Melchisedec birni, Fannes, 2010

Fannes, Wouter, 2010, On Melchisedec, a new genus of the spider family Oonopidae (Araneae, Dysderoidea), American Museum Novitates 2010 (3702), pp. 1-28 : 23

Melchisedec birni , new species

Figures 42 , 56

TYPE: Female holotype: Niger, near Birni-N’Konni, 13°47ʹ44˝N 5°15ʹ19˝E, Oct. 30, 1976, leaf litter, Nationaal Natuurhistorisch Museum ( RMNH) , Leiden, ex coll. C.L. Deeleman-Reinhold; 2000-704 (PBI_ OON 34105) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: M. birni differs from M. thevenot in having a flatter pars cephalica and in having reticulate microsculpture (fig. 56).

MALE: Unknown.

FEMALE: TL 1.48, CL 0.61, CW 0.49, DSL 0.87, DSW 0.56, Ti I l 0.30, Ti I l/d 5.88. Only differences with M. thevenot are given. Carapace orange, pars cephalica relatively flat in lateral view, lateral surfaces covered with dense, reticulate microsculpture (fig. 56). Sternum pale orange. DS orange, covering full length and width of abdomen. ES and PES orange. Legs and pedipalps of specimen severely bleached. Left legs I and II examined by SEM; scepterlike setae as in M. thevenot (fig. 42).

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGS. 42–45. Melchisedec, new genus, females. 42. M. birni, new species, metatarsus (mt) and tarsus (ta), leg II, lateral view. Arrow: scepterlike setae. 43–45. M. thevenot, new species: 43. Scepterlike setae, leg II, prolateral view. 44. Tarsal organ from leg I, dorsal view. 45. Inner surface of claw, leg III. Arrow: fused distal teeth of median row. Scale bars: 2 µm (43–45), 5 µm (42).

FIGS. 55–56. Carapace, lateral view. 55. Melchisedec thevenot, new species, male. 56. Melchisedec birni, new species, female. Scale bars: 80 µm.