Mahajanganella gen. nov.

Type species.

Mahajanganella heraclis sp. nov.

Diagnosis.

Mahajanganella gen. nov. is morphologically unique by having the following characters, which differ from other feaelloid members in Madagascar: 5 specialized setae on the retrolateral face of the movable chelal finger arranged in a group between trichobothrium b and terminal teeth (arranged in a row in Antsirananaella gen. nov.); smaller overall size than Antsirananaella gen. nov.; stronger granulate cuticle than Antsirananaella gen. nov.; all four anterior lobes of carapace with the same distance to each other (smaller distance between anteriomedial lobes than to anteriolateral ones in Antsirananaella gen. nov.). Like Antsirananaella gen. nov. and Toliaranella 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.

The genus is named after the former Mahajanga Province, where many of these feaellids occur. The gender is feminine.

Description.

The following description is based on holotype and allotype of M. heraclis sp. nov. - Carapace (Figs 12A, 14A, 15A, 16A): Moderate granulate and all four anterior lobes with same distance to each other. - Pedipalp (Figs 11A, B, 13A, B, C, 14C, D, 15C, D, 16C, D): Trichobothrial pattern: esb between st and ist on the sagittal level with ist slightly more distal and st slightly more proximal than esb; t distinctly closer to sb than to b; sb distinctly closer to t than to st; it on the fixed finger between eb and et distinctly closer to eb than to et. Movable finger with five specialized setae on the ventral face, arranged in a group and slightly more distally situated than b (Fig. 13A). Terminal teeth varying in number, both in fixed and the movable fingers each with 7-8 terminal teeth (one large tooth included on fixed finger). - Chelicera: Most specimens were too dirty to get secure information about characters. Coxal region (Fig. 12B, C), legs (Figs 11B, 14B, 15B, 16B), abdomen (Fig. 11A, B, C) and genital region (Fig. 12B) with the same characters as Antsirananaella gen. nov.

Included species.

Mahajanganella fridakahloae sp. nov.; Mahajanganella heraclis sp. nov.; and Mahajanganella schwarzeneggeri sp. nov..

Distribution.

Specimens of Mahajanganella gen. nov. have been found in dry localities (dry tropical forests) in the Boeny and Menabe Regions (formerly Mahajanga and Toliara Provinces) along the western coast of Madagascar.