Sonoita ledouxi sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 321E341E-330C-4253-B145-4C317FC9BDC2

Figs 61–62

Diagnosis

This species is related to Sonoita lightfooti Peckham & Peckham, 1903, but is lighter coloured. The male is best distinguished by the shape of the functional conductor, which is longer in the newly described species (compare Fig. 62A with Wanless 1985: fig. 11i). The epigyne is densely covered with white hairs, the seminal ducts are slender and longer than in S. lightfooti (compare Fig. 62D with Wanless 1985: fig. 11h).

Etymology

This species is dedicated to J.-C. Ledoux, the eminent French arachnologist, whose collection forms the basis of this paper.

Material examined

Holotype IVORY COAST • ♂; Lamto; 6°13′ N, 5°01′ W; 2 Dec. 1975; “ forêt de marigot salé, sur branches ”; MNHN.

Paratypes IVORY COAST • 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (together with holotype); same collection data as for holotype; MNHN • 1 ♀; Lamto; 17 Sep. 1975; “ savane brulée en face de Tournier ”; MNHN • 1 ♀; same collection data as for preceding, Bandama Forest; 28 Nov. 1975; “ sur branches ”; MNHN .

Description

Male

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.3–2.5, width 1.8–1.9, height 1.0. Eye field length 1.1–1.2, anterior width 1.3–1.4, posterior width 1.4–1.5. Abdomen length 2.3–2.6, width 1.3–1.4. General appearance as in Fig. 61A–B. A large spider, with slender and flattened body.

CARAPACE. Oval, dark brown, darkened towards margins, vicinity of eyes black. Fovea distinct, dark lines radiating from fovea. Whole carapace clothed in colourless hairs, denser on eye field, among them sparse long brown bristles, white hairs on slopes. Chelicerae pluridentate, with 3 teeth on promargin and 6 very small teeth on retromargin. Mouthparts brown with light tips. Sternum light brown.

ABDOMEN. Elongated, flat, with clearly visible sigilla, light, greyish olive colour. Dense long bristles at anterior abdominal margin. Spinnerets greyish.

LEGS. First pair longer than others, dark brown, only tarsi and base of metatarsi orange. Long, dense black feather-like hairs cover patella, tibia and femoral tip of first leg ventrally (Fig. 61C). Legs II–IV yellow, their femora brown. Leg hairs long, brown.

PEDIPALPS. Brown, white scales on distal end of tibia. Palpal organ as in Figs 61D–F, 62A–B. Tibial apophysis spatula-like, large (Fig. 62B).

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.5–2.7, width 1.7–2.0, height 1.0. Eye field length 1.2, anterior width 1.5, posterior width 1.6. Abdomen length 3.7, width 2.6. General appearance as in Fig. 61G. Resembles male but slightly larger and more hairy.

CARAPACE. Colouration as in male. Whole body densely cover by short whitish hairs. Anterior eyes framed with white scales. Clypeus clothed in white hairs.

ABDOMEN. Yellow with three brown longitudinal belts, long brown bristles at anterior edge.

LEGS. Brownish yellow, palps light.

EPIGYNE. Heavily sclerotized, with posterior notch, central area obscured by dense light hairs (Figs 61H, 62C). Internal structure strongly sclerotized, seminal ducts narrow and long, spermathecae large (Fig. 62D).

Distribution

Only known from the type locality, Lamto, Ivory Coast.