Pochytoides mirabilis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 50E156DA-74CB-4A48-9CFB-FD4046739D4B

Figs 50–51

Diagnosis

The male pedipalp is similar to that in Pochytoides securis Wesołowska, 2018, but the shape of the median tegular apophysis is different (compare Fig. 51B with Wesołowska 2018: fig. 11e). The female is easily recognized by the epigyne, which is unique and unlike any other species of the genus. The epigyne has two rounded depressions on posterior part with heavily sclerotized rims.

Etymology

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘peculiar’, and refers to the unique form of epigyne, unlike that of any congeners.

Material examined

Holotype IVORY COAST • ♂; Cavally Forest; 6°05′ N, 7°36′ W; 15 Nov. 1975; “ branches en sous-bois ”; MNHN.

Paratype IVORY COAST • 1 ♀ (together with holotype); same collection data as for holotype; MNHN .

Description

Male

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.0, width 1.5, height 1.0. Eye field length 1.0, anterior width 1.5, posterior width 1.3. Abdomen length 1.6, width 1.1. General appearance as in Fig. 50A.

CARAPACE. Brown, oval, high and broad, with steep posterior slope beginning just behind the eye field. Sparse white hairs on slopes. Fovea visible, sulciform, lying on small concave area. Eye field trapezoid, anterior row of eyes slightly wider than posterior row, vicinity of eyes black. Anterior median eyes large, encircled by fawn scales. Clypeus with white hairs. Chelicerae with short fang, two teeth on promargin and single on retromargin. Mouthparts light brown, sternum yellow.

ABDOMEN. Oval, yellowish, with greyish marks laterally, especially in posterior half. Venter yellowish brown. Spinnerets yellow, posteriors with dark line.

LEGS. First pair brown, others yellowish brown with darker rings on basal and apical end of segments. Leg hairs brown, spines long, dark brown. Tibia I with four pairs of long spines ventrally, metatarsus with two pairs.

PEDIPALPS. Brownish, cymbium clothed in dense pale hairs. Pedipalp as in Figs 50B–C, 51A–D, bulb with characteristic wide anterior lobe.

Female

MEASUREMENTS. Cephalothorax length 2.3, width 1.7, height 1.1. Eye field length 1.3, anterior width 1.6, posterior width 1.4. Abdomen length 2.3, width 1.5. General appearance as in Fig. 50D. Similar to male but lighter coloured, carapace light brown, only eyes surrounded with black rings.

ABDOMEN. Greyish yellow with lighter serrated median streak.

LEGS. Yellow.

EPIGYNE. With two large, rounded, widely-spaced depressions (Figs 50E, 51E). The copulatory openings placed posteriorly, hidden in a deep, strongly sclerotized cup-shaped atria, seminal ducts run forward mesially, looping laterally and posteriorly before entering spherical, thick-walled spermathecae (Fig. 51F).

Distribution

Only known from the type locality in Ivory Coast.