Malagiella, Ubick & Griswold, 2011

Ubick, Darrell & Griswold, Charles E., 2011, The Malagasy Goblin Spiders Of The New Genus Malagiella (Araneae, Oonopidae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2011 (356), pp. 1-86 : 13-54

Malagiella , new genus

TYPE SPECIES: Malagiella ranomafana , new species.

ETYMOLOGY: The genus name is a contraction of Malagasy Camptoscaphiella , and is feminine in gender.

DIAGNOSIS: Malagiella differs from other oonopid genera, except Camptoscaphiella , by the combined presence of strong leg spines, reduced abdominal scutes, eyes contiguous, palpal patella greatly enlarged in male, and epigynum with single external copulatory opening. Males differ from Camptoscaphiella in having the palpal bulb fused to the cymbium (fig. 8) and the sternum with a median patch of stiff bristles (fig. 7, except in M. fisheri : figs. 305, 474) and its anterior margins forming pointed cones (figs. 7, 472– 477). Females differ in having a round copulatory opening (fig. 11), which is slitlike in Camptoscaphiella (fig. 5), and bifid claws of leg 4 (figs. 9, 10), which are simple in Camptoscaphiella (figs. 3, 4).

DESCRIPTION: MALE: Total length 1.0– 1.7. Color uniform yellow orange (figs. 346, 430) to reddish brown (figs. 201, 269), with carapace and dorsal scute slightly darker than the legs and venter (figs. 270, 395); unsclerotized parts of abdomen pale to white (figs. 202, 347, 431); palpi usually darker than legs (figs. 474, 477). CEPHALOTHO- RAX: Carapace ovoid (figs. 15, 120, 201, 346) to elongate (fig. 430) in dorsal view, pars cephalica elevation slight (figs. 14, 202) to strong (figs. 117, 347), anteriorly narrowed from 0.53–0.64 times its maximum width (anterior width measured across eye area, as in fig. 15), with rounded posterolateral corners (figs. 201, 346, 430), posterolateral edge without pits, posterior margin not bulging below posterior rim, anterolateral corners without extension or projections, posterolateral surface without spikes; surface and sides of elevated portion of pars cephalica and thoracica with variable sculpturing, strong with reticulation of deep hexagonal cells (figs. 13–15) to weak with shallow and elongate cells (figs. 117–120) to smooth (fig. 430); thorax without depressions, fovea absent, without radiating rows of pits; lateral margin undulate strongly (fig. 202) to slightly (figs. 117, 347, 431), rebordered, without denticles; plumose setae near posterior margin of pars thoracica absent; nonmarginal pars cephalica setae needlelike; nonmarginal pars thoracica setae absent; marginal setae absent. Clypeus weakly rebordered, in front view slightly downcurved at sides (figs. 17, 119), sloping in lateral view; high, as long as eye area length (fig. 14) to twice eye area length (figs. 117, 119); setae present, light, needlelike; median projection absent. Chilum absent. Eyes six, large (fig. 13), medium sized (fig. 119), or small (fig. 430); ALE slightly larger than others, oval, PLE oval, PME squared; posterior eye row procurved in anterior and dorsal views; ALE touching, ALE-PLE touching, PLE-PME touching, PME touching for most of their length. Sternum longer than wide, not fused to carapace; with radial furrows between coxae I–II, II–III, III–IV (figs. 19, 125, 434), radial furrow opposite coxae III absent; cuticle smooth to finely wrinkled (figs. 19, 126), without pits, sickle-shaped structures absent, without posterior hump, posterior margin extending posteriorly beyond anterior edges of coxae IV as single extension; lateral margin with infracoxal grooves, grooves with openings at anterior and posterior ends (fig. 19) or only at posterior ends (fig. 125, of female in fig. 130), distance between coxae approximately equal, extensions of precoxal triangles present; anterior margin with continuous transverse groove, median longitudinal groove strong (fig. 20) or weakly represented (fig. 126); anterolateral margins with conical extensions (figs. 19, 126, 472–477); with two anteromedian patches of long stiff bristles (figs. 19, 125, 472, 473, 475–477) but absent in M. fisheri (fig. 474); lateral and posterior setae needlelike, originating from surface, without hair tufts. Chelicerae slightly divergent, anterior face unmodified; promargin with one tooth, retromargin without teeth (figs. 25, 136); fangs without toothlike projections, directed medially, shape normal, without prominent basal process, tip unmodified; setae light, needlelike, densest medially; paturon inner margin with scattered setae, distal region unmodified, posterior surface with three long setae (figs. 19, 135), promargin with row of flattened setae, inner margin with very long setae (figs. 24, 133), laminate groove absent. Labium triangular, anterior margin indented at middle; with six or more setae on anterior margin, subdistal portion with unmodified setae (figs. 26, 127); not fused to