Opopaea bemaraha, 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 : 67-71

Opopaea bemaraha , new species

Figures 330–362; map 3

TYPES: Male holotype and female allotype from Mahajanga: PN Tsingy de Bemaraha, 10.6 km 123 ° ESE Antsalova, Ankidrodroa River, 19 ° 429340S, 44 ° 43950E, 150 m elevation, 16–20 November 2001, tropical dry forest on Tsingy, EF19 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), coll. B.L. Fisher et al., BLF4432 (CASC PBI_OON 35139).

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

DIAGNOSIS: Males of O. bemaraha resemble those of O. tsimbazaza in having the area in front of the fenestra quite developed (figs. 360, 842), but can be most easily distinguished from those of other Opopaea species by having the area between the two posterior protuberances arclike and sharp like a blade and the tip of the cymbiobulbus tapering anteriorly, ending with a small hole (figs. 346, 350) that is surrounded posteriorly by a short sclerotized lip directed on one side (figs. 360, 361) and not downward like in O. tsimbazaza (figs. 844, 847). Females of O. bemaraha can be recognized by a scutal ridge divided into an arclike upper part covering a thicker, more sclerotized lower part, which bears medially a cylindrical parmula. Posterior margin of scutal ridge bears a small and short sclerotized round nudge at the level of the parmula (figs. 332, 352–353).

DESCRIPTION: Male (holotype) (PBI_ OON 35139). Small to medium-sized species. Total length 1.29. Color: orange. Carapace: pars cephalica elevated posteriorly into a dome with two widely separated sets of two small denticles (figs. 343–345). Carapace anterolateral corners without sclerotized triangular extension. Clypeus low, not rebordered. Chilum absent. Eyes small. ALE largest. ALE, PME oval, PLE circular; posterior eye row straight viewed from above, slightly procurved 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 smooth and shiny, without pits, shape of posterior part hexagonal between coxae IV not constricted (fig. 345). Lateral margins of area between coxae III unmodified, without lumps, setae sparse, more abundant and on margins, originating from surface, without hair tufts. Palp with three posterior protuberances: one larger and smoother on proximal margin, one smaller and very sharp on distal margin and a small one on retrolateral margin. Palpal femora half the size of palpal patella and inserted at one third of patella length. Palpal fenestra large, elongated, enlarged posteriorly and located at one third the length of the palp, fenestra barely raised and sclerotized anteriorly (figs. 115–116, 365–366, 369–370, 373–381).

Female (allotype) (PBI_OON 35139). Total length 1.58. As in male but larger, color orange, abdomen oval and not flattened posteriorly. Postgynum depression short and narrow, ridge more or less thin and weakly sclerotized (figs. 332, 352–353).

MEASUREMENTS: Male (holotype) ( PBI _ OON 35139). TL: 1.29 ; CL: 0.60; CW: 0.50; CH: 0.29; AL: 0.73; AW: 0.52; ALE: 0.08; PME: 0.09; PLE: 0.08; EGW: 0.22; ALE- ALE: 0.03; ALE-PLE: 0.01; PME-PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0.01; CBL: 0.21; CBW: 0.07; CBL/PTL: 0.84; FI: 0.11.

Female (allotype) ( PBI _OON 35139). TL: 1.58 ; CL: 0.70; CW: 0.54; CH: 0.26; AL: 0.93; AW: 0.71; ALE: 0.08; PME: 0.06; PLE: 0.05; EGW: 0.17; ALE-ALE: 0.03; ALE-PLE: 0; PME-PME: 0; PLE-PME: 0; EFL: 0.16; LAL: 0.07; PGI (LAL/EFL): 0.44; PDL/ LAL: 0.57; PDW/EFL: 0.49.

VARIATION: Male: TL: 1.29–1.39; CL: 0.60–0.61; CW: 0.49–0.50; AL: 0.73–0.79; AW: 0.52–0.61.

Female: TL: 1.58–1.58; CL: 0.66–0.70; CW: 0.54–0.54; AL: 0.92–0.93; AW: 0.66– 0.71.

NATURAL HISTORY: O. bemaraha was mostly found in tropical dry forest at low elevations (50–150 m).

DISTRIBUTION: O. bemaraha was mostly found in the west of Madagascar in the province of Mahajanga (Tsingy de Bemaraha, Namoroka, Tsimembo) (map 3).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: MADA- GASCAR: Mahajanga: PN Tsingy de Bemaraha, 10.6 km 123 ° ESE Antsalova, Ankidrodroa River, S19 ° 429340, E44 ° 43950, 150 m elevation, 16–20 November 2001, tropical dry forest on Tsingy, EF19 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), coll. B.L. Fisher et al., BLF4432 (CASC PBI_OON 35139), 348, 29♀. Forêt de Tsimembo, 11 km 346 ° NNW Soatana, S18 ° 599430, E44 ° 269370, 50 m elevation, 21–25 November 2001, tropical dry forest, EF19 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), coll. B.L. Fisher et al., BLF4508 (CASC PBI_OON 35126), 4♀. Parc National de Namoroka, 16.9 km 317 ° NW Vilanandro, S16 ° 249240, E45 ° 189360, 100 m elevation, 12–16 November 2002, tropical dry forest, EF19 sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), C. Griswold and B.Fish- er, et al., BLF6582 (CASC PBI_OON 3), 68, 2♀.