Cheiracanthium kakumense, Lotz, L. N., 2015

Lotz, L. N., 2015, New Species of the Spider Genus Cheiracanthium from Continental Africa (Araneae: Eutichuridae), Zootaxa 3973 (2), pp. 321-336 : 327-328

Cheiracanthium kakumense sp. nov.

Figs 22–27

Type material. Holotype ♀ and paratype ♂: GHANA: Kakum forest, 05º20’N, 01º23’W, 23.XI.2005, R. Jocqué, D. de Bakker & L. Baert ( MRAC 217300); Additional paratypes: 7♂ 5♀, same locality and collectors as holotype, 8 to 25.XI.2005 ( MRAC 217162, 218321, 218322, 218323, 218324, 218328, 218330); 1♂, IVORY COAST: Appouesso, FC Bossematié, 06º35’N, 03º28’W, 16.XI.1995, R. Jocqué ( MRAC 202672); 2♂, Taï forest, Ecological Research Station, 05º50’N, 07º21’W, various collectors, 20.II.2010 ( MRAC 230297, 230303); 2♂, Taï forest, 05º52’N, 07º52’W, D. vanden Spiegel & A. Kablan, 1.IX & 12.X.2010 ( MRAC 233433, 233451); 6♂ DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Mayombe, Lower Congo, Luki Forest Reserve, 05º38’S, 13º04’E, various collectors, various dates (XI.2006, X–XI.2007) ( MRAC 220849, 222162, 223025, 223656, 223764, 223822).

Etymology. The species name is taken from the type locality.

Diagnosis. C. kakumense sp. nov. females are similar to C. halophilum Schmidt & Piepho, 1994 (see Lotz, 2007a: figs 47–48), C. ghanaense sp. nov. ( Fig. 12 ) and C. mayombense sp. nov. ( Fig. 33 ) in the long spiralled copulatory ducts, but differs from these species by the anterior proceeding part of the copulatory ducts being without a spiral ( Fig. 24 ). Males are similar to C. falcis sp. nov. ( Figs 5–6 ) in the hooked shape of the TA, but are differentiated by the more beak-like shape of the TA apex and the shorter, thicker, shape of the ventral RTA ( Figs 26–27 ).

Description. Female: (n = 6): TL = 6.25 (5.1–7.2); CL = 2.65 (2.0–2.9); CW = 1.97 (1.6–2.1); OAL = 0.47 (0.4–0.5); OAW = 1.17 (0.9–1.3); CLL = 0.10 (0.08–0.10). Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; fang furrow with six teeth of unequal size, PMT:RMT = 3:3 ( Fig. 22 ). Measurements: AME–AME 0.20; AME–ALE 0.20; AME diameter 0.15; PME–PME 0.25; PME–PLE 0.30; PME diameter 0.15; MOQAW 0.50; MOQPW 0.55; CI (CL/ CW) 1.35; LL:CL 5.78; STL 1.3; STW 1.1. Leg measurements: I—3.9+1.2+4.0+4.6+1.9 = 15.6; II— 2.5+1.0+2.1+2.5+1.0 = 9.1; III—1.8+0.8+1.3+1.9+0.8 = 6.6; IV—2.7+1.0+2.1+3.0+1.0 = 9.8; Palp— 1.2+0.5+0.7+1.1 = 3.5. Leg spines: I 0-1p-1p, 0- 2 v-0, 2v- 0- 1 v; II 0-1p-1p1r, 0- 2 v-1p, 2v- 0- 1 v; III 0-1p1r-1p1r, 0- 0-1p1r, 2v 1p1r- 1v 1p1r- 3v 1p1r; IV 0-0-1p1r, 0-0-1r, 2v 1p1r- 2v 1p1r- 3v 1p1r. Abdomen: creamy-yellow with a faint heartmark. Epigynum ( Figs 23–24 ): depression wider than long, circular; copulatory openings situated in posterior sides of depression; internally, copulatory ducts extend laterally, then anteriorly and then loop posteriorly to end anterio-laterally in spermathecae; fertilization tubes enter spermathecae posterior-medially.

