Cheiracanthium madagascarense sp. nov.

Figs 82–83, 88–93

Type material from Madagascar: Holotype ♀ and paratype (allotype) ♂, Belalanda, 5 km N Tuléar, 23º21’S, 43º40’E, 23.III.1994, A. Pauly (MRAC 201502). Other paratypes: 1♂ 3♀, same data as holotype (MRAC 201489, 201502); 1♀, Sarodrana, 23º33’S, 43º45’E, 26.IV.1965, L. Bigot (MRAC 131535); 1♂, Tuléar, 23º21’S, 43º40’E, VI.1965, L. Bigot (MRAC 131536); 1♂, Beanana, 15º44’S, 49º28’E, II.1970, A. Lambillon (MRAC 142609); 5♂, Tamatave, 25 km W Morarano Chrome, 17º45’S, 47º59’E, IV–VI.1991, A. Pauly (MRAC 174367, 174410, 174458); 3♂, Tamatave, Morarano Chrome, 17º39’S, 47º52’E, XI, X.1991, IV.1992, A. Pauly (MRAC 174586, 205620, 205782); 6♂ 5♀, Foulpointe, 17º40’S, 49º31’E, 1994, 1995, A. Pauly (MRAC 177724, 201823, 206054, 206253, 206553, 206580, 206748); 1♀, Tamatave, pont Onibé, 17º39’S, 49º28’E, 19.I.1993, A. Pauly (MRAC 200416); 1♂ 1♀, Tananarive, La Madraka, 18º54’S, 47º55’E, 10.III.1994, A. Pauly (MRAC 201263); 1♂ 2♀, Berenty, 25º00’S, 46º18’E, IV.1994, A. Pauly (MRAC 201805); 1♂, Environs de Mahajunga, 15º40’S, 46º20’E, IV.1994, A. Pauly (MRAC 201853); 2♂ 1♀, Tamatave, Manakambahiny near Vavaténe, 17º27’S, 49º21’E, II.1995, A. Pauly (MRAC 206448206760, 207172); 4♂, Ampasikibo, South-East, 17º40’S, 49º31’E, I–IV.1997, F. Kuklinski (MRAC 206624, 206631); 1♀, Tamatave, Razanaka, 18º10’S, 49º23’E, IV.1995, A. Pauly (MRAC 206679); 1♀, Tamatave, Sahalangina, 17º27’S, 48º56’E, III.1995, A. Pauly (MRAC 206785); 1♂ 1♀, Tamatave, Volorano, 17º27’S, 48º54’E, IV–VI.1991, A. Pauly (MRAC 206855); 1♂, Ambatolampy, 19º23’S, 47º26’E, I.1999, R. van Esbroek (MRAC 208476); 2♂ 5♀, Toliara, Park National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Forêt de Bemanateza, 20.7 km 81ºE Efoetse, 23 km 131ºSE Beheloka, 23º59’32”S, 43º52’50”E, 22–26.III.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. (CASC 9000430, 9013449, 9013466); 2♂ 1♀, Toliara, Park National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Mitoho Cave, 6.4 km 77ºENE Efoetse, 17.4 km 170ºS Beheloka, 24º02’50”S, 43º45’11”E, 18–22.III.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. (CASC 9000635, 9014245); 1♂ 1♀, Toliara, 7 km 156ºSSE Lavanono, 25º26’16”S, 44º59’19”E, 17.II.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. (CASC 9000457); 1♂, Toliara, Forêt de Mahavelo, Isantoria River, 24º45’30”S, 46º09’26”E, 28.I–1.II.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. (CASC 9010021); 1♀, Toliara, 3.5 km 236ºSW Marovalo, 25º33’14”S, 45º15’21”E, 14.II.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. (CASC 9012758); 1♂, Toliara, Forêt de Mite, 20.7 km 29ºWNW Tongobory, 23º31’27”S, 44º07’17”E, 27.II–3.III.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. (CASC 9014131); 2♂, Antsiranana, Réserve Spéciale de l’Anivorano Nord, 12º51’49”S, 49º13’33”E, 16–21.II.2001, J.J. Rafanomezantsoa, et al. (CASC 9000985); 3♂ 5♀, Antsiranana, Park National Montagne d’Ambre, 12º31’13”S, 49º10’45”E, 2001, R. Harin’Hala (CASC 9001751, 9001807, 9001871, 9001889, 9001912); 1♀, Antsiranana, Park National Montagne d’Ambre, 12.2 km 211ºSSW Joffreville, 12º35’47”S, 49º09’34”E, 2–7.II.2001, R. Harin’Hala (CASC 9007966); 1♂ 1♀, Antsiranana, Sakalava Beach, 12º15’46”S, 49º23’51”E, 31.V–7.VI.2001, R. Harin’Hala (CASC 9002001); 3♂ 3♀, Antsiranana, 7 km N of Joffreville, 12º20’S, 49º15’E, 2001, R. Harin’Hala (CASC 9002056, 9002080, 9002119, 9002149); 2♀, Antsiranana, 12º15’46”S, 49º23’42”E, VIII–IX.2001, R. Harin’Hala (CASC 9005078, 9005087); 1♂, Fianarantsoa, S bank of creek E of Hotel Thermal, 21º15.8’S, 47º27.3’E, 20.XI.1998, V.E. Lee & K.J. Ribardo (CASC); 5♂ 5♀, Fianarantsoa, Park National Ranomafana, near park entrance, 21º14.3’S, 47º26’E, 22.IV.1998, C.E. Griswold, et al. (CASC); 1♀, Fianarantsoa, Park National Ranomafana, Talatakely, 21º14.9’S, 47º25.6’E, 19–30.IV.1998, C.E. Griswold, et al. (CASC); 1♀, Fianarantsoa, Perinet, 18º55’S, 48º25’E, 1-3.VIII.1992, V. & B. Roth (CASC). Paratypes from Comoros Islands: 1♂, Mohéli, lac d’Iconi, 12º15’S, 43º45’E, 17.XI.1983, R. Jocqué (MRAC 160799); 1♂, Entre Combani et Bouyouni, piste vers le nord, 12º47’S, 45º06’E, 22.VII.1998, E. Tybaert, et al. (MRAC 208332).

