Eriauchenius sama, Wood, Hannah M. & Scharff, Nikolaj, 2017

Wood, Hannah M. & Scharff, Nikolaj, 2017, A review of the Madagascan pelican spiders of the genera Eriauchenius O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1881 and Madagascarchaea gen. n. (Araneae, Archaeidae), ZooKeys 727, pp. 1-96 : 1

Eriauchenius sama sp. n. Figs 21, 31

Type material.

Male holotype: MADAGASCAR, Fianarantsoa, Parc National Ranomafana, Talatakely, 21°14.9'S, 47°25.6'E, 19-30 Apr 1998, C. Griswold, D. Kavanaugh, N. Penny, M. Raherilalao, J. Ranorianarisoa, J. Schweikert, D. Ubick (deposited in CAS: CASENT9012014).

Other material examined.

Female paratype, MADAGASCAR, Fianarantsoa, 29 km SSW Ambositra, Ankazomivady, 20°46.6'S, 47°09.9'E, 1700 m, 7 Jan 1998, forest, sifted leaf litter, B.L. Fisher (CASENT9012341).

Diagnosis.

Males and females are distinguished from other " bourgini group" species, except E. ratsirarsoni and E. mahariraensis , by having 4 spines on the cephalon, and the cheliceral spine pointing perpendicular. Males of E. sama sp. n. are also distinguished from other " bourgini group" species, by having a long process on the conductor that extends to the embolus tip (Fig. 21 D–I, sclerite “c1”), and having the tip of the conductor point curving in a different direction than the more basal portion (Fig. 21 G–I, arrow). Females are distinguished by the reduced FSGP, but the width divided by height is less than 2 (Fig. 21B).

Etymology.

The specific name is a noun in apposition; ' sama ' means ‘pelican’ in Malagasy.

Description.

Male holotype (CASENT9012014, from Parc National Ranomafana, Madagascar). Total length 2.10, carapace 0.95 long, 0.85 wide. Abdomen 1.10 long, 1.26 high. Carapace tilt angle 72.5°, tilt height (CtH) 1.72, constriction 0.52, head length 0.82, neck length 0.81. CtH divided by carapace length 1.81. Cephalon with AME on a small bulge, and with 4 small post-ocular spines (although it is difficult to tell as the anterior pair is missing, rudimentary or broken off) on the crown of the cephalon, and 1 spine between the LE and AME (on each side, for a total of 2). Chelicerae 1.59 long, and with a spine 0.25 from base of chelicerae that projects perpendicular. Femur I 2.03 long. Sternum 0.63 long, 0.40 wide. Carapace, chelicerae, sternum, and legs reddish brown with white setae; patellas, tibias, and metatarsi light tan. Abdomen mottled with dark brown and light yellow patches, with light circular patches on the dark brown portions, with white setae. Pedipalpal bulb with a large membraneous sac above the base of the embolus, with a greatly exposed embolus that is encircled by the conductor (Fig. 21 D–L). Conductor with a large bulge and a long process on the prolateral side that extends to the tip of the embolus (Fig. 21 D–I, “c1” sclerite). In ventral view the left conductor curves in a clockwise direction, but the tip changes direction (Fig. 21 H–I, arrow). Embolus broad and dark (Fig. 21G).

Female paratype (CASENT9012341). Total length 2.24, carapace 0.87 long, 0.80 wide. Abdomen 1.18 long, 1.48 high. Carapace tilt angle 67.5°, tilt height (CtH) 1.50, constriction 0.50, head length 0.78, neck length 0.73. CtH divided by carapace length 1.73. Cephalon with AME on a small bulge, and with 4 small post-ocular spines (one is broken off or missing) on the crown of the cephalon, and 1 spine between the LE and AME (on each side, for a total of 2). Chelicerae 1.54 long, and with small spine 0.29 from base of chelicerae. Femur I 1.82 long. Sternum 0.60 long, 0.40 wide. Cephalothorax colors as in male. Abdomen anterior light tan, and posterior dark brown with light circular patches; abdomen with white and brown setae. Female genitalia FSGP small and simple, with “wings” reduced (Fig. 21B); PB present; with poreplates in one group on each side of the bursa anterior (Fig. 21C).

Variation.

no other known material.

Natural history.

Female specimen was collected at 1700 m in elevation in forest by sifting litter.

Distribution.

Known only from central-eastern Madagascar (Fig. 31).

Nomenclatural remarks: The male holotype and female paratype of E. sama sp. n. occur in different areas. The male and female were associated based on body size and carapace shape. Future molecular work as well as additional collection of specimens from more localities can help resolve this issue.