Thunberga septifer ( Strand, 1908 ), 2020

Jäger, Peter, 2020, Thunberga gen. nov., a new genus of huntsman spiders from Madagascar (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae), Zootaxa 4790 (2), pp. 245-260 : 251-253

Thunberga septifer ( Strand, 1908) new rank, new combination

Figs 23–25 , 41–43 , 47

Olios nossibeensis septifer Strand 1908: 480 (description of female; holotype female [PJ 3697] from Madagascar, Andranolava [ca. 16°14’8.01”S, 47°54’41.76”E, 350 m elevation], Walter Kaudern leg. 1907, NHRS, Tr. 324, examined).

Diagnosis. Medium sized Sparassidae (body length of females: 14.3). Females are similar to those of T. greta spec. nov. in having a similar conformation of median septum and internal duct system, but can be distinguished by having a narrow anterior part of median septum and turning point freely visible in dorsal view ( Figs 23–25 ) (anterior part of median septum triangular and apical part of turning point covered by first winding of internal duct system in dorsal view in T. greta spec. nov.).

Description. Male: unknown.

Female: PL 6-2, PW 5.7, AW 3.7, OL 8.1, OW 5.2. Eyes: AME 0.38, ALE 0.35, PME 0.34, PLE 0.37, AME– AME 0.33, AME–ALE 0.16, PME–PME 0.57, PME–PLE 0.51, AME–PME 0.42, ALE–PLE 0.30, clypeus height at AME 0.34, clypeus height at ALE 0.38. Cheliceral furrow with 3 promarginal, 5 retromarginal teeth and ca. 37 denticles in patch close to promarginal teeth. Retromargin of chelicerae close to fang base with 1 bristle. Spination: Palp: 131, 001, 2121, 1014; legs: femur I–III 323, IV 321; patella I–IV 001; tibia I–IV 2026; metatarsus I–II 1014, III 2024 (3), IV 3035. Leg formula: 2143. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 7.5 (2.1, 1.1, 1.9, -, 2.4), I 21.5 (6.1, 3.1, 5.8, 5.0, 1.5), II 23.3 (6.7, 3.2, 6.4, 5.4, 1.6), III 17.8 (5.5, 2.4, 4.7, 3.9, 1.3), IV 19.4 (5.9, 2.2, 5.0, 4.8, 1.5). Metatarsus III with single ventro-distal bristle, embedded in scopula; IV with ventro-distal field of several bristles and a double row of bristles along metatarsus.

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis ( Figs 23–25 ). Epigynal field only barely recognisable, lateral bands situated half way between first winding and anterior pocket. Just one slit sensillum recognisable. Turning point asymmetrical: left anteriad, right bent at tip, ventrad.

Colouration ( Figs 41–43 ). Yellowish-brown. Prosoma dorsally with distinct dots along striae and between eyes and fovea. Chelicerae with longitudinal stripes frontally consisting of dots. Sternum, gnathocoxae, labium and ventral coxae pale yellow without pattern. Legs yellowish-brown, femora dotted. Opisthosoma dorsally with 4 dark muscle sigilla, ventrally pale yellow; spinnerets pale yellowish.

Distribution. Madagascar (Andranolava) ( Fig. 47 : blue square).

Figures

FIGURE 47. Map of Madagascar with currently known localities of Thunberga spp.: red circles—T. nossibeensis comb. nov., yellow square—T. malagassa comb. nov., blue square—T. septifer comb. nov., green triangles—T. greta spec. nov.

FIGURES 23–25. Thunberga septifer (Strand, 1908) comb. nov., holotype male from Madagascar, NHRS 324. Copulatory organ (23 epigyne ventral, 24 vulva dorsal, 25 schematic course of internal duct system dorsal).AP—anterior pocket, FW—first winding of internal duct system, GA—glandular appendages, LB—lateral band of epigynal field, MS—median septum, SSslit sensillum, TP—turning point of internal duct system.

FIGURES 41–46. Thunberga spp. from Madagascar, habitus. 41–43 T. septifer (Strand, 1908) comb. nov., female holotype, NHRS 324; 44–46 T. greta spec. nov., female paratype, PJ 3683, ex MNHN 19650, SMF. 41, 44 dorsal; 42, 45 ventral; 43, 46 frontal.