Nyikoa, Huber, Bernhard A., 2007

Huber, Bernhard A., 2007, Two new genera of small, six-eyed pholcid spiders from West Africa, and first record of Spermophorides for mainland Africa (Araneae: Pholcidae), Zootaxa 1635, pp. 23-43 : 25

Nyikoa , n. gen.

Type species. Nyikoa limbe , n. sp.

Etymology. Named for Nyiko, a heroic spider god in Cameroon mythology. Gender female.

Diagnosis and description. See single known species below.

Relationships. As indicated above, Nyikoa limbe was either resolved as sister to the Malagasy genus Zatavua or as sister to all other pholcines. The regain of epiandrous spigots by all other pholcines implied by the latter solution is not impossible biologically, but is here seen as a solution less probable than one that only implies loss of epiandrous spigots. The sister-group relationship between Nyikoa and Zatavua is supported by one character in the analysis using equal weights (shift of male palpal tibia-tarsus joints; see Fig. 13 and discussion of this character in Huber 2003a), by two characters in the analysis using successive weighting (same as above, plus spindle-shaped male palpal tibia, a character whose coding is not unambiguous).

Figures

FIGURES 13 – 17. Nyikoa limbe n. sp. 13, 14. Left palp, prolateral and retrolateral views. 15. Male chelicerae, frontal view. 16, 17. Cleared epigynum, ventral and dorsal views. b, bulb; e, putative embolus; p, procursus. Scale lines: 0.2 mm.