Thunberga greta, Jäger, 2020

Jäger, Peter, 2020, Thunberga gen. nov., a new genus of huntsman spiders from Madagascar (Araneae: Sparassidae: Heteropodinae), Zootaxa 4790 (2), pp. 245-260 : 253-256

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4790.2.3
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:2C58B9E4-2126-4A76-8F55-39607D1B5A1E
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/BF5287A9-F736-5D65-FF15-FAEBFC2AF8F3
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Thunberga greta
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Thunberga greta View in CoL spec. nov.

Figs 26–31 View FIGURES 26–31 , 44–47 View FIGURES 41–46 View FIGURE 47

Type material. Holotype: female ( PJ 3682 ), MADAGASCAR: Toamasina Province: Tamatave [= Toamasina, S 18°8’17’’, E 49°21’32’’, 20 m elevation] ( MHNN 19650 View Materials ). GoogleMaps

Paratypes. 1 female ( PJ 3683 ), with same data as for holotype, ex MNHN 19650 About MNHN ( SMF) GoogleMaps . 1 female ( PJ 3691 ), St. Marie [ca. 16°53’39.91”S, 49°54’21.39”E, 60 m] ( MNHN 19462 About MNHN ) GoogleMaps .

Etymology. The species is named for Greta Thunberg (* 2003 in Sweden) for her strong commitment for a better future on our planet; name in apposition.

Diagnosis. Medium sized Sparassidae (body length of females: 10.4–13.8). Females recognisable by their triangular anterior part of the median septum, converging anteriorly and by their inversely U-shaped copulatory ducts visible through the cuticle in ventral view in the posterior part of median septum ( Figs 26–31 View FIGURES 26–31 ). For characters distinguishing this new species from T. septifer comb. nov. see diagnosis there.

Description. Male: unknown.

Female: PL 6.8, PW 6.2, AW 3.8, OL 7.0, OW 4.3. Eyes: AME 0.40, ALE 0.39, PME 0.34, PLE 0.42, AME– AME 0.26, AME–ALE 0.19, PME–PME 0.57, PME–PLE 0.56, AME–PME 0.41, ALE–PLE 0.32, clypeus height at AME 0.31, clypeus height at ALE 0.29. Cheliceral furrow with 3 promarginal, 6(7) retromarginal teeth and ca. 50 denticles, most of them in patch close to promarginal teeth. Retromargin of chelicerae close to fang base with 1 bristle. Spination: Palp: 131, 001, 2121, 1014; legs: femur I–II 323, III 323(2), IV 321(2); patella I–IV 101; tibia I–IV 2026; metatarsus I–II 1014, III 2024, IV 3035. Leg formula 2143. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 9.2 (2.5, 1.4, 2.2, -, 3.1), I 24.8 (7.2, 3.1, 7.1, 5.6, 1.8), II 28.7 (8.1, 3.8, 8.4, 6.5, 1.9), III 20.8 (6.3, 2.8, 5.8, 4.4, 1.5), IV 23.2 (6.8, 2.6, 6.2, 5.7, 1.9). Metatarsus III with single ventro-distal bristle, embedded in scopula; IV with ventrodistal field of several bristles and a double row of bristles along metatarsus.

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis ( Figs 26–31 View FIGURES 26–31 ). Anterior pocket as wide as posterior median septum. Epigynal folds anteriorly parallel, posteriorly forming a sub-squared to roundish median septum. Internal duct system running in five tight loops, with turning point anteriad to antero-mediad. Fertilisation ducts antero-laterad.

Colouration (44–46). Deep yellowish brown. Prosoma dorsally with few dots along striae and less so between eyes and fovea. Chelicerae reddish-brown, with longitudinal bands. Sternum, gnathocoxae, labium, ventral coxae light yellowish brown without pattern. Legs deep yellowish brown with few indistinct dots on femora and small patches on proximal tibiae. Opisthosoma dorsally with muscle sigilla darker and dense irregular pattern, ventrally densely dotted, spinnerets light yellow.

Variation. Female paratype with PL 4.7, OL 5.7. Spination: patella I–IV 001. Epigyne with parts of lateral lobes extending into median septum closer to each other than in holotype, margins of anterior part of median septum convex to slightly undulating (concave in holotype). Internal duct system not as asymmetrical as in holotype. Chelicerae frontally with longitudinal stripes. Opisthosoma dorsally sparsely dotted, ventrally uniformly coloured.

Distribution. Madagascar: Tamatave, St Marie ( Fig. 47 View FIGURE 47 : green triangles).