Andromma anacardium sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: BF36FF98-2229-48EA-ACC5-F72889C641FD

Figs 9, 38

Diagnosis

The female of Andromma anacardium sp. nov. is characterized by the wide sternum and by the epigyne with copulatory openings surrounded by a dark semicircle.

Etymology

The species name, a noun in apposition, refers to the tree Anacardium occidentale L. as the dark pattern of the epigyne (Fig. 9C) resembles two nuts of the cashew tree.

Type material

Holotype

ETHIOPIA • ♀; Awash National Park, compound of RAS Hotel; 8°59′ N, 40°10′ E; 1000 m a.s.l.; 13 May 1986; A. Russell-Smith leg.; at light; BE_RMCA_ARA.Ara 90890.

Description

Female (holotype, Fig. 9)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 3.34. Carapace length 1.42, width 1.14, height 0.57.

COLOUR (Fig. 9A–B). Carapace yellowish orange, with dark AME region, paler spot in front of reddish fovea; chelicerae orange; endites yellowish orange, paler along median and anterior margins; labium orange, paler in distal half; sternum pale yellow with brownish margins; legs orange; coxa, trochanter and patella paler; abdomen including spinnerets pale cream.

PROSOMA. Fovea pronounced, length 0.12, anterior end 0.62 from PME. MOQ length 0.20, anterior width 0.23, posterior width 0.21, AER straight from above, width 0.30, PER procurved from above, width 0.41. All eyes circular, very small except AME; AME 0.08, ALE 0.03, PLE 0.03, PME 0.02; AME–AME: 0.07, AME–ALE: 0.02, ALE–PLE: 0.07, PME–PME: 0.18. Clypeus vertical, 0.08 without setae. Chilum absent. Sternum 0.71 long, 0.84 wide.

LEGS. Without spines.

LEG I MEASUREMENTS. Fe: 1.15, P: 0.48, T: 0.96, Mt: 0.96, t: 0.64; total: 4.19.

LEG FORMULA. 4123.

PALP. Female palpal tarsus almost straight, with sparse scopula.

EPIGYNE (Fig. 9C–F). Roughly rectangular area, wider than long, with widely separated semicircular copulatory openings; copulatory ducts wide, with simple part running forward and part with internal spikes running backward, ending in small, oval, closely set spermathecae; fertilisation ducts short, pointing backward. Sickle-shaped sclerites directed outward.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality in Ethiopia (Fig. 38).