Geraesta octolobata ( Simon, 1886 ) Benjamin, 2015

Benjamin, Suresh P., 2015, On the African crab spider genus Geraesta Simon, 1889 (Araneae: Thomisidae), African Invertebrates 56 (2), pp. 309-309 : 315

Geraesta octolobata ( Simon, 1886) , comb. n.

Figs 17–26

Stephanopis octolobata Simon, 1886: 170 (♀ syntype from MADAGASCAR, deposited in MNHN, bUt not found; species catalogue card found, but no vial in jar # 1547 mentioned therein).

Diagnosis: Males and females of G. octolobata can be distinguished from congeners by the eight dorsal lobes of the opisthosoma, which is reflected in the species name. FUrther, males can be distinguished by the combined presence of the following characters: C with a short filiform tip, concave MA with a stoUt stalK and a groove in the apical half, and filiform E slightly longer than the length of the tegUlUm.

Description:

Male.

Measurements: total length: 5.0; prosoma length: 2.7, width: 2.3. Leg I: femur 3.3, patella 0.9, tibia 3.2, metatarsus 2.6, tarsus 1.2.

Prosoma brownish with a prominent triangular-shaped white patch and random dark green/black patches ( Figs 17, 18 ). Opisthosoma with eight whitish dorsal lobes in two rows of four each, blackish with green/black patches medially and laterally. Leg formula 1243, ALE> PLE> PME> AME. AER, PER recurved, eyes on light-brown protuberances, but not touching. Palps as in Figs 20–26 : single tibial apophysis with serrated tip, cymbiUm with two dorsal Tr; C broadest at centre, with a short filiform tip; MA concave with stout stalk and groove in apical half; E longer than the length of the tegulum. Female.

The female is only known from the original description.

Material examined: MADAGASCAR: Antsiranana: R.S. Manongarvio, 17.3 km 218° SW Antanambao, 14°01.35'S 48°28.09'E, 1600 m, 27.X–7.Xi.1998, leg. B.L. Fisher, 1♂ (CAS, CASENT 9057555, #1971 MT); Antananarivo: Station Forestière Angavakely, 22 km E Antananarivo, 18°55.06'S, 47°45'E, 1300 m, 8.ix.2001, leg. D. Andriamalala, T. Andriambinintsoa, J.J. Rafanomezantsoa & D. Ubick, low canopy remnant forest, general collecting, 1imm.♀ (CAS, CASENT 9001385) .

RemarKs: The eXamined specimens fit the description of Simon (1886).

Distribution: Endemic to highland forests of Madagascar.

Figures

Figs 17–23.Geraesta octolobata (Simon, 1886), males from CASENT 9057555 (17, 20–23)and CASENT 9001385 (18,19):(17, 18, 19) habitus,dorsal; (20–23) left male palp in ventral(20), retrolateral (21), dorsal (22) andprolateral(23)views.Scale bars:(20–23)= 0.2mm,(18) =0.5 mm,(17, 19) =1.0 mm.

Figs 24–26. Geraesta octolobata (Simon, 1886), male from CASENT 9057555, left palp in ventral (24), retrolateral (25) and dorsal (26) views. Abbreviations: C – conductor; E – embolus; MA – median apophysis; RTA – retrolateral tibial apophysis; Tr – trichobothrium. Scale bars = 0.2 mm.