Toliaranella meridionalis sp. nov.

Type material examined.

MADAGASCAR: Toliara Province [Androy Region]: Holotype ♂ (CAS 9071748 [BLF5570]), allotype ♀ (ZMH-A0016751), 4 ♂ paratypes (CAS 9071748 [BLF5570 and BLF5650]), 2 ♂ (ZMH-A0016752, ZMH-A0016753), Reserve Speciale de Cap Sainte Marie, 25°35′40″S 45°8′49″E, 13-19 February 2002, B.L. Fisher, Griswold et al.

Additional material examined.

MADAGASCAR: Toliara Province [Androy Region]: 8 ♂, 14 ♀, 5 nymphs (CAS 9071596 [BLF5500]), Reserve Speciale de Cap Sainte Marie, 25°34′54″S 45°10′6″E, 11-15 February 2002, Fisher, Griswold et al .

Diagnosis.

Largest body size of the southern Malagasy feaellids (e.g., body length 1.85/2.33 ♂/♀ versus 1.56-1.80/1.96-2.23 ♂/♀; carapace length 0.53/0.64 ♂/♀ versus 0.45-0.51/0.52-0.58 ♂/♀; femur length 0.55/0.67 ♂/♀ versus 0.44-0.53/0.53-0.61 ♂/♀)

Etymology.

This species is named after the type locality, which is the southernmost point of Madagascar.

Description.

The following description is based on holotype and allotype. - Carapace (Fig. 24A): 1.25-1.38 (♂), 2.64 (♀) × longer than broad. - Pedipalps (Fig. 24C, D): See trichobothrial pattern in description of T. pumila sp. nov. Chelal fixed finger with 9-11 teeth in the OR, 13-14 in the MR and 10 in the IR; movable finger with 8-9 teeth in the OR, 11-14 in the MR and 9 teeth in the IR; terminal teeth: 7 equally sized and one large one on the fixed finger, 7 teeth on the movable finger equal in size. - Dimensions (mm): Holotype ♂: Body length 1.82; abdomen length 1.29, width (with pleura) 1.18, width (without pleura) 1.04; carapace length 0.50, width 0.40. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.24; femur length 0.59, width 0.34; patella 0.44; chela (without pedicel) 0.43; hand length 0.10, width 0.13; movable finger 0.34. Leg I: trochanter 0.10; femur 0.13; patella 0.17; tibia 0.17; tarsus 0.22. Leg IV: trochanter 0.16; femur 0.12; patella 0.26; tibia 0.24; tarsus 0.30. Allotype ♀: Body length 2.33; abdomen length 1.69, width (with pleura) 1.50, width (without pleura) 1.30; carapace length 0.64, width 0.46. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.27; femur length 0.67, width 0.40; patella 0.52; chela (without pedicel) 0.50; hand length 0.11, width 0.16; movable finger 0.41. Leg I: trochanter 0.11; femur 0.20; patella 0.21; tibia 0.15; tarsus 0.29. Leg IV: trochanter 0.18; femur 0.16; patella 0.35; tibia 0.34; tarsus 0.34.

Variation.

Allotype ♀: Body length 1.75-1.90 (♂), 2.33 (♀); abdomen length 1.17-1.36 (♂), 1.69 (♀); width (with pleura) 1.11-1.24 (♂), 1.50 (♀); width (without pleura) 1.01-1.09 (♂), 1.30 (♀); 1.16-1.26 (♂), 1.30 (♀) × longer than broad; carapace in length 0.50-0.55 (♂), 0.64 (♀); width 0.40-0.42 (♂), 0.46 (♀); 1.25-1.38 (♂), 1.39 (♀) × longer than broad. Pedipalp: trochanter 0.21-0.29 (♂), 0.27 (♀); femur length 0.52-0.59 (♂), 0.67 (♀); width 0.32-0.35 (♂), 0.40 (♀); 1.59-1.74 (♂), 1.68 (♀) × longer than broad; patella 0.43-0.47 (♂), 0.52 (♀); chela (without pedicel) 0.42-0.45 (♂), 0.50 (♀); hand length 0.90-0.12 (♂), 0.11 (♀); width 0.13-0.14 (♂), 0.16 (♀); 0.64-0.86 (♂), 0.69 (♀) × longer than broad; movable finger 0.32-0.36 (♂), 0.41 (♀).

GenBank Code.

OP589961. The species differs from all congeners by more than 3.3% in the H3 dataset.

Habitat.

Specimens found in sifted litter from spiny forest thicket very close to the coastline at an elevation of 160 m.

Distribution.

Known from the two southernmost localities (type locality and BLF5500) among all Malagasy feaellids in the Androy Region (formerly Toliara Province).