Cheiracanthium griswoldi Lotz, 2014, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Lotz, L. N.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2014
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Araneae
Miturgidae
Cheiracanthium
Cheiracanthium griswoldi

description: Cheiracanthium griswoldi sp. nov.
Figs 57–58, 67–72
Type material from Madagascar: Holotype ♂, Toliara, Forêt de Tsinjoriaky, 6.2 km 84ºE Tsifota, 22º48’08”S, 43º25’14”E, 6–10.III.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. (CASC 9012961). Paratypes: (allotype) ♀, same data as holotype (CASC 9013070); 1♀, same data as holotype (CASC 9013039); 5♂ 6♀, Toliara, Park National de Tsimanampetsotsa, Forêt de Bemanateza, 20.7 km 81ºE Efoetse, 23 km 131ºSE Beheloka, 23º59’32”S, 43º52’50”E, 22–26.III.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. (CASC 9000429, 9000440, 9013467, 9014097); 7♂, Toliara, Forêt de Beroboka, 5.9 km 131ºSE Ankidranoka, 22º13’59”S, 43º21’59”E, 12–16.III.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. (CASC 9004949, 9014333, 9014364); 1♂ 1♀, Toliara, Réserve Spéciale de Cap Sante Marie, 14.9 km 261ºW Marovato, 25º35’40”S, 45º08’49”E, 13–19.II.2002, Fisher & Griswold, et al. (CASC 9012806); 1♂, Tulear, Mikea forest, 22º54’22”S, 43º28’53”E, 17–28.I.2002, R. Harin’Hala (CASC 9010461); 1♂, Fianarantsoa, Vohiparara, broken bridge, 21º13’57”S, 47º22’19”E, 22–28.XI.2001, R. Harin’Hala (CASC 9010496).
Etymology. The name is a patronym in honour of Charles Griswold, one of the collectors of many of the type specimens.
Diagnosis. C. griswoldi sp. nov. is similar to C. ampijoroa sp. nov., C. andranomay sp. nov., C. ambrense sp. nov., C. anjozorobe sp. nov., C. ashleyi sp. nov., C. fisheri sp. nov. and C. rothi sp. nov. in the dumbbell-shaped spermathecae and the U-shaped CA. In C. griswoldi sp. nov. and C. fisheri sp. nov. the copulatory ducts proceed anteriorly, posteriorly and then anteriorly. C. griswoldi sp. nov. is separated from C. fisheri sp. nov. by the copulatory ducts being longer (compare Figs 45 and 69). Males of C. griswoldi sp. nov. can be separated from the aforementioned species by the shape of the CA, which is evenly broad over most of its length (Figs 71–72).
Description. Female: (n = 9): TL = 5.40 (4.5–7.0); CL = 2.34 (2.0–2.8); CW = 1.76 (1.5–1.9); OAL = 0.30 (0.25–0.40); OAW = 1.06 (0.95–1.20); CLL = 0.07 (0.05–0.10). Chelicerae: robust with long fangs; cheliceral fang furrow with six teeth of unequal size, PMT:RMT = 3:3 (Fig. 67). Measurements: AME–AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.25; AME diameter 0.15; PME–PME 0.20; PME–PLE 0.25; PME diameter 0.15; MOQAW 0.40; MOQPW 0.50; CI (CL/CW) 1.47; LL:CL 4.93; STL 1.3; STW 1.05. Leg measurements: I—3.5+1.1+3.8+3.8+1.6 = 13.8; II—2.1+0.9+2.0+3.1+0.7 = 8.8; III—1.6+0.7+1.2+1.6+0.6 = 5.7; IV—2.5+1.0+2.1+2.5+0.7 = 8.8; palp—1.1+0.45+0.7+1.1 = 3.35. Leg spines: I 0-1p-1p, 1v-2v- 0, 2v- 2v-1v; II 0-1p-1p, 0-0-1 v1 p, 2v- 2v-1v; III 0- 1p-1p1r, 0-0-1p1r, 2v-2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r; IV 0-0-1p1r, 0-0-1r, 2v-2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen (Fig. 57): white-yellow with a heartmark. Epigynum (Figs 68–69): wider than long with two depressions separated by a septum; copulatory openings situated medially in the depressions; posterior, on the epigastric fold, is an oval opening into which the fertilization ducts open; internally, copulatory ducts proceed anterio-laterally, curving posteriorly before turning anteromedially to end anteriorly in the dumbbell-shaped spermathecae; fertilization ducts exit spermathecae posteromedially.
Male: (n = 10): TL = 4.71 (3.2–5.8); CL = 2.08 (1.5–2.3); CW = 1.54 (1.1–1.7); OAL = 0.30 (0.25–0.35); OAW = 0.85 (0.65–0.9); CLL = 0.05 (0.05–0.05). Chelicerae: similar to female, except with PMT:RMT = 3:3–5, but mostly 3:3 (Fig. 70). Measurements: AME–AME 0.10; AME–ALE 0.15; AME diameter 0.15; PME–PME 0.15; PME–PLE 0.20; PME diameter 0.15; MOQAW 0.35; MOQPW 0.40; CI (CL/CW) 1.38; LL:CL 7.68; STL 1.2; STW 0.9. Leg measurements: I—4.1+1.0+4.8+5.0+2.0 = 16.9; II—2.4+0.8+2.5+2.6+0.9 = 9.2; III—1.7+0.7+1.4+1.9+0.6 = 6.3; IV—2.6+0.8+2.4+2.9+0.9 = 9.6; palp—1.3+0.4+0.7+1.0 = 3.4. Leg spines: I 0- 1p-1p, 2v-2v- 0, 2v- 2v-1v; II 0-1p-1p, 1v-2 v1 p-0, 2v-2 v1 p- 1v; III 0-0-1p1r, 0-0-1p1r, 2v-2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r; IV 0-0- 1p1r, 0-0-1p1r, 2v-2 v1 p1r-3 v1 p1r. Abdomen (Fig. 58): slightly more elongate than female. Palp (Figs 71–72): cymbium elongate, slightly shorter than or nearly equal to tibia plus patella length, with a long, proximally curled; apophysis that is about equally broad over its length; RTA with two points at apex; TA unsclerotized, long and bent at apex; EM long, almost encircling tegulum, ending at CON apex; CON unsclerotised but distinct.
Distribution. Mostly found in the south-western parts of Madagascar, with one locality in the east (Fig. 52). Habitat. Mostly spiny forest/thicket and dry tropical forest, but also found in rainforest.
description: Published as part of Lotz, L. N., 2014, New species of Cheiracanthium (Araneae: Eutichuridae) from Madagascar and the Comoros Islands, pp. 301-332 in Zootaxa 3857 (3) on pages 318-319, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3857.3.1, http://zenodo.org/record/225808