sternum, same as sternum in sclerotization. Endites distally excavated, serrula present in single row (figs. 27, 128); distomedian part with projection bearing dense scopula, distolateral part with swelling bearing serrula and three stout setae; posteromedian part unmodified (figs. 26, 27, 127, 128). ABDOMEN: Ovoid (figs. 201, 237, 269, 302) or cylindrical (figs. 346, 433), without long posterior extension, rounded posteriorly, interscutal membrane without rows of small sclerotized platelets. Book lung covers large, ovoid (figs. 207, 208, 352, 353, 438), without setae, anterolateral edge unmodified. Posteri- or spiracles not connected by groove (figs. 34, 147). Pedicel tube short (figs. 142, 353, 438) to medium length (figs. 31, 208, 309), scutum extending far dorsal of pedicel from about one (figs. 31, 208, 309) to almost two (figs. 142, 353, 438) pedicel diameters, scuto-pedicel region unmodified, plumose hairs absent, matted setae on anterior ventral abdomen in pedicel area absent, cuticular outgrowths near pedicel absent. Dorsal scutum without color pattern, covering abdomen completely (figs. 201, 202) or partially (figs. 346, 347, 430, 431); fused to epigastric scutum (figs. 31, 32, 142–146, 207, 208, 243, 275, 308, 352, 353, 437, 438), forming acute (fig. 207) or obtuse (figs. 352, 438) angle; anterior half without projecting denticles; middle surface smooth, sides smooth. Epigastric scutum strongly (figs. 207, 208) or weakly (figs. 437, 438) sclerotized, surrounding pedicel, not protruding, small lateral sclerites absent. Postepigastric scutum usually strongly sclerotized (fig. 208), rarely weakly (fig. 438); long, covering most of epigastric area (figs. 203, 348), or short (fig. 432); fusedto epigastric scutum, anterior margin unmodified, without posteriorly direct- ed lateral apodemes. Abdominal setae uniform, light, needlelike; present on dorsal scutum, epigastric scutum, postepigastric scutum, and interscutal membrane; dense patch of setae anterior to spinnerets present, may be weak. Spinneret scutum present, incomplete ring with fringe of needlelike setae; supraanal scutum absent. Spinnerets (scanned in M. ranomafana , fig. 40, and M. vohiparara , fig. 149): ALS with three spigots (figs. 41, 150), PMS with two spigots (figs. 42, 151), PLS with four spigots in M. ranomafana (fig. 43) and three spigots in M. vohiparara (fig. 152). Colulus represented only by setae. LEGS: Without color pattern; femur IV not thickened, same size as femora I–III; patella plus tibia I longer than carapace, tibia I unmodified; tibia IV ventral scopula absent, specialized hairs on ventral apex absent; metatarsi I, II mesoapical comb absent, metatarsi III, IV weak ventral scopula absent. Leg spines present, longer than segment width, typical pattern: femur I p0-1-0; tibiae I, II v4-4-0; metatarsi I, II v2-2- 0; additional spines in M. vohiparara and M. toliara : tibia IV v0-0-2 (apical spines); and in M. toliara : metatarsus III p0-1-0, r0-1-0, metatarsus IV, tibia IV p1-1-0, r1-1-0. Tarsi I–IV superior claws examined in detail (in M. ranomafana ); tarsal proclaws and retroclaws with faces striate; tarsi I, II superior claws with three large teeth on lateral surfaces and three small teeth on median surfaces of both proclaw and retroclaw (figs. 74–76); tarsi III, IV superior claws with three teeth on lateral surfaces of proclaw and retroclaw, lacking teeth on median surfaces (figs. 77, 78); tarsal claws I–IV lacking inferior claw (figs. 74–78); tarsal claws III, IV each with three modified clawlike setae (figs. 77, 78). Trichobothria: tibia, each with three; metatarsus, each with one; trichobothrial base longitudinally narrowed, aperture internal texture not gratelike, hood covered by numerous low, closely spaced ridges (figs. 62–64), ridges usually transversely arranged, but radially in one of the two distalmost tibial trichobothria (fig. 63). Tarsal organ with 2 sensillae on palp and tarsi III, IV (figs. 57, 60, 61); 3 sensilla on tarsi I, II (figs. 58, 59). GENITA- LIA: Epigastric region with sperm pore large, oval, rebordered, situated between anterior and posterior spiracles (figs. 34–36, 148, 432); furrow without Ω- shaped insertions, without setae. Palp normal size, not strongly sclerotized (burnt); right and left palps symmetrical; embolus dark, prolateral excavation absent; trochanter normal size, unmodified; femur normal size, without posteriorly rounded lateral dilation, attaching to patella medially; patella greatly enlarged, three to five times femur length (figs. 481–486), without prolateral row of ridges, setae unmodified; tibia shorter than patella, tibia not enlarged, trichobothria not examined; cymbium ovoid in dorsal view, completely fused with bulb, no seam visible, not extending beyond distal tip of bulb, plumose setae absent, without stout setae, without distal patch of setae; bulb tapering apically.

