Cheiracanthium rothi, Lotz, L. N., 2014

Lotz, L. N., 2014, New species of Cheiracanthium (Araneae: Eutichuridae) from Madagascar and the Comoros Islands, Zootaxa 3857 (3), pp. 301-332 : 327-330

Cheiracanthium rothi sp. nov.

Figs 99 –100,107–112

Type material from Madagascar: Holotype ♀ and paratype (allotype) ♂, Antsiranana, Park National Montagne d’Ambre, 12º31’S, 49º11’E, 12.VIII.1992, V. & B. Roth ( CASC). Other paratypes: 4♂, same data as holotype ( CASC 2 vials); 1♂ 8♀, Antsiranana, Park National Montagne d’Ambre, 12º31’13”S, 49º10’45”E, I–III.2001, R. Harin’Hala ( CASC 9001727, 9001771, 9001808, 9001888, 9001891, 9010465); 1♂, Antsiranana, Park National Montagne d’Ambre, 12º30’52”S, 49º10’53”E, 26–29.I.2001, M.E. Irwin, et al. ( CASC 9001647); 2♀, Antsiranana, Park National Montagne d’Ambre, 12º32’04”S, 49º10’46”E, 20–26.I.2001, J.J. Rafanomezantsoa, et al. ( CASC 9001094, 9002782); 1♂, Antsiranana, Park National Montagne d’Ambre, 13º35’47”S, 49º09’34”E, 2–7.II.2001, J.J. Rafanomezantsoa, et al. ( CASC 9004494); 1♀, Antsiranana, Réserve Spéciale d’Ambre, 3.5 km 235ºSW Sakaramy, 12º28’08”S, 49º14’32”E, 26–31.I.2001, L.J. Boutin ( CASC 9000788); 1♂ 5♀, Antsiranana, Sakalava Beach, 12º15’46”S, 49º23’51”E, V–VII.2001, R. Harin’Hala ( CASC 9001961, 9001978, 9001979, 9002000, 9002024); 1♂ 1♀, Antsiranana, Montaigne Franqais, 12º18’08”S, 49º38’51”E, 6–20.III.2001, R. Harin’Hala ( CASC 9002034); 6♀, Antsiranana, 7 km N Joffreville, 12º20’S, 49º15’E, III–V.2001, R. Harin’Hala ( CASC 9002082, 9002084, 9002148, 9002149); 1♂ 1♀, Antananarivo, 3 km 41ºNE Andranomay , 11.5 km 147ºSSE Anjozorobe , 18º28’24”S, 47º57’36”E, 5–13.XII.2000, various collectors ( CASC 9003014, 9004029); 1♀, Antananarivo, Réserve Spéserve Spéciale d’Ambohitantely, Forêt d’Anabohazo, 20.9 km 72ºNE Ankazobe, 18º13’31”S, 47º17’13”E, 17–22.IV.2001, Fisher & Griswold, et al. ( CASC 9008036); 2♂, Fianarantsoa, Forêt d’Analatava, 29.6 km 280ºW Ranohira, 22º35’30”S, 45º07’42”E, 1–5.II.2003, B.L. Fisher, et al. ( CASC 9005860); 1♀, Fianarantsoa, Park National Ranomafana, Radio tower, 21º15.05’S, 47º24.43’E, 8–15.XI.2001, R. Harin’Hala ( CASC 9010860); 1♂ 1♀, Fianarantsoa, Park National Ranomafana, Talatakely, 21º14.95’S, 47º25.6’E, 19–30.IV.1998, 30.X-20.XI.1998, various collectors ( CASC, 2 vials); 1♀, Toamasina, Ivoina Parque Zoologique, 12 km from Tamatave, 18º03’21”S, 49º21’32.5”E, 19.II.2003, D. Andriamalala, et al. ( CASC 9015763); 2♀, Toamasina, 50 km W Moramanga, 18º55’S, 47º54’E, 1.VIII.1992, V. Roth ( CASC 2 vials); 2♂ 1♀, Antsirabe, 19º45’S, 47º15’E, X–XI.1970, J. Gosssuin ( MRAC 142554, 142561, 142580); 1♂, Vohibe, 16º06’S, 49º08’E, VII.1970, A. Lambillon ( MRAC 142772); 2♂, Mt. Ambohisanga, 15º31’S, 49º06’E, I.1951, A. Pierrard ( MRAC 142922); 1♂, Fiarantsoa, Ambatofitorahana, 33 km S Ambositra, 20º46’S, 47º11’E, 13.III.1994, A. Pauly ( MRAC 201615).

Etymology. The name is a patronym in honour of the late Vince Roth, one of the collectors of the holotype.

