Andromma helix, Bosselaers & Jocqué, 2022

Bosselaers, Jan & Jocqué, Rudy, 2022, Studies in the Liocranidae (Araneae): revision of Andromma Simon, 1893, European Journal of Taxonomy 850, pp. 1-78 : 53

Andromma helix sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:702F4F0C-FD47-444F-8114-2867A027CEAF

Figs 27 , 39

Diagnosis

The female of Andromma helix sp. nov. is characterized by the epigyne with small transversely oval copulatory openings with helicoidal copulatory ducts visible in transparency.

Etymology

The species name is a noun in apposition, referring to the shape of the copulatory ducts which are helicoidally wound ( Fig. 27E–F ).

Type material

Holotype

IVORY COAST • ♀; Kossou ; 5°27′ N, 7°00′ W; 18 Feb. 1975; R. Jocqué leg.; savannah, pitfalls; BE_RMCA_ARA.Ara 152957 .

Description

Female (holotype, Fig. 27 )

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 2.98. Carapace length 1.49, width 1.28, height 0.50.

COLOUR ( Fig. 27A–B ): cephalothorax entirely yellowish orange, legs yellow, tarsi and metatarsus slightly darker orange; abdomen including spinnerets cream.

PROSOMA. Fovea pronounced, length 0.29, anterior end 0.65 from PME. MOQ length 0.18, anterior width 0.23. AER straight from above, width 0.32. All eyes circular, PLE not discernible as if fused with ALE; AME 0.08, ALE 0.10, PME 0.02;AME–AME: 0.07, AME–ALE: 0.05, PME–PME: 0.16. Clypeus vertical, 0.08, Chilum absent. Chelicerae with dorsal and ventral longitudinal groups of long setae. Sternum 1.0 long and as wide.

LEG SPINATION (legs II lost). All femora with one dorsal spine; T I v 2-2-2; Mt I v 2-2; T III pl 1 rl 1 v 1-2-2; Mt III v 2-2; T IV pl 1 rl 1 v 2-2; Mt IV v 2-2.

LEG I MEASUREMENTS. Fe: 1.07, P: 0.50, T: 0.92, Mt:0.78, t: 0.57; total: 3.84.

PALP. Female palpal tarsus curved, with sparse scopula.

EPIGYNE ( Fig. 27C–F ). Roughly rectangular area, wider than long, with widely separated, transversely oval copulatory openings; helicoidal copulatory ducts visible in transparency. Copulatory openings near posterior margin with atrium; copulatory ducts first running forward, making five rather loose helicoidal coils, then becoming tightly coiled and running in retrolateral direction, ending in large globular spermathecae; fertilisation ducts short, directed backward.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Known only from the type locality in D.R. Congo ( Fig. 39 ).

Figures

Fig. 27. Andromma helix sp. nov., ♀, holotype (BE_RMCA_ARA.Ara 152957). A. Habitus, dorsal view. B. Same, ventral view. C–D. Epigyne, ventral view. E–F. Same cleared, dorsal view. Scale bars: A–B =1 mm; C–D= 0.2 mm; E–F= 0.1 mm.

Fig. 39. Distribution map of species of Andromma Simon, 1893. A. albinovani sp. nov. (green), A. delphiurumsp. nov. (yellow), A. elephantactes sp. nov. (red), A. helix sp. nov. (black) and A. prosopion sp. nov. (white).