Heriaeus madagascar, Niekerk & Dippenaar-Schoeman, 2013

Niekerk, P. van & Dippenaar-Schoeman, A. S., 2013, A revision of the crab spider genus Heriaeus Simon, 1875 (Araneae: Thomisidae) in the Afrotropical Region, African Invertebrates 54 (2), pp. 447-447 : 464-465

Heriaeus madagascar sp. n.

Figs 8 , 35, 36 , 59

Etymology: The species name is a noun in apposition derived from Madagascar.

Diagnosis: The species is recognized by a combination of long spiniform setae with acute tips on the abdomen, a single broad central stripe on the carapace, short strong setae on tibiae and metatarsi I and II ( Fig. 8 ), and only four setae on the anterior edge of the clypeus. The male palp is distinguished by the angular shape of the cymbium, which is extended into a blunt extension laterally, the shape of the embolus, a broad flat ITA and a ventral tooth-like lobe on the RTA ( Figs 35, 36 ). Female unknown.

Description:

Male (holotype).

Size: TL 3.02, CL 1.56, CW 1.41. Colour: Carapace with a broad brown stripe centrally, darker brown posteriorly; setae brown; chelicerae yellow-brown with brown markings; clypeus brown; eye region yellow-brown; eye tubercles grey.Abdomen creamy with dark mottling; cream with brown spots ventrally; setae brown. Palp with all segments yellow-brown. Legs yellow-brown, with brown marks on femora, tibiae and metatarsi I and II. Carapace: Eye measurements: AME–AME 0.19, ALE–AME 0.11, PME–PME 0.11, PLE–PME 0.29, AME–PME 0.15, MOQL AME–PME 0.22, MOQAW AME–AME 0.25, MOQPW PME–PME 0.21. Leg measurements: leg I Fe 2.20, Pat 0.97, Tib 1.50, Mt 1.38, Ta 0.76, total 6.81; leg II Fe 2.15, Pat 0.89, Tib 1.41, Mt 1.38, Ta 0.70, total 6.53; leg III Fe 1.13, Pat 0.58, Tib 1.13, Mt 0.76, Ta 0.44, total 4.04; leg IV Fe 0.96, Pat 0.53, Tib 0.78, Mt 0.81, Ta 0.45, total 3.53. Clypeus: Four setae on anterior clypeal edge. Abdomen: Oval, truncated anteriorly, slightly pointed posteriorly ( Fig. 8 ), bearing scattered long spiniform setae with acute tips. Legs: Tibiae and metatarsi I and II with short strong setae. Male palp: Cymbium with blunt extension laterally, forming a narrow ridge for tip of embolus to fit into, embolus long, winding once around tegulum, with sharp angle distally, tip straight and extending dorsally onto cymbium; ITA broad and flat; RTA with long distal tooth and ventral lobe below; VTA knob­like ( Figs 35, 36 ).

Holotype: ♂ MADAGASCAR: Beanana (15.73°S 49.47°E), ii.1970, A. Lambillon ( MRAC 142.650 ).

Paratype: ♂ MADAGASCAR: Tananarive (18.15°S 49.42°E), 10.xi.1972, A. Dhondt ( MRAC 142.296 ) .

Distribution: Madagascar ( Fig. 59 ).

Natural history: Males collected during February and November.

Figures

Figs 1–9. Heriaeus spp., habitus:(1) Heriaeus sp. long spiniform abdominal setae; (2) H.allenjonesi antoni sp. n. female; (3) H.antoni sp. n. female; (4) H.copricola sp. n. male; (5) H. crassispinus Lawrence, 1942 male; (6) H. foordi sp. n. male; (7) H. latifrons Lessert, 1919 female; (8) H.madagascar sp. n. male; (9) H. muizenberg sp. n. female.

Figs 30–36.(30–33) Heriaeus foordi sp. n.: (30) male palp, ventral view; (31) male palp, lateral view; (32) epigyne, ventral view; (33) epigyne, dorsal view; (34) Heriaeus latifrons Lessert, 1919, epigyne, ventral view; (35, 36) Heriaeus madagascar sp. n.: (35) male palp, ventral view; (36) male palp, lateral view.

Figs 57–59. Distribution of Heriaeus spp. in the Afrotropical Region.