Diagnosis. C. rothi sp. nov. is similar to C. ampijoroa sp. nov., C. andranomay sp. nov., C. ambrense sp. nov., C. anjozorobe sp. nov., C. ashleyi sp. nov., C. fisheri sp. nov. and C. griswoldi sp. nov. in the dumbbell-shaped spermathecae and U-shaped CA. In females of C. rothi sp. nov. the anterior sphere of the spermathecae is noticeably smaller than the posterior one, separating it from the other species mentioned above ( Fig. 109). In males of C. rothi sp. nov. and C. ambrense sp. nov. the CA is relatively short compared to that of the other species in the group. C. rothi sp. nov. is differentiated from C. ambrense sp. nov. by the CA narrowing gradually towards the apex ( Figs 111–112). Furthermore in C. rothi sp. nov. and C. ashleyi sp. nov. the RTA ends in three points ( Figs 41 and 111).

Description. Female: (n = 10): TL = 5.12 (3.4–6.2); CL = 2.10 (1.5–2.5); CW = 1.50 (1.1–1.7); OAL = 0.30 (0.25–0.35); OAW = 0.93 (0.70–1.05); CLL = 0.05 (0.05–0.05). Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; cheliceral fang furrow with nine teeth of unequal size, PMT:RMT = 3:6 ( Fig. 107). Measurements: AME–AME 0.15; AME–ALE 0.25; AME diameter 0.10; PME–PME 0.20; PME–PLE 0.25; PME diameter 0.10; MOQAW 0.40; MOQPW 0.45; CI (CL/CW) 1.44; LL:CL 5.76; STL 1.2; STW 0.9. Leg measurements: I—3.5+0.9+3.8+4.0+1.9 = 14.1; II—2.1+0.8+1.9+2.2+0.8 = 7.8; III—1.5+0.7+1.1+1.6+0.7 = 5.6; IV—2.3+0.8+2.3+2.6+0.8 = 8.8; palp—1.1+0.4+0.8+0.9 = 3.2. Leg spines: I 0-1p-1p1r, 2v-2v- 0, 2v- 1v-1v; II 0-1p-1p, 0-1 v1 p, 2v-2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r; III 0-0-1p1r, 0-1p1r-0, 2v-2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r; IV 0-0-1r, 1p1r, 2 v1 r-2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen ( Fig. 99 ): creamy-grey with a heartmark bordered in white. Epigynum ( Figs 108–109): wider than long, with two depressions separated by a septum; copulatory openings situated in anterior edge of depressions; internally, copulatory ducts proceed anterolaterally, curving medially and posteriorly before ending anterio-medially in the dumbbell-shaped spermathecae; fertilization ducts exit spermathecae posteromedially.

Male: (n = 10): TL = 6.69 (5.2–8.2); CL = 2.65 (2.2–3.2); CW = 1.83 (1.5–2.1); OAL = 0.34 (0.30–0.40); OAW = 1.11 (0.85–1.45); CLL = 0.10 (0.08–0.10). Chelicerae: similar to female, except with PMT:RMT = 3:5–7 ( Fig. 110). Measurements: AME–AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.20; AME diameter 0.10; PME–PME 0.20; PME–PLE 0.20; PME diameter 0.10; MOQAW 0.30; MOQPW 0.40; CI (CL/CW) 1.33; LL:CL 8.54; STL 1.1; STW 1.0. Leg measurements: I—4.8+1.0+5.4+6.5+2.8 = 20.5; II—2.9+0.7+2.7+3.1+1.0 = 10.3; III—2.1+0.6+1.6+2.2+0.8 = 7.3; IV—3.2+0.7+3.0+3.3+1.0 = 11.2; palp—1.9+0.5+0.8+1.3 = 4.5. Leg spines: I 0-1p-1p, 2v-2v- 0, 2v- 2v-1v; II 0-1p- 1p, -1 v1 p-0, v-2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r; III 0-1p1r-1p1r, 0-1 v1 p1r-0, 2v-2 v1 p1r -3 v1 p1r; IV 0-1p1r-1p1r, 0-2 v1 r-0, 2 v1 p1r- 2 v1 p2r-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen ( Fig. 100 ): similar to female, but slightly more elongate. Palp ( Figs 111–112): cymbium elongate, about equal to tibia plus patella length, with a distally curled apophysis, without flattened extensions before apex; RTA with three-pointed apex, one point hooked and other two points only visible at a certain angle; TA unsclerotized, long and bent at apex; EM long, almost encircling tegulum, ending at CON apex; CON unsclerotised but distinct.

Distribution. Known from several localities, mostly on the eastern side of Madagascar ( Fig. 118 ).

Habitat. Forests, including rainforest, dry forest and dwarf littoral forest.

Figures

FIGURES 97 – 100. Digital photographs of habitus, dorsal view: 97. Cheiracanthium ransoni sp. nov. female; 98. C. ransoni sp. nov. male; 99. C. rothi sp. nov. female; 100. C. rothi sp. nov. male.

FIGURES 113 – 118. Distribution maps: 113. Cheiracanthium leucophaeum Simon, 1897; 114. C. ludovici Lessert 1921; 115. C. madagascarense sp. nov.; 116. C. mahajanga sp. nov.; 117. C. ransoni sp. nov.; 118. C. rothi sp. nov..