Ambohima zandry, Griswold & Wood & Carmichael, 2012

Griswold, Charles E., Wood, Hannah Marie & Carmichael, Anthea D., 2012, The lace web spiders (Araneae, Phyxelididae) of Madagascar: phylogeny, biogeography and taxonomy, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 164 (4), pp. 728-810 : 794-795

AMBOHIMA ZANDRY SP. NOV.

( FIGS 7F, 15A–E, 24A–E, 34E–I, 38E, F, 43J–L, 59)

Types: Holotype male and paratype female ( CASENT9003543 ) collected by beating low vegetation in montane rainforest in Parc National Montagne d’Ambre , Antsiranana Province, Madagascar, 2–7 February 2001 by J. J. Rafanomezantsoa, deposited in CASC.

Etymology: The specific name is from the Malagasy word for a little one; a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis: Male with palp as in Figures 15A–C and 24A–E, embolic base convex, reservoir course across embolic base nearly straight. Female vulva as in Figures 15E, 34G, H, and 38E, F, spermathecal ducts spiralling around a central, longitudinal spiral chamber, ducts make three or fewer spiral turns.

Male ( Holotype): Total length 3.80. Markings similar to Figure 7F, carapace pale yellow-brown, markings faint, legs unmarked; abdomen grey-brown, dorsum with obscure paired light markings. Carapace 1.85 long, 1.50 wide; thoracic fovea 0.22 long, length 0.12 times that of carapace; clypeus 0.10 high; ocular area 0.26 long, 0.56 wide; ratio of eyes AM/AL/PM/PL, 1.30:2.40:1.00:1.10, diameter of PM 0.10. Chelicerae 0.74 long, slender, smooth, pro- and retromargins of fang furrow with six teeth. Sternum 1.06 long, 0.90 wide; labium 0.30 long, 0.34 wide; palpal coxa 0.56 long, 0.30 wide. Legs long, femur I length 1.56 times carapace length; metatarsi I and II prolateral concavity and clasping spines as in Figure 43J–L, segment cylindrical at base of concavity. Leg measurements (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = [total]: I: 2.90 + 0.70 + 2.85 + 2.55 + 1.30 = [10.30]; II: 2.30 + 0.75 + 2.20 + 1.90 + 1.05 = [8.20]; III: 1.90 + 0.65 + 1.55 + 1.70 + 0.90 = [6.70]; IV: 2.60 + 0.70 + 2.35 + 2.50 + 1.05 = [9.20]; palp: 0.75 + 0.35 + 0.25 + (absent) + 0.75 = [2.10]. Palpus as in Figures 15A–C and 24A–E; femur with basal triangular group of eight thorn-like setae; tibia with dorsal blade (DTA) broadened distally, prolateral hook (PTA) short; cymbium length 1.60 times width, 0.40 times carapace length; palpal bulb length 1.50 width, embolic base convex, reservoir course across embolic base nearly straight.

Variation (N = 2): Carapace length 1.23–1.27 times width, height 0.30–0.40 times width; PER width 2.15–2.48 times OAL; OQP 1.21–1.30 times OQA; cheliceral length 5.50–7.40 times clypeal height; sternum length 1.13–1.18 times width.

Female ( Paratype): Total length 3.70. Markings similar to Figure 7F. Carapace 1.70 long, 1.25 wide; thoracic fovea short, broad, length 0.08 that of carapace; clypeus 0.10 high; ocular area 0.20 long, 0.56 wide; ratio of eyes AM/AL/PM/PL, 1.37:2.62:1.00:1.12, diameter of PM 0.08. Chelicerae 0.72 long, robust, smooth, pro- and retromargins of fang furrow with five teeth. Sternum 0.90 long, 0.82 wide; labium 0.30 long and wide; palpal coxa 0.52 long, 0.24 wide.

Femur I length 1.17 times carapace length. Palpal femur with row of five anterobasal thorns. Calamistrum origin at about 0.35 from metatarsus base, length 0.40 that of segment. Leg measurements (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = [total]): I: 2.00 + 0.65 + 1.80 + 1.55 + 0.95 = [6.95]; II: 1.55 + 0.55 + 1.20 + 1.20 + 0.80 = [5.30]; III: 1.30 + 0.40 + 1.00 + 1.00 + 0.70 = [4.40]; IV: 1.80 + 0.55 + 1.40 + 1.40 + 0.80 = [5.95]; palp: 0.70 + 0.30 + 0.40 + (absent) + 0.70 = [2.10]. Epigynum similar to Figure 15D; spermathecal ducts spiralling around a central, longitudinal spiral chamber, outer ducts make two spiral turns ( Fig. 38F).

Variation (N = 5): Total length 3.70–4.10; carapace length 1.33–1.38 times width, height 0.37–0.44 times width; PER width 2.41–2.90 times OAL; OQP 1.23– 1.36 times OQA; cheliceral length 5.50–7.20 times clypeal height; promargin of fang furrow with 5–7 teeth, retromargin of fang furrow with 5–6 teeth; sternum length 1.10–1.16 times width; femur I length 1.18–1.34 times carapace length; metatarsus I 1.08– 1.11 times carapace length; median lobe of epigynum triangular to nearly trapezoidal, outer vulval ducts make 2–3 spiral turns ( Figs 15E, 34G, H, 38E, F).

Natural history: Found on or near the ground in montane rainforest.

Distribution: Known only from Montagne d’Ambre in far northern Madagascar ( Fig. 59).

Material examined: MADAGASCAR: Antsiranana Prov. P. N. Montagne d’Ambre, 2.79 air km NE of park entrance, 12°32′S, 49°10′E, elev. c. 1000 m, forest, 21–30 November 1993, C. Griswold, S. Larcher, R . Andriamasamanana, N. Scharff and J. Coddington, 2 ♀, CASC ( CASENT9017021 , 9017022 ), 1 ♀, ZMUC ( CASENT9017019 ), 1 ♀, USNM ( CASENT9017020 ); Parc Nationale Montagne d’Ambre , 12.2 km 211° SSW Joffreville, 12°35′47″S, 49°9′34″E, elev. 1300 m, pitfall trap in montane rainforest, 2–7 February 2001, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 1 ♂, CASC ( CASENT9006874 ); Montagne d’Ambre, 12°30′57″S, 49°11′04″E, 12 August 1992, V and B. Roth, 1 ♀, CASC ( CASENT9017023 ), beating low vegetation in montane rainforest, 2–7 February 2001, J. J. Rafanomezantsoa, holotype ♂, paratype ♀, CASC ( CASENT9003543 ) .