Male: (n = 10): TL = 8.09 (5.8–10.7); CL = 3.62 (2.7–4.7); CW = 2.62 (1.9–3.4); OAL = 0.58 (0.50–0.65); OAW = 1.48 (1.0–1.9); CLL = 0.07 (0.05–0.10). Chelicerae: similar to female, with PMT:RMT = 3:3 ( Fig. 25 ). Measurements: AME–AME 0.20; AME–ALE 0.15; AME diameter 0.20; PME–PME 0.25; PME–PLE 0.25; PME diameter 0.20; MOQAW 0.60; MOQPW 0.65; CI (CL/CW) 1.28; LL:CL 8.22; STL 1.6; STW 1.3. Leg measurements: I—6.6+1.5+7.4+7.9+2.9 = 26.3; II—4.4+1.3+4.4+4.9+1.4 = 16.4; III—3.1+1.2+2.6+3.8+1.0 = 11.7; IV—4.7+1.3+4.3+5.6+1.4 = 17.3; Palp—1.8+0.6+0.9+1.8 = 5.1. Leg spines: I 0-1p1r-1p1r, 2v-8v- 0, 2v- 2v- 1v; II 0-1p1r-1p1r, 2v-4 v2 p-0, 2v 1p- 2v 1p1r- 1v; III 0-1p1r-1p1r, 2v 1p1r-1p1r-0, 2v 1p1r- 3v 1p1r- 3v 1p1r; IV 1 r- 1p1r-1p1r, 2v-1 v1 p1r-0, 2v 1p1r- 2v 1p1r- 3v 1p1r. Abdomen: similar to female, but more elongate. Palp ( Figs 26– 27 ): cymbium elongate, twice tibia length (without RTA), with a straight proximally directed apophysis with sharp apex; tibia with DTA and RTA; DTA thin, RTA broad with double apex; TA sclerotized, long, with beak-like apex; EM long, almost encircling tegulum, ending at CON apex; CON not sclerotized but distinct.

Distribution. Known from several localities in Ghana, Ivory Coast and D.R. Congo ( Fig. 53 ).

Habitat. Forest.

Figures

FIGURES 22 – 30. 22 – 27 C. kakumense sp. nov.: 22 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 23 female epigynum, ventral view; 24 same, dorsal view; 25 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 26 male palp, ventro-lateral view; 27 same, retrolateral view. 28 – 30 C. lukiense sp. nov.: 28 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 29 epigynum, ventral view; 30 same, dorsal view.

FIGURES 1 – 12. 1 – 3 Cheiracanthium boendense sp. nov.: 1 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 2 epigynum, ventral view; 3 same, dorsal view. 4 – 6 C. falcis sp. nov.: 4 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 5 male palp, ventro-lateral view; 6 same, retrolateral view. 7 – 9 C. foordi sp. nov.: 7 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 8 epigynum, ventral view; 9 same, dorsal view. 10 – 12 C. ghanaense sp. nov.: 10 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 11 epigynum, ventral view; 12 same, dorsal view.

FIGURES 31 – 39. 31 – 33 C. mayombense sp. nov.: 31 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 32 epigynum, ventral view; 33 same, dorsal view. 34 – 36 C. punctipedellum Caporiacco, 1949: 34 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 35 male palp, ventrolateral view; 36 same, retrolateral view. 37 – 39 C. sansibaricum Strand, 1907: 37 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 38 male palp, ventro-lateral view; 39 same, retrolateral view.

FIGURES 52 – 55. Distribution maps: 52 C. boendense sp. nov. (circle); C. falcis sp. nov. (triangle); C. foordi sp. nov. (diamond); C. ghanaense sp. nov. (square); C. kabalense sp. nov. (star). 53 C. kakumense sp. nov. (circle); C. kakamega sp. nov. (square). 54 C. lukiense sp. nov. (square). 55 C. mayombense sp. nov. (square); C. punctipedellum Caporiacco, 1949 (circle), C. sansibaricum Strand, 1907 (triangle).