Cheiracanthium falcis, Lotz, L. N., 2015

Lotz, L. N., 2015, New Species of the Spider Genus Cheiracanthium from Continental Africa (Araneae: Eutichuridae), Zootaxa 3973 (2), pp. 321-336 : 322-324

Cheiracanthium falcis sp. nov.

Figs 4–6

Type material. Holotype ♂, GABON: Ogoone-Maritime Province, Mount Doudou, 25.2 km 304ºNW Doussala, 02º18’39”S, 10º23’40”E, 14.III.2002, B.L. Fisher ( CASC BLF 2246).

Etymology. The name is from Latin (falx = sickle) and refers to the sickle-shaped TA.

Diagnosis. C. falcis sp. nov. is similar to C. kakumense sp. nov. in the hooked apex of the TA, that differentiate them from other known Afrotropical species, but C. falcis sp. nov. differs from C. kakumense sp. nov. in the sickle shape of the TA apex and the longer, thinner, ventral RTA ( Figs 5–6 and 26–27 ).

Description. Male: (n = 1): TL = 6.1; CL = 2.5; CW = 2.2; OAL = 0.4; OAW = 1.1; CLL = 0.05. Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; fang furrow with six teeth of unequal size, PMT:RMT = 3:3 ( Fig. 4 ). Measurements: AME– AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.20; AME diameter 0.15; PME–PME 0.15; PME–PLE 0.20; PME diameter 0.15; MOQAW 0.40; MOQPW 0.45; CI (CL/CW) 1.14; LL: CL 9.44; STL 1.30; STW 1.10. Leg measurements: I— 6.0+1.2+6.9+7.4+2.1 = 23.6; II—4.3+1.2+4.2+4.9+1.3 = 15.9; III—3.5+1.0+2.9+3.8+1.0 = 12.2; IV— 4.8+1.2+4.3+5.5+1.5 = 17.3; Palp—1.7+0.5+0.9+1.5 = 4.6. Leg spines: I 0-0-1p1r, 2v- 3v-2v, 2v- 0- 1 v; II 0-1p1r- 1p1r, 2v 1p-2v-2 v1 p, 2v- 1p- 1v; III 1 p-1p1r-1p1r, 1p1r-1p1r, 2v 1p1r- 2v 1p1r- 3v 1p1r; IV 1 r-1p1r-1p1r, 1v- 1r-1p1r, 2v 1p1r- 2v 1p1r- 3v 1p1r. Abdomen: cream coloured with indistinct heartmark. Palp ( Figs 5–6 ): cymbium elongate, longer than tibia, with broad apophysis with apex pointing proximally; tibia with DTA narrow and sharply pointed; RTA broader, ending with a bifid, rounded apex; TA sclerotized, with sickle-shaped apex; EM long, almost encircling tegulum, ending at CON apex; CON not sclerotized but distinct.

Female: unknown.

Distribution. Only known from the type locality in Gabon ( Fig. 52 ).

Habitat. Montane rainforest.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 12. 1 – 3 Cheiracanthium boendense sp. nov.: 1 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 2 epigynum, ventral view; 3 same, dorsal view. 4 – 6 C. falcis sp. nov.: 4 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 5 male palp, ventro-lateral view; 6 same, retrolateral view. 7 – 9 C. foordi sp. nov.: 7 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 8 epigynum, ventral view; 9 same, dorsal view. 10 – 12 C. ghanaense sp. nov.: 10 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 11 epigynum, ventral view; 12 same, dorsal view.

FIGURES 22 – 30. 22 – 27 C. kakumense sp. nov.: 22 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 23 female epigynum, ventral view; 24 same, dorsal view; 25 male cheliceral teeth, apical view; 26 male palp, ventro-lateral view; 27 same, retrolateral view. 28 – 30 C. lukiense sp. nov.: 28 female cheliceral teeth, apical view; 29 epigynum, ventral view; 30 same, dorsal view.

FIGURES 52 – 55. Distribution maps: 52 C. boendense sp. nov. (circle); C. falcis sp. nov. (triangle); C. foordi sp. nov. (diamond); C. ghanaense sp. nov. (square); C. kabalense sp. nov. (star). 53 C. kakumense sp. nov. (circle); C. kakamega sp. nov. (square). 54 C. lukiense sp. nov. (square). 55 C. mayombense sp. nov. (square); C. punctipedellum Caporiacco, 1949 (circle), C. sansibaricum Strand, 1907 (triangle).