Flavonuncia mahaka n. sp.

(Figs 10-14; 23C, H, M)

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 497B2497-7BB3-4F63-8315-BB2E5B198D80

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. Madagascar • ♂; Toliara, Parc National Andohahela, Col de Tanatana 33.3 km NW Tolagnaro; Elev. 275 m; 24°45’31”S, 46°51’13”E; coll. B. L. Fisher et al.; 22-24. XI.2006; sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood) montane rainforest; collection code: BLF15100; CASTYPE 21650 .

Paratypes. Madagascar • 5 ♂, 35 ♀; same data as for holotype; CASENT 9072050 • 1♂; SEM voucher; same data; MACN-Ar 46001 • 3♂, 3 ♀; same data; MACN-Ar 46002 .

ETYMOLOGY. — The species epithet, mahaka, is a trickster deity of Malagasy mythology. Noun in apposition.

COMPARATIVE DIAGNOSIS. — Differs from all known Flavonuncia species by the presence of three tubercles on the dorsal distal femur of the pedipalp and by the penis morphology showing a pair of high sclerotized processes on the ventral plate (Fig. 14).

DISTRIBUTION (Fig. 1). — Known only from the type locality.

DESCRIPTION

Male (holotype CASTYPE 21650)

Measurements. See Table 1.

Dorsum (Figs 10A, C; 11A, B). Outline hourglass-shaped of Eta (η) type. Ocularium conical, eyes situated at ocularium midpoint. Mesotergal scutum without tubercles or apophyses, carapace smaller than mesotergum, mesotergal areas not cleared defined, areas I-II with 1-2 small setiferous granules, area III with five, area IV with eight, the posterior border with a row of c. 12 granules. Free tergites bearing a row of granules on each tergite.

Venter (Figs 10E; 11C, D). Coxae ventral surface covered by setae; coxa I bearing 6-7 granules; almost all ventral surface covered by cerotegument, except by the proximal coxae II-III; proximal coxa II with three tubercles bearing basal setae, coxa III with three tubercles, two of those with basal seta; small bridge present, spiracles not visible.

Chelicerae (Fig. 12A, B). Basicheliceritae bearing a small tubercle on dorsal distal surface, cheliceral hand bearing five small ectal tubercles with subdistal setae, three small mesal granules, and four mesal setae.

Pedipalps (Fig. 12C, D). Trochanter with 2-3 ventral and 1-2 small dorsal tubercles, femur bearing a ventral row of small tubercles and three distal acute tubercles, mesal view with three remarkable tubercles, patella with five mesal tubercles, tibia ventral surface bearing sparse small tubercles, with a medial and 2-3 apical acute tubercles with subdistal setae, tarsus bearing four ectal and five mesal tubercles with setae.

Legs (Fig. 12E, H). Astragalus longer than calcaneus. Tarsal count: 3-6-4-4.

Genitalia (Figs 13; 14; 23C, H, M). Ventral plate bearing five macrosetae in the ventrolateral surface, apical part of the ventral plate acute composing two highly sclerotized processes (Fig. 14). Capsula interna longer than the ventral plate, ventral view with a cleft separating the capsula interna into two halves, distal capsula interna with a complex structure ending in a thin free stylus visible in ventral view.

Female (CASENT 9072050) (Fig. 10B, D, F). Similar to male, showing dimorphism in body coloration, females having a dark brown opisthosoma, males yellowish with brown stripes. Pedipalps larger in males.