Opopaea tsingy, Daniela & Andriamalala & D.C. & Hormiga & D.C., 2013

Daniela, Andriamalala, D. C., Hormiga, Gustavo & D. C., 2013, Systematics Of The Goblin Spider Genus Opopaea (Araneae, Oonopidae) In Madagascar, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2013 (380), pp. 1-156 : 143-147

Opopaea tsingy , new species

Figures 880–911; map 4

TYPES: Male holotype and female allotype from Mahajanga: PN Tsingy de Bemaraha, 2.5 km 62 ° ENE Bekopaka, Ankidrodroa River, 19 ° 79560S, 44 ° 489530E, 100 m elevation, 11–15 November 2001, tropical dry forest on Tsingy, EF19 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), coll. B.L. Fisher et al. (CASC PBI_OON 3792), 18, 7♀.

ETYMOLOGY: The species epithet is a name in apposition taken from the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: Males of O. tsingy resemble those of O. namoroka in having the tip of the cymbiobulbus short, sharp, and with a sclerotized compact extension, but can be distinguished by having the tip extension not folded, but longer and pointing more or less forward. The fenestra is also larger and more or less circular (figs. 880, 881, 896, 897, 900, 901, 904–911). Females of O. tsingy can be recognized by the weakly sclerotized scutal ridge, medially bearing a thickened arclike structure with a small, thin, and cylindrical parmula on its upper surface (figs. 882, 902, 903).

DESCRIPTION: Male (holotype) (PBI_ OON 3792). Small species. Total length 1.47. Color: dark orange. Carapace: pars cephalica flat with two sets of three separated denticles, carapace anteriorly narrowed to less than one third its maximum width. Carapace anterolateral corners without sclerotized triangular extension. Clypeus low, not rebordered. Chilum absent. Eyes small. ALE largest. ALE oval, PME and PLE circular; PME darkened compared to other eyes, posterior eye row straight viewed from above, straight from front; ALE separated by their radius, ALE-PLE separated by less than ALE radius, PME touching throughout most of their length, PLE-PME separated by less than PME radius. Sternum longer than wide with radial furrows between coxae, surface without pits, shape of posterior part between coxae IV wide, hexagonal, and not constricted. Lateral margins between coxae III unmodified, without lumps, setae sparse, dark, needlelike, and densest laterally, originating from surface, without hair tufts (figs. 891– 894). Cymbiobulbus elongated with posterior margin straight and with three protuberances, a large smooth proximal one and a tiny, sharp, and sclerotized distal one with a bulge in the median part of the prolateral side of the cymbiobulbus. Palpal femora half the size of palpal patella and inserted in the middle of the thick patella. Palpal fenestra narrow and elliptical, located at one third the length of the palpal tip, fenestral anterior top not elevated (figs. 880–882, 896, 897, 900, 901, 904–911).

Female (allotype) (PBI_OON 3792). Total length 1.68. Abdomen round and flattened with ventral scutum round at posterior end in females. Postgynum depression very short and slitlike dorsally, but arclike and weakly sclerotized ventrally (figs. 882, 902, 903).

MEASUREMENTS: Male (holotype) ( PBI _ OON 3792 ). TL: 1.47 ; CL: 0.63; CW: 0.49; CH: 0.25; AL: 0.84; AW: 0.53; ALE: 0.07; PME: 0.06; PLE: 0.06; EGW: 0.17; ALE- ALE: 0.03; ALE-PLE: 0.01; PME-PME: 0;

926. Dorsal view. 927. Ventral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

PME-PLE: 0.01; CBL: 0.21; CBW: 0.08; CBL/PTL: 0.75; FI: 0.15.

Female (allotype) ( PBI _ OON 3792 ). TL: 1.68 ; CL: 0.69; CW: 0.49; CH: 0.25; AL: 1.01; AW: 0.73; ALE: 0.05; PME: 0.05; PLE: 0.05; EGW: 0.17; ALE-ALE: 0.03; ALE-PLE: 0.01; PME-PME: 0; PME-PLE: 0.02; EFL: 0.15; LAL: 0.08; PGI (LAL/EFL): 0.53; PDL/LAL: 0.50; PDW/EFL: 0.40.

NATURAL HISTORY: O. tsingy was collected in a tropical dry forest at 100 m elevation.

DISTRIBUTION: Opopaea tsingy was found in northwestern Madagascar in the province of Mahajanga (Park National Tsingy de Bemaraha) (map 4).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: MADA- GASCAR: Mahajanga: PN Tsingy de Bemaraha, 2.5 km 62 ° ENE Bekopaka, Ankidrodroa River, S19 ° 79560, E44 ° 489530, 100 m elevation, 11–15 November 2001, tropical dry forest on Tsingy, EF19 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), coll. B.L. Fisher et al. (CASC PBI_OON 3792), 68, 7♀.