Djeboa mandena Pešić, Cook & Gerecke sp. nov.

(Figs. 26A–E, 27A–C, 37K–L)

Type series: Holotype male, dissected and slide mounted, Madagascar 078a2d, Fort Dauphin (Tulear), Mandena (QMM area), River Amendano, 0.5 km upstream road bridge, 15.ix.2001, 12 m asl., riffle upstream, Gerecke & Goldschmidt. Paratypes: 2/1/0, same data as holotype, dissected and slide mounted.

Diagnosis: Dorsal shield oval (L/W ratio 1.1–1.2), with medial depression; muscle scars with strongly pronounced thickenings (Figs. 37K–L), located at nearly equal distance anterior and posterior to the postocularia; gnathosomal bay V-shaped; tips of Cx-I slightly extending beyond frontal margin; medial margin of Cx-IV reduced to a median angle, posterior margin extending laterally. Palp (Figs. 26D–E): P-1 with a dorsal seta; P-2 inflated with straight ventral and strongly convexly bowed dorsal margin; P-3 much higher proximally than ventrally, dorsal margin strongly convex; P-4 slender, basally thickened, from here to anterior tip equally narrowed. Legs: I- L (Fig. 27A) and IV-L (Fig. 27B) with rather stout terminal segments; L/H ratio I-L-6, 1.8-2.0; II-L-6, 2.0-2.1; III- L-6, 1.8-2.1; IV-L-6, 1.9-2.2; swimming setae numbers: III-L-4, 5-6; III-L-5, 8; IV-L-4, 4; IV-L-5, 7-8.

Description:

Male (holotype, in parentheses paratype): Idiosoma (ventral view: Fig. 26B) L/W 378 (381)/370 (366). Dorsal shield (Figs. 26A, 37K) L/W 329 (325)/297 (295), ratio 1.1 (1.1); gnathosomal bay L 69 (69). Gonopore L/W 62 (65)/14 (13); ejaculatory complex L (117). Palp: total L 142-148 (141); L/H, L/H ratio: P-1, 15-17/20-22, 0.8 (15/ 20, 0.8); P-2, 36-37/37-39, 0.96-0.99 (38/39, 0.99); P-3, 36-37/29, 1.2 (35/29, 1.2); P-4, 45-46/15, 3.0-3.1 (43/15, 3.0); P-5, 10-11/6, 1.6-1.8 (10/5, 1.9); chelicera total L 78 (78); gnathosoma vL 74 (72). Legs: dL of I-L: 37 (37), 45 (41), 35 (35), 39 (39), 52 (54), 62 (61); I-L-6 H 32 (32), I-L-6 L/H ratio 1.9-2.0 (1.9); II-L-6 L/H 69 (72)/33 (35), ratio 2.1 (2.0); III-L-6 L/H 63 (65)/34 (31), ratio 1.8 (2.1); dL of IV-L: 51 (63), 48 (63), 42 (53), 52 (57), 71 (75), 72 (75); IV-L-6 H 34-37 (35-40).

Female (paratype): Idiosoma (ventral view: Fig. 26C) L/W 397/378. Dorsal shield (Fig. 37L) L/W 336/300, ratio 1.1; gnathosomal bay L 70. Gonopore L/W 85/75, ratio 1.13. Palp: total L 149; L/H, L/H ratio: P-1, 16/21, 0.8; P-2, 39/40, 0.98; P-3, 38/30, 1.3; P-4, 45/15, 3.0; P-5, 11/7, 1.6; chelicera total L 79; gnathosoma vL 75. Legs: dL of I-L: 39, 37, 35, 38, 54, 59; I-L-6 H 32, I-L-6 dL/H ratio 1.8; II-L-6 dL/H 65/32, ratio 2.0; III-L-6 dL/H 66/35, ratio 1.9; dL of IV-L: 66, 63, 54, 57, 71, 74; IV-L-6 H 37.

Etymology: Named after the unique coastal forest area North of Fort Dauphin.

Discussion: Djeboa mandena sp. nov. is closely related to D. angulipalpis sp. nov (see there for common distinctive characters). The latter species differs in more slender distal segments of legs, especially of III/IV-L (dL/ H ratio III-L-6 3.0-3.3, IV-L-6 3.2-3.6; compare Figs. 6 A-B with 27A–C) and dorsal margin of P-2 forming an acute angle in the proximal part of the segment (compare Figs. 5D–E with 26D–E).

Distribution: Madagascar; known only from the type locality in a coastal forest north of Fort Dauphin.