to yellowish orange, abdomen oval, and not flattened posteriorly. Postgynum depression short and narrow, ridge sclerotized, more or less thick (figs. 234, 254–255).

MEASUREMENTS: Male (holotype) ( PBI _ OON 2004 ). TL: 1.26 ; CL: 0.59; CW: 0.50; CH: 0.24; AL: 0.72; AW: 0.52; ALE: 0.07; PME: 0.07; PLE: 0.07; EGW: 0.20; ALE- ALE: 0.02; ALE-PLE: 0.01; PME-PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0; CBL: 0.20; CBW: 0.08; CBL/ PTL: 0.80; FI: 0.11.

Female (allotype) ( PBI _ OON 2004 ). TL: 1.66 ; CL: 0.69; CW: 0.55; CH: 0.27; AL: 1.02; AW: 0.75; ALE: 0.09; PME: 0.08; PLE: 0.07; EGW: 0.21; ALE-ALE: 0.02; ALE-PLE: 0.01; PME-PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0; EFL: 0.16; LAL: 0.07; PGI (LAL/EFL): 0.44; PDL/LAL: 0.43; PDW/EFL: 0.31.

VARIATION: Male: TL: 1.26–1.33; CL: 0.59–0.60; CW: 0.48–0.50; AL: 0.72–0.79; AW: 0.51–0.52.

Female: TL: 1.54–1.66; CL: 0.67–0.69; CW: 0.54–0.55; AL: 1–1.02; AW: 0.75–0.75.

NATURAL HISTORY: O. ankarana was mostly found in tropical dry forest and rainforest at low elevations (30–180 m).

DISTRIBUTION: O. ankarana was mostly found in northern Madagascar in the province of Antsiranana (Ankarana, Montagne des Français, Lokobe, Bekaraoka) (map 1).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: MADA- GASCAR: Antsiranana: Réserve spéciale de l’Ankarana, 22.9 km 224 ° SW Anivorano Nord, camp anglaise, 12.90889 ° S, 49.10983 ° E, 80 m, general collecting, tropical dry forest, 10– 16 February 2001, L.J. Boutin coll. (CASC PBI_OON 3147), 28, 1♀. 12 ° 549320S, 49 ° 6930E, 80 m, EF19 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), tropical dry forest, 10–16 February 2001, coll. Fisher andGriswold et al., BLF2858 (CASC PBI_OON 34973), 258, 40♀. 12 ° 549S, 49 ° 69E, 150 m, general collecting, August 1992, G. Alpert (MZC PBI_OON 28202), 18, 1♀. 13.6 km 192 ° SSW Anivorano Nord, 12 ° 519490S, 49 ° 139330E, 210 m, EF19 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), tropical dry forest, 16–20 February 2001, coll. Fisher and Griswold et al. (CASC PBI_OON 2004), 408, 51♀. Montagne des Français, 7.2 km, 142 ° SE Antsiranana (5 Diego Suarez), 12 ° 199220S, 49 ° 209170E, 180 m, EF22 pitfall trap, tropical dry forest, 22–28 February 2001, coll. Fisher andGriswold et al., BLF3123 (CASC PBI_OON 350450), 18. 12.32278 ° S, 49.33817 ° E, 180 m, general collecting, 23–25 February 2001, L.J. Boutin coll. (CASC PBI_OON 3130), 28, 1♀. Nosy Be Réserve Naturelle Intégrale de Lokobe, 6.3 km 112 ° ESE Hellville, 13 ° 259100S, 48 ° 199520E, 30 m, EC277 pitfall trap, rainforest, 19–24 Mars 2001, coll. Fisher and Griswold et al., BLF3418 (CASC PBI_OON 3140), 18. Forêt Bekaraoka, 6.8 km 60 ° ENE Daraina, 13 ° 109000S, 49 ° 429360E, 150 m, EF19 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), tropical dry forest, 07 December 2003, coll. B.L. Fisher et al., BLF9872 (CASC PBI_OON 3787), 158, 13♀.