FEMALE: Total length 1.3–1.9. Color as in male, but abdomen paler because of more exposed membrane (figs. 212, 357, 440–442) and palpi no darker than legs (figs. 478–480). CEPHALOTHORAX: Carapace as in male, but pars cephalica less strongly elevated (figs. 18, 212, 121, 357, 442) and narrower, anteriorly narrowed from 0.49–0.41 times its maximum width. Clypeus lower than in male (figs. 18, 121). Sternum as in male but anterior margin without transverse groove (figs. 21, 129), surface smoother and lacking median longitudinal groove; anterolateral margin unmodified, lacking conical extensions; anteromedian patch of strong bristles absent; setae unmodified, evenly scattered (figs. 21, 130). Chelicerae (figs. 28, 29) as in male. Labium (figs. 29, 132) as in male. Endites distally not excavated, without median or lateral modifications, three setae near serrula slender, not stout (figs. 29, 30, 132). Female palp lacking claw or spines; tarsus unmodified; tibia with three trichobothria; patella without prolateral row of ridges (figs. 48–50, 463–465). ABDOMEN: Ovoid (figs. 211, 356) or cylindrical (fig. 441). Book lung covers (figs. 217, 218, 386, 447) as in male. Pedicel tube, as in male, either short (figs. 337, 363, 448) or of medium length (figs. 218, 319); scutum dorsal extension shorter than in male, from 0.2 to 0.6 pedicel diameters (figs. 116, 336, 362, 386, 400, 447) to about one diameter (figs. 217, 253, 318). Dorsal scutum size variable, may cover abdomen almost completely (figs. 247, 248), partially (figs. 279, 356), or minimally (figs. 330, 441); not fused to epigastric scutum (figs. 37, 38, 217, 336, 362). Epigastric scutum strongly (figs. 217, 218) or weakly (figs. 336, 337) sclerotized, without lateral joints. Post- epigastric scutum broadly hexagonal; sclerotized strongly (fig. 228), or weakly (figs. 375, 459); not fused to epigastric scutum, with posteriorly directed lateral apodemes, with small lateral sclerites (figs. 213, 342, 382). Dense patch of setae anterior to spinnerets present (figs. 218, 219), but may be weak (figs. 364, 448). Spinnerets (scanned in M. ranomafana , fig. 44, and M. vohiparara , fig. 153): ALS with three spigots (figs. 45, 154), PMS with three spigots (figs. 46, 155), PLS with six spigots in M. ranomafana (fig. 47) and five spigots in M. vohiparara (fig. 156). LEGS: Leg spination (figs. 466– 471) as in male. Tarsi I–III superior claws (figs. 79–82) as in male, tarus IV superior claws with three teeth on lateral surfaces and one large apical tooth on median surfaces of both proclaw and retroclaw (figs. 83, 84). Trichobothria (figs. 70–73) as in male. Tarsal organ (figs. 65–69) as in male.

NATURAL HISTORY: Little can be said of the natural history of Malagiella . All species for which there is information occur in forests; most are from eastern evergreen humid forests, M. toliara and M. goodmani are from southern deciduous dry forests. Based on collection data, 38 specimens were collected from sifted leaf litter and 18 from pitfall traps. Females represent most of the sifted specimens (25) and males most of the pitfall specimens (12), in both cases by a factor of 2. This suggests that females are more stationary in favorable litter habitats and that males are more mobile, as would be expected.

SPECIES INCLUDED: Malagiella ambalavo , M. andringitra , M. fisheri , M. goodmani , M. nikina , M. ranavalona , M. ranomafana , M. toliara , M. valterova , and M. vohiparara .

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from Madagascar.