Opopaea ankarafantsika, 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 : 50-53

Opopaea ankarafantsika , new species

Figures 11, 12, 30, 31, 80, 200–231; map 1

TYPES: Male holotype and female allotype from Mahajanga: PN Ankarafantsika, Ampijoroa station forestière, 5.4 km 331 ° NW Andranofasika, 16 ° 179560S, 46 ° 489470E, 70 m elevation, 26 March–01 April 2001, tropical dry forest, EF19 sifted litter, coll. Fisher and Griswold, et al., BLF3571 (CASC PBI_OON 3144).

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

DIAGNOSIS: Males of O. ankarafantsika resemble those of O. andringitra in having a long, narrow cymbiobulbus (figs. 216–217, 183–184, respectively). However, it can be distinguished from all other Opopaea species by having a more or less straight cymbiobulbus tapering anteriorly, with posterior margin without protuberances (figs. 224–226). Females of ankarafantsika can be recognized by a wide, divided, and medially lowered scutal ridge bearing a small oval parmula and by a narrow postgynum depression (figs. 202, 222–223).

DESCRIPTION: Male (holotype) (PBI_OON 3144). Large species. Total length 2.14. Color: dark orange. Carapace: pars cephalica flat in lateral view with one row of two sets of three small denticles (figs. 213–214), anteriorly narrowed to one third its maximum width. Carapace anterolateral corners without sclerotized, triangular extension. Clypeus low, not rebordered. Chilum absent. Eyes large. ALE largest. ALE circular, PME squared, PLE oval; PME darkened compared to other eyes; posterior eye row straight viewed from above, straight from front; ALE separated by less than 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, without pits, shape of posterior part between coxae IV hexagonal. Lateral margins of area between coxae III unmodified, without lumps, setae sparse, dark, needlelike, densest laterally, originating from surface, without hair tufts (fig. 215). Abdomen oval and flattened laterally toward posterior end. Palp fenestra round and small located toward the anterior end of the palp, fenestral top barely raised toward the tip (figs. 200–201, 216–217, 220–221, 224–231).

Female (allotype) (PBI_OON 3144). Total length 2.32. Postgynum ridge thin and slightly sclerotized (figs. 202, 222–223).

MEASUREMENTS: Male (holotype) ( PBI _ OON 3144 ). TL: 2.14 ; CL: 0.92; CW: 0.71; CH: 0.46; AL: 1.17; AW: 0.74; ALE: 0.13; PME: 0.11; PLE: 0.09; EGW: 0.26; ALE- ALE: 0.01; ALE-PLE: 0; PME-PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0; CBL: 0.29; CBW: 0.11; CBL/ PTL: 0.91; FI: 0.10.

Female (allotype) ( PBI _ OON 3144 ). TL: 2.32 ; CL: 0.96; CW: 0.76; AL: 1.38; AW: 0.98; EFL: 0.24; LAL: 0.10; PGI: 2.45; LAL/ PDL: 2.55; EFL/PDW: 5.28.

VARIATION: Male: TL: 1.57–2.14; CL: 0.84–0.92; CW: 0.64–0.71; AL: 1.08–1.17; AW: 0.68–0.74.

Female: TL: 2.32–2.36; CL: 0.94–0.98; CW: 0.72–0.75; AL: 0.38–0.47; AW: 0.91– 0.98.

NATURAL HISTORY: O. ankarafantsika was found in tropical dry forest at low elevations (70–140 m).

DISTRIBUTION: O. ankarafantsika was mostly found in the southern Madagascar, in the provinces of Mahajanga and Toliara (Ankarafantsika, Namoroka, Beza-Mahafaly) (map 1).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: MADA- GASCAR: Mahajanga: PN Ankarafantsika,

Forêt de Tsimaloto, 18.3 km 46 ° NE de Tsaramandroso, S16 ° 139410, E46 ° 89370, 135 m elevation, 2–8 April 2001, tropical dry forest, EF19 sifted litter, coll. Fisher andGriswold et al., BLF3599 (CASC PBI_OON 3101), 68, 9♀. Park national Namoroka, 9.8 km 300 ° WNW Vilanandro, S16 ° 289, E45 ° 219, 140 m elevation, 4–8 November 2002, tropical dry forest, EF19 sifted litter, mold, rotten wood, C. Griswold and B. Fisher, et al. (CASC PBI_OON 37700), 28, 4♀). Mahajanga: PN Ankarafantsika, Ampijoroa station forestière, 5.4 km 331 ° NW Andranofasika, S16 ° 179560, E46 ° 489470, 70 m elevation, 26 March–01 April 2001, tropical dry forest, EF19 sifted litter, coll. Fisher andGriswold et al., BLF3571 (CASC. PBI_OON 3144), 1♀. Toliara: RS Beza Mahafaly, 26.19 km ENE Betioky, S23 ° 39918.20, E44 ° 37958.89, 147 m elevation, 18 Jan 2009, gallery forest, sifting, D. Andriamalala, C. Griswold, G. Hormiga, A. Saucedo, N. Scharff, and H. Wood (PBI_OON 35232), 1♀.