Opopaea antsalova, 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 : 58-61

Opopaea antsalova , new species

Figures 7, 8, 42, 74–76, 81–84, 90–92, 263–295; map 4

TYPES: Male holotype and female allotype from Mahajanga: Park National Tsingy de Bemaraha, 10.6 km ESE 123 ° E Antsalova, 19 ° 429340S, 44 ° 43950E, 150 m, EF19 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), tropical dry forest, 16–20 November 2001, coll. B.L. Fisher et al. (CASC PBI_OON 35038).

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

DIAGNOSIS: Males of O. antsalova resemble those of O. ankarafantsika and O. andranomay in having an elongated cymbiobulbus and those of O. Ankarana in having a tip more or less round, but can be differentiated from other Opopaea species by having it very thick and sclerotized on prolateral side (figs. 263–264, 304–305, 308–309, 312–320). Females of O. antsalova can be easily recognized by the V-shaped postgynum depression, very short and narrow, close to the epigastric furrow and with a more or less

377. Dorsal view. 378. Ventral view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

thin and sclerotized ridge (figs. 265, 285– 286).

DESCRIPTION: Male (holotype) (PBI_ OON 35038). Large species. Total length 1.92. Color: orange. Carapace: pars cephalica not elevated posteriorly, with one row of two close sets of two denticles and a hair, carapace anteriorly narrowed to about one third its maximum width (figs. 276–277). Carapace anterolateral corners without sclerotized triangular extension. Clypeus low, not rebordered. Chilum absent. Eyes large and almost of the same size, ALE largest. ALE more or less circular, PME squared and PLE oval; PME darkened compared to other eyes; posterior eye row straight viewed from above, slightly procurved from front; ALE separated by almost 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 smooth and shiny, without pits, shape of posterior part between coxae IV wider proximally, but thin and constricted distally (fig. 278). Lateral margins of area between coxae III unmodified, without lumps; setae sparse, dark, needlelike, densest laterally, originating from surface, without hair tufts (figs. 275–278). Abdomen oval not flattened laterally toward posterior end. Palp posterior margin straight, with two barely visible protuberances: one small and wide proximally, small and the other more or less sharp distally (fig. 283). Palpal femora half the size of palpal patella and inserted medially

to it. Palpal fenestra large, elongated and enlarged anteriorly, located near the tip of the palp, fenestra top rose toward the tip (figs. 263–264, 279–280, 283–284, 287–295).

Female (allotype) (PBI_OON 35038). Total length 2.38. As in male but larger, color orange, abdomen oval, and not flattened posteriorly. Epigynum scutal ridge more or less thick and straight bearing a round medium-sized parmula within its median part (figs. 265, 285–286).

MEASUREMENTS: Male (holotype) ( PBI _ OON 35038). TL: 1.92 ; CL: 0.82; CW: 0.69; CH: 0.40; AL: 1.12; AW: 0.75; ALE: 0.12; PME: 0.11; PLE: 0.08; EGW: 0.26; ALE- ALE: 0.04; ALE-PLE: 0; PME-PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0; CBL: 0.28; CBW: 0.1; CBL/ PTL: 0.87; FI: 0.16.

Female (allotype) ( PBI _OON 35038). TL: 2.38 ; CL: 1; CW: 0.77; CH: 0.41; AL: 1.48; AW: 1; ALE: 0.11; PME: 0.11; PLE: 0.10; EGW: 0.27; ALE-ALE: 0.04; ALE-PLE: 0.01; PME-PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0; EFL: 0.24; LAL: 0.11; PGI (LAL/EFL): 0.46; PDL/LAL: 0.45; PDW/EFL: 0.29.

VARIATION: Male: TL: 1.92–2.03; CL: 0.82–0.91; CW: 0.69–0.71; AL: 1.12–1.18; AW: 0.75–0.76.

Female: TL: 2.38–2.43; CL: 0.97–1; CW: 0.75–0.77; AL: 1.46–1.52; AW: 0.96–1.

NATURAL HISTORY: O. antsalova was mostly found in tropical dry forest and spiny/thicket forest at low elevations (30– 150 m).

DISTRIBUTION: O. antsalova was mostly found in the northwestern and southern regions of Madagascar in the provinces of Mahajanga and Toliara (Tsingy de Bemaraha, Ranobe) (map 4).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: MADA- GASCAR: Mahajanga: Park National Tsingy de Bemaraha, 3.4 km 93 ° E Bekopaka, Tombeau Vazimba, 19 ° 89310S, 44 ° 499410E, 50 m, general collecting, tropical dry forest, 06–10 November 2001, coll. B.L. Fisher et al. (CASC PBI_OON 35037), 1♀. Mahajanga: Park National Tsingy de Bemaraha, 10.6 km ESE 123 ° E Antsalova, 19 ° 429340S, 44 ° 43950E, 150 m, EF19 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), tropical dry forest, 16–20 November 2001, coll. B.L. Fisher et al. (CASC PBI_OON 350380), 278, 21♀. Toliara: Ranobe, 23 ° 029230S, 43 ° 369390E, 30 m, EH11 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), spiny forest/thicket, 17–21 February 2003, coll. Frontier Project, MGF061 (CASC PBI_OON 3773), 1♀.