Thalassiopsis Roewer, 1955

Cruz Da Silva, Estevam L. & Sierwald, Petra, 2013, On three monotypic nursery web spider genera from Madagascar with first description of the male of Tallonia picta Simon, 1889 and redescription of the type-species of Paracladycnis Blandin, 1979 and Thalassiopsis Roewer, 1955 (Araneae: Lycosoidea: Pisauridae), Zootaxa 3750 (3), pp. 277-288 : 281-285

Thalassiopsis Roewer, 1955

Thalassiopsis Roewer 1955a: 354 , figs. 99b, 150. Thalassiops (lapus); Roewer 1955b: 144.

Type-species. T. vachoni Roewer, 1955 .

Diagnosis. The males of Thalassiopsis resemble those of Tallonia by the long and robust distal tegular apophysis and short distal tegular projection (DTP) ( Fig. 19 ), but can be distinguished by the distal tegular apophysis divided and with an acute apex ( Figs 19 , 23, 24 ), by the small protuberance (BPT) on the tegulum ( Figs 19 , 23, 24 ) and by the presence of an acute ventral tibial apophysis (VTA) ( Figs 19 , 24 ).

Description. See species description.

Distribution. Madagascar ( Fig. 34 ).

Note. The genus is included in the subfamily Pisaurinae Simon, 1898 due to the following characters listed by Sierwald (1997: 364): presence of a distal tegular apophysis in the male genital bulb ( Figs 19 , 23, 24 ) in addition to the median apophysis ( Figs 19 , 23, 24 ) and the conductor ( Figs 19 , 23, 24 ).

Thalassiopsis vachoni Roewer, 1955 Figs 19–26 , 34

Thalassiopsis vachoni Roewer 1955a: 354 , fig. 99b, 150, male holotype from Maroantsetra, Madagascar [1524'S, 4944'E] (SMF RII 10552/102) (examined).

Diagnosis. See genus diagnosis.

Description. Male (Holotype, Maroantsetra, Madagascar, SMF 10552). Total length 10.64. Carapace 3.40 long, 2.65 wide, light brown ( Fig. 21 ); fovea marked ( Fig. 21 ). Clypeus light brown, 0.12 high. Anterior eye row strongly procurved in frontal view ( Fig. 22 ), 0.80 wide; posterior recurved in dorsal view ( Fig. 21 ), 1.30 wide. Eye diameters, interdistances, and median ocular quadrangle: AME 0.18, ALE 0.10, PME 0.16, PLE 0.20; AME-AME 0.10, AME-ALE 0.24, PME-PME 0.28, PME-PLE 0.26, OQA 0.46, OQP 0.62, OQH 0.46. Chelicerae light brown with a few dark brown spots, glabrous ( Fig. 22 ). Sternum dark brown with a median light brown band, with scattered setae; 1.66 long, 1.49 wide. Labium light brown, dark brown laterally; 0.41 long, 0.55 wide. Legs light brown, relative length: II-I-IV-III, I—femur 6.30/ patella-tibia 7.96/ metatarsus 6.31/ tarsus 3.07/ total 23.64; II— 6.47/ 8.13/ 6.47/ 3.23/ 24.30; III—4.56/ 4.98/ 4.15/ 1.90/ 15.59; IV—6.14/ 6.64/ 6.47/ 2.49/ 21.74. Ventral pairs of macrosetae on tibiae: I-4; II-4; III-3; IV-3. Abdomen 6.97 long, light brown with two paramedian white lines laterally ( Fig. 21 ); with three pairs of dorsal sigillae. Venter light brown, with scattered setae. Male palpus with a robust and divided distal tegular apophysis, with an acute apex and with a short distal tegular projection ( Figs 19 , 23, 24 ). Tegulum (T) with a basal small protuberance ( Figs 19 , 23, 24 ). Retrolateral tibial apophysis short and with a rounded apex ( Figs 20 , 25, 26 ).

Other material examined. MADAGASCAR, Fianarantsoa: Parc National d'Isalo, Sahanafa river [2218'S, 4517'E], elevation 500 m, 1 ♂, 10–13.II.2003, B.L. Fisher & C.E. Griswold (CAS 9017315).

Distribution. Madagascar (Fianarantsoa) ( Fig. 34 ).

Note. The measurements of T. vachoni were made from the male holotype, but the SEM images were made from fresh individuals recently collected and deposited in CAS collection.

Figures

FIGURE 34. Distribution of Paracladycnis Blandin, 1979, Tallonia Simon, 1889 and Thalassiopsis Roewer, 1955 in Madagascar.

FIGURES 19 – 22. Thalassiopsis vachoni Roewer, 1955. 19, 20 male palpus (19 ventral, 20 retrolateral). 21, 22 male habitus (21 dorsal, 22 frontal). (C = conductor, DTP = distal tegular projection, DTA = distal tegular apophysis, E = embolus, MA = median apophysis, RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis, ST = subtegulum, T = tegulum).

FIGURES 23 – 26. Thalassiopsis vachoni Roewer, 1955. 23? 26 male palpus (23 ventral, 24 detail of bulbus, 25 retrolateral, 26 detail of retrolateral tibial apophysis). (BPT = basal protuberance of tegulum, C = conductor, DTA = distal tegular apophysis, DTP = distal tegular projection, MA = median apophysis, RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis, ST = subtegulum, T = tegulum, VTA = ventral tibial apophysis).