Geraesta lehtineni, SURESH P. BENJAMIN, 2011

SURESH P. BENJAMIN, 2011, Phylogenetics and comparative morphology of crab spiders (Araneae: Dionycha, Thomisidae), Zootaxa 3080, pp. 1-108 : 16-17

* Geraesta lehtineni sp. nov.

Figs 42 A–D, 43A–F

Type material: Holotype: Male from MADAGASCAR: Antananarivo: R. S. d’Ambohitantely, Foret d’Ambohitantely, Forest fragment, ca. 20 km NE d’ Ankazobe, 18°12’29.6’’ S 47°17’8.3’’ E, 1638 m, montane rainforest, 20 March 2003, general coll. night. D. Andriamalala, D. Silva et al. ( CAS CASENT 9015689).

Paratype: 1 female, same data as holotype.

Other material examined. MADAGASCAR: Antananarivo: 1 male, R. S. d’Ambohitantely, Foret d’Ambohitantely, Jardin Botanique, 24.1km, 59ο NE Ankazobe, 18°10’17’’ S 47°16’55’’ E, 1620 m, montane rainforest, 16–21 March 2003, general coll. night. D. Andriamalala, D. Silva et al. ( CAS CASENT 9013883).

Etymology. Named in honor of Dr. Pekka T. Lehtinen.

Diagnosis. Separated from G. h i r t a by the stouter RTA and the much broader C ( Figs 42 A, B). Separated from G. mkwawa sp. nov. by the absence of C and longer, stouter RTA ( Figs 42 A, B). Note that this species has been found at a much higher elevation than G. h i r t a.

Description. Male: Prosoma light yellow, laterals darker. Opisthosoma, yellow with white and black patches. AER and PER recurved. All eyes are of more or less of equal size. Palp as in Figs 42 A, B, 43A–F.

Female: Color and markings as in male. Epigynum and vulva as in Figs 42 C, D.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality. Endemic to Madagascar.

Figures

FIGURE 42. Geraesta lehtineni sp. nov. (CASENT 9015689). A – B right male palp (A ventral, B retrolateral); C epigynum, ventral view; D vulva, ventral view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm (D, E), 0.2 mm (A – C).