Toliaranella gen. nov.

Type species.

Toliaranella pumila sp. nov.

Diagnosis.

Toliaranella gen. nov. differs from all other Malagasy feaellids by the presence of a perforated organ above the coxal spines and smallest body size of any Malagasy groups. Like Antsirananaella gen. nov. and Mahajanganella gen. nov., it differs from Cybella by having platelets on the pleural membrane (absent in Cybella), from Iporangella by the presence of specialized setae on the movable chelal finger (absent in Iporangella), from Feaella (Difeaella) and Feaella (Feaella) by the presence of four anterior carapaceal lobes (two and six, respectively), from Feaella (Tetrafeaella) in continental Africa by having a less pronounced depression on the base of coxa I and on top of coxa II (distinctly more pronounced in Feaella (T.) cf. mucronata) and from the Australian species presently attributed to Feaella (Tetrafeaella) by having fewer coxal spines (one pair versus three or four in the Australian taxa).

Etymology.

This genus is named after the former Toliara Province, where all specimens were collected. The gender is feminine.

Description.

The following description is based on holotype and allotype. - Carapace (Figs 18A, 20A, 21A, 22A, 23A, 24A): Strongly granulate, all four anterior lobes with same distance to each other and rounded at tips. - Pedipalps (Figs 17A, B, 19A-C, 20C, D, 21C, D, 22C, D, 23C, D, 24C, D): Terminal teeth with 7-8 teeth on both the fixed and the movable fingers (including 1 large tooth on fixed finger). - Coxal region (Figs 17B, 18B, C): Pedipalpal coxae each with one spike laterally near base; coxae I with basal depression, each side with one small coxal spine; slightly more cranial of coxal spine one novel organ on each side: rose-shaped, not granulate but perforated organ (Fig. 18B, C) filling the base of the depression; coxae II with irregular shaped spines framing depression of coxae I.

Included species.

Toliaranella fisheri sp. nov.; Toliaranella griswoldi sp. nov.; Toliaranella mahnerti sp. nov.; Toliaranella meridionalis sp. nov.; and Toliaranella pumila sp. nov.

Distribution.

Members of this genus are localized to the southern part of Madagascar in the Androy, Anosy and Atsimo-Andrefana Regions (formerly Toliara Province) where the main landscape is covered by arid spiny bush vegetation.