Etymology. The name is derived from Madagascar, the country from which most records originate.

Diagnosis. C. madagascarense sp. nov. is similar to C. africanum, but females are differentiated by the thinner copulatory ducts (Fig. 90), and males are differentiated by RTA with a single pointed apex (Figs 92–93).

Description. Female: (n = 10): TL = 6.14 (5.1–7.4); CL = 2.53 (2.1–3.1); CW = 1.92 (1.6–2.3); OAL = 0.41 (0.35–0.50); OAW = 1.11 (0.85–1.45); CLL = 0.05 (0.05–0.08). Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; cheliceral fang furrow with six teeth of unequal size, PMT:RMT = 3:3 (Fig. 88). Measurements: AME–AME 0.15; AME–ALE 0.15; AME diameter 0.15; PME–PME 0.20; PME–PLE 0.20; PME diameter 0.15; MOQAW 0.40; MOQPW 0.45; CI (CL/CW) 1.35; LL:CL 3.72; STL 1.30; STW 1.05. Leg measurements: I—2.5+1.0+2.4+2.4+1.0 = 9.3; II—1.9+0.9+1.8+1.8+0.8 = 7.2; III—1.5+0.7+1.1+1.3+0.6 = 5.2; IV—2.1+0.9+1.9+2.2+0.8 = 7.9; palp—0.9+0.4+0.5+0.9 = 2.7. Leg spines: I 0-0-1p, 0, 2v- 0- 1 v; II 0-0-1p, 0, 2v- 0- 1 v; III 0-1p1r-1p1r, 0-1p1r-0, 2v- 1p1r-3 v1 p1r; IV 0-0-1p1r, 0-0-1r, 2 v1 r-1p1r-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen (Fig. 82): creamy-yellow with a slight heartmark.

Epigynum (Figs 89–90): wider than long, with a large transverse central depression; copulatory openings in anterio-lateral sides of depression; internally, copulatory tubes proceed anteriorly, then loop around before turning posteriorly to end anterolaterally in small round spermathecae; fertilization ducts exit spermathecae posteromedially.

Male: (n = 10): TL = 5.65 (5.3–6.4); CL = 2.53 (2.2–2.7); CW = 1.88 (1.6–2.2); OAL = 0.37 (0.35–0.40); OAW = 0.98 (0.8–1.2); CLL = 0.05 (0.05-0.05). Chelicerae: similar to female, except longer, with PMT:RMT = 3:3 (Fig. 91). Measurements: AME–AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.15; AME diameter 0.15; PME–PME 0.15; PME–PLE 0.15; PME diameter 0.15; MOQAW 0.40; MOQPW 0.45; CI (CL/CW) 1.44; LL:CL 5.62; STL 1.2; STW 1.0. Leg measurements: I—3.7+1.2+4.0+4.2+1.5 = 14.6; II—2.8+1.0+2.1+3.0+1.0 = 9.9; III—1.8+0.8+1.6+2.2+0.8 = 7.2; IV—2.9+1.0+2.6+3.5+1.0 = 11.0; palp—1.2+0.4+0.6+1.1 = 3.3. Leg spines: I 0-1p-1p1r, 2v- 3v-2v, 2v- 1v-1v; II 0- 1p-1p, 1v-1v- 1p, 2v- 1v-1v; III 0-1p1r-1p1r, 0-0-1p1r, 2 v1 p1r-1 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r; IV 0-1p-1p1r, 1v- 1r-1p1r, 2 v1 p1r- 2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen (Fig. 83): slightly more elongate than in female. Palp (Figs 92–93): cymbium elongate, about equal to tibia plus patella length, with apophysis pointing proximally; RTA with a single point at apex; TA sclerotized, swollen distally, with a long point next to CON at apex; in some cases the TA also have a small point at the apex on the retrolateral side; EM long, almost encircling tegulum, ending at CON apex; CON unsclerotised but distinct.

Distribution. Comoros and Madagascar (Fig. 115).

Habitat. Forest, spiny forest/thicket, dry forests, littoral forests, plantations and cultivated lands.