Opopaea antsiranana, Daniela & Andriamalala & D.C. & Hormiga & D.C., 2013

Daniela, Andriamalala, D. C., Hormiga, Gustavo & D. C., 2013, Systematics Of The Goblin Spider Genus Opopaea (Araneae, Oonopidae) In Madagascar, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2013 (380), pp. 1-156 : 62-65

Opopaea antsiranana , new species

Figures 13, 15, 18, 29, 296–329; map 4

TYPES: Male holotype and female allotype from Antsiranana: Montagne des Français, 7.2 km 142 ° SE Antsiranana (Diego-Suarez), 12 ° 199220S, 49 ° 209170E, 180 m, EF19 sifted litter, tropical dry forest, 22–28 February 2001, coll. Fisher and Griswold et al., BLF3128 (CASC PBI_OON 3657).

ETYMOLOGY: The species epithet is a name in apposition taken from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: Males of O. antsiranana resemble those of O. berenty in having the cymbiobulbus slightly shorter than the patella (figs. 312–313, 403–404), but can be most easily distinguished from those of other Opopaea species in having the cymbiobulbus with one smooth and wide posteroproximal protuberance and palp tip conical, short, sclerotized, and pointing downward (fig. 317). Females of O. antsiranana can be distinguished by having a thick, sclerotized, and divided scutal ridge, bearing medially and within a round parmula (figs. 298, 318–319).

DESCRIPTION: Male (holotype) (PBI_ OON 3657). Small to medium-sized species. Total length 1.47. Color: orange to yellowish orange. Carapace: pars cephalica elevated posteriorly with one row of two sets of four denticles (figs. 309, 310), carapace anteriorly narrowed to about one third its maximum width. Carapace anterolateral corners without sclerotized triangular extension. Clypeus low, not rebordered. Chilum absent. Eyes very large. ALE largest. ALE oval, PME and PLE circular, PME darkened compared to other eyes, posterior eye row straight viewed from above, procurved from front, ALE separated by less than their radius, ALE- PLE separated by less than ALE radius, PME touching throughout most of their length, PLE-PME separated by less than PME radius. Sternum longer than wide with radial furrows between coxae; surface smooth, without pits, shape of posterior part between coxae IV hexagonal (fig. 311). Lateral margins of area between coxae III unmodified, without lumps, setae sparse, dark, needlelike, and densest laterally, originating from surface, without hair tufts (figs. 308–311). Palp fenestra very large, more or less circular, enlarged anteriorly, located near the tip. Fenestra on top, flat, but

rises slightly anteriorly. Palpal femora short- er, inserted at about one half the length of patella (figs. 296–297, 312–313, 316–317, 320–329).

Female (allotype) (PBI_OON 3657). Total length 1.77. Orange, abdomen more or less round, and more or less flattened posteriorly, opercula small and not darkened. Postgynum depression extremely short and narrow, ridge thin and not sclerotized (figs. 298, 318–319).

MEASUREMENTS: Male (holotype) ( PBI _ OON 3657 ). TL: 1.47 ; CL: 0.65; CW: 0.56; CH: 0.28; AL: 0.89; AW: 0.64; ALE: 0.09; PME: 0.09; PLE: 0.08; EGW: 0.22; ALE- ALE: 0.03; ALE-PLE: 0.01; PME-PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0; CBL: 0.21; CBW: 0.08; CBL/ PTL: 0.72; FI: 0.13.

Female (allotype) ( PBI _ OON 3657 ). TL: 1.77 ; CL: 0.71; CW: 0.59; CH: 0.31; AL: 1.14; AW: 0.86; ALE: 0.09; PME: 0.08; PLE: 0.08; EGW: 0.22; ALE-ALE: 0.04; ALE-PLE: 0.01; PME-PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0.01; EFL: 0.19; LAL: 0.08; PGI (LAL/EFL): 0.42; PDL/LAL: 0.50; PDW/EFL: 0.37.

VARIATION: Male: TL: 1.47–1.49; CL: 0.65–0.67; CW: 0.55–0.56; AL: 0.89–0.95; AW: 0.64–0.67.

Female: TL: 1.65–1.78; CL: 0.70–0.72; CW: 0.58–0.60; AL: 1.04–1.14; AW: 0.79– 0.86.

NATURAL HISTORY: O. antsiranana was mostly found in tropical dry forest at low elevations (180 m).

DISTRIBUTION: O. antsiranana was mostly found in the north of Madagascar in the province of Antsiranana (Montagne des Français) (map 4).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: MADA- GASCAR: Antsiranana: Montagne des Français, 7.2 km 142 ° SE Antsiranana (Diego- Suarez), 12 ° 199220S, 49 ° 209170E, 180 m, EF19 sifted litter, tropical dry forest, 22–28 February 2001, coll. Fisher and Griswold et al., BLF3128 (CASC PBI_OON 3687), 18, 1♀ (CASC PBI_OON 3657), 98, 19♀.