Andromma didrepanum sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 4C3E4B13-3B5A-4761-97DE-0FFA981B49E6

Figs 20, 38

Diagnosis

Males of Andromma didrepanum sp. nov. are characterized by the shape of the VTA and RTA both provided with a sickle-shaped prong and by the embolus with bifid tip, originating on the prolateral side of tegulum.

Etymology

The species name is a noun in apposition from the Greek ‘δρέπανον’, meaning ‘sickle’, because the VTA and RTA feature sickle-shaped appendages, a large one (VTA) and a small one (RTA) (Fig. 20E–F).

Type material

Holotype

D.R. CONGO • ♂; Tshopo Province, Kisangani, Masako Forest Reserve; 0°36′ N, 25°13′ E; 25 Mar. 2003; J.L. Juakaly leg.; BE_RMCA_ARA.Ara 216034.

Description

Male (holotype, Fig. 20)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 3.83. Carapace length 1.56, width 1.49; height 0.64.

COLOUR (Fig. 20A–B). Cephalothorax including legs and chelicerae entirely yellowish orange; carapace with radiating striae; sternum yellowish orange with brown rim and small brown precoxal triangles; abdomen cream, dorsum with faint broad band with slightly darker margins in anterior half.

PROSOMA. AME circular, other eyes oval; AER slightly recurved from above, width 0.31, PER procurved from above, width 0.36. AME 0.10, ALE 0.05, PLE 0.05, PME 0.05; AME–AME: 0.03, AME–ALE: touching, ALE–PLE: touching, PME–PME 0.13. Clypeus vertical, 0.12, with four long setae. Chilum absent. Sternum 0.92 long, same width. Chelicerae: anterior margin with two teeth, a third tiny one in between the two, somewhat closer to retromargin.

LEG SPINATION. All femora with one dorsal spine, F I pl 1; other spines tiny and incospicuous: T I v 2-2-2, Mt I v 2-2; T II v 2-2-2, Mt II v 2-2.

LEG I MEASUREMENTS. Fe: 1.42, P: 0.47, T: 1.27, Mt: 1.24, t: 0.86; total: 5.26.

MALE PALP (Fig. 20C–F). VTA sickle-shaped in ventral view, mushroom-shaped in retrolateral view. RTA pointed in ventral view, ending in a small, sickle-shaped tip; consisting of two sharp, roughly triangular processes in retrolateral view. Sperm duct surfacing as a crescent in retrolateral half of bulbus, rather short, prolateral, ending in a bifid, ventrally curved tip accompanied by a thin, flag-like conductor.

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality in Tshopo Province, D.R. Congo (Fig. 38).