Cheiracanthium mahajanga sp. nov.

Figs 84, 94–96

Type material from Madagascar: Holotype ♀, Mahajanga, Réserve d’Ankoririka, 10.6 km 13ºNE Tsaramandroso, 16º16’02”S, 46º02’55”E, 9–14.IV.2001, J.J. Rafanomezantsoa (CASC 9006366). Paratype: 1♀, Toliara, Forêt de Beroboka, 5.9 km 131ºSE Ankidranoka, 22º13’59”S, 43º21’59”E, 12–16.III.2002, B.L. Fisher, et al. (CASC 9014364).

Etymology. The name is a noun in apposition of the type locality.

Diagnosis. Females of C. mahajanga sp. nov. are differentiated by the knotted shape of the copulatory ducts (Fig. 96). Male unknown.

Description. Female: (n = 2): TL = 5.15 (5.0–5.3); CL = 2.15 (2.0–2.3); CW = 1.65 (1.6–1.7); OAL = 0.30 (0.3–0.3); OAW = 0.95 (0.9–1.0); CLL = 0.05 (0.05–0.05). Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; cheliceral fang furrow with five teeth of unequal size, PMT:RMT = 2:3 (Fig. 94). Measurements: AME–AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.10; 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) 1.25; LL:CL 4.95; STL 1.05; STW 0.90. Leg measurements: I—2.6+0.9+2.5+2.7+1.2 = 9.9; II—2.0+0.8+1.7+1.8+0.7 = 7.0; III—1.4+0.7+1.1+1.5+0.6 = 5.3; IV—2.1+0.8+1.8+2.2+0.7 = 7.6; palp—0.9+0.3+0.6+0.9 = 2.7. Leg spines: I 0-1p-0, - 1v- 0, 2v- 0- 1 v; II 0-0-1p, 0, 2v -0- 1 v; III 0-0-1p1r, 0-1p1r-0, 2 v1 p1r-0-3 v1 p1r; IV 0, 0-0-1r, 2 v1 p1r-2v-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen (Fig. 84): creamy-yellow with indistinct heartmark. Epigynum (Figs 95– 96): wider than long, with a transverse subtriangular central depression; copulatory openings in lateral edges of depression; internally, copulatory ducts proceed anterolaterally, curving around anterior part of spermathecae before ending anteriorly; fertilization ducts exit spermathecae posteromedially. Male: unknown.

Distribution. Only known from two localities in western Madagascar (Fig. 116). Habitat. Collected in tropical dry forest.