Cheiracanthium africanum Lessert, 1921

Lotz, L. N., 2014, New species of Cheiracanthium (Araneae: Eutichuridae) from Madagascar and the Comoros Islands, Zootaxa 3857 (3), pp. 301-332 : 303

Cheiracanthium africanum Lessert, 1921

Cheiracanthium africanum Lessert, 1921: 411 , figs 41–44; Lessert, 1929: 137, fig. 19; Lawrence, 1947: 32; Caporiacco, 1947: 194; Caporiacco, 1949: 433; Lotz, 2007a: 10, figs 9–16.

Cheiracanthium franganilloi Caporiacco, 1949: 438 , fig. 72. Synonomyzed by Lotz, 2007a: 10. Cheiracanthium nigropalpatum Schmidt & Jocqué, 1983: 357 , fig. 3. Synonomyzed by Lotz, 2007a: 10. Cheiracanthium inclusum (Hentz, 1847: 451) ; Ledoux, 2004: 187 (misidentified). Lotz, 2007a: 10, f. 9–16 (removed from

synonymy of C. inclusum , contra Ledoux, 2004a: 187).

Diagnosis. C. africanum can be recognized by the twisted copulatory ducts of the females, and the bipunctated RTA and the bilobed TA of the males ( Lotz 2007a: figs 12, 15).

Description. See Lotz (2007a) for description and illustrations of both sexes.

New records from material examined: MADAGASCAR: 4♂ 1♀, Antisirana, 7 km N Joffreville, 12º20’S, 49º15’E, I–II.2001, R. Harin’Hala ( CASC 9002062, 9002079, 9010103); 1♂, Fianarantsoa, 84 km NE Ihosy, 22º28’S, 45º49’E, IV.1994, A. Pauly ( MRAC 201962); 1♂, Toliara, Forêt de Mahavelo, Isantoria River, 24º45’30”S, 46º09’26”E, 28.I–1.II.2002, Fisher, Griswold et al. ( CASC 9009953); 1♂, Toliara, Mahafaly nr Eloetse by Lac Tsimanampetsoa, 24º10’S, 43º45’E, 15–16.IX.1992, V. & B. Roth ( CASC); 1♂, Toliara, Mahafaly Plateau, 24º39’13”S, 43º59’48”E, 21–25.II.2002, Fisher, Griswold et al. ( CASC 9013152); 1♂, Toliara, Park National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Forêt de Bemanateza, 20.7 km 81ºE Efoetse, 23 km 131ºSE Beheloka, 23º59’32”S, 43º52’50”E, 22–26.III.2002, Fisher, Griswold et al. ( CASC 9000428); 1♂, Toliara, Réserve Spéciale de Cap Sainte Marie, 12.3 km 262ºW Marovalo, 25º34’54”S, 45º10’06”E, 11–15.II.2002, Fisher, Griswold et al. ( CASC 9012670).

Distribution. Well represented in southern Africa ( Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe), West Africa ( Gabon, Nigeria), Central Africa ( Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia), East Africa ( Kenya, Tanzania), Madagascar ( Fig. 19 ) and Réunion.

Habitat. Collected from a wide variety of habitats, including buildings, gardens, grassland, cultivated crops, shrubs, trees and from under stones.

Figures

FIGURES 19 – 24. Distribution maps: 19. Cheiracanthium africanum Lessert, 1921; 20. C. ambrense sp. nov.; 21. C. ampijoroa sp. nov.; 22. C. andranomay sp. nov.; 23. C. anjozorobe sp. nov.; 24. C. ashleyi sp. nov..