Poecilipta mandjelia, Raven, 2015

Raven, Robert J., 2015, & lt; strong & gt; A revision of ant-mimicking spiders of the family Corinnidae (Araneae) in the Western Pacific & lt; / strong & gt;, Zootaxa 3958 (1), pp. 1-258 : 187-189

Poecilipta mandjelia sp. nov.

( Fig. 105a–f . Map 62)

Material. New Caledonia: holotype ♂, Mandjélia (Mt) , 20°23'S, 164°32'E, rainforest, pitfall, Oct 1992– 17 Feb 1993, R . Raven, E. Guilbert, QM S39550 . Paratypes: same data as holotype: 1♀ (allotype), QM S39584 ; 1♀, QM S39585 ; 1♀, same data but 6–7 Nov 2001, L.J. Boutin, MNHN .

Diagnosis. Males differ from those of P. yambuna sp. nov. in the slightly larger paracymbial spine and shorter embolus tip; the band of golden hairs centrally on the dorsal scute is unique in Poecilipta . Females differ from those of P. gloverae sp. nov. in the presence of an accessory lobe on the head of the spermatheca.

Etymology. A noun in apposition from the type locality.

Description Holotype male QM S39550

Carapace 2.36 long, 1.56 wide. Abdomen 2.60 long, 1.28 wide. Total length 5.0.

Colour: carapace orange brown, eye region black, legs entirely yellow; abdomen with dark three-quarter length scute with metallic blue bloom with black band behind that and custard tip with white spot medially; scute covered with black feathery hairs and narrow band of golden hairs divides scute for its length; ventrally, sternum, coxae light orange, with red brown genital scute and broad dark ventral scute with blue bloom. Carapace: lateral profile medially flat; almost smooth with lightly serrate margin; fovea long. Eyes: of similar size; back row slightly wide, gently procurved; front row gently recurved. Chelicerae: small, dentition 2R, 2P; pair of thicker long bristles directed medially on anterior face; line of thick black bristles on fang shield. Sternum: distinct intercoxal triangles. Legs: slender; trochanters weakly asymmetrically notched on IV; feathery hairs not evident; tufts dense; preening combs and femoral constriction absent on IV. Spines: most short but strong. I and II: fe p1d3; ti v2.2.2; me v2.2. III and IV: fe p2d3r1; pa d1 distal ti p2d1r2v2.2.2; me p3r3v2.2.3. Palp: fe d2v0; pa p1d1; ti p2d1. Abdomen: dorsal scute for three-quarters of length, oval, without constriction, with uniform cover of short black bristles; collar short but not completed invaginated; ventral scute wide; sinuous laterally but roughly parallel and includes broad tracheal ridge; large closed post-epigastric sclerites. Palp: tibia without depression, cymbium apically short, triangular; bulb pyriform with short embolus gradually tapering.

Allotype female Like ♂ except:

Carapace 2.72 long, 1.92 wide. Abdomen 2.72 long, 1.60 wide. Total length 5.6.

Abdomen: boldly marked with broad yellow longitudinal bar flanked by two broad black bands to mid lateral, yellow bands then flank median brown sash. Carapace with light cover of golden feathery hairs also on legs. Chelicerae with shield of thick black fang bristles. Spines: generally stronger than in male, palp: fe p2v4; pa p1; ti p2d1; ta p2 basal; claw small. Abdomen with dorsal scute for anterior quarter; full genital scute with short collar; tracheal scute oval with broad medial ridge. Epigyne: with small fossae; accessory lobe present on small head of spermatheca.

Distribution and Habitat. Known only from Mandjélia, a mountain in north-western New Caledonia.

MAPS 61–66. Records of Australian and New Caledonian species of Poecilipta Simon, 1897 .

Figures

FIGURE 105. Poecilipta mandjelia sp. nov.: a–c, scanning electron micrographs, male palpal bulb, ventral view (a); b, embolus tip, ventral view; c, paracymbial spine, ventral view; d, habitus; e, f, female, epigyne, external (e) and internal (f) views.