Ambohima avaratra Griswold & Wood & Carmichael 2012, SP. NOV.

AMBOHIMA AVARATRA SP. NOV.

(FIGS 7E, 34A–D, 38A–D, 58)

Types: Holotype female collected by beating low vegetation in montane rainforest at 1300 m elevation in Parc National Montagne d’Ambre, Antsiranana Province, Madagascar, 2–7 February 2001, by J. J. Rafanomezantsoa, CASENT9003544, deposited in CASC.

Etymology: The specific name is from the Malagasy word for north; a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis: Female vulva as in Figures 34B–D and 38C, D, spermathecal ducts spiralling around a central, longitudinal spiral chamber, ducts make four or more spiral turns.

Male: Unknown.

Female (Holotype): Total length 8.50. Markings similar to Figure 7E. Carapace 2.65 long, 2.25 wide; thoracic fovea 0.50 long, length 0.19 that of carapace; clypeus 0.18 high; ocular area 0.40 long, 0.99 wide; ratio of eyes AM /AL/ PM / PL, 1.15:2.54:1.00:1.31, diameter of PM 0.13. Chelicerae 1.34 long, robust, smooth, promargin of fang furrow with seven teeth, retromargin with five teeth. Sternum 1.66 long, 1.32 wide; labium 0.58 long, 0.54 wide; palpal coxa 1.00 long, 0.44 wide. Femur I length 2.25 times carapace length. Palpal femur with three anterobasal thorns. Calamistrum origin at 0.45 from metatarsus base, length 0.30 that of segment. Leg measurements (femur + patella + tibia + metatarsus + tarsus = [total]: I: 6.00 + 1.30 + 5.85 + 5.55 + 2.25 = [20.95]; II: 4.70 + 1.20 + 3.95 + 3.85 + 1.85 = [15.55]; III: 3.80 + 1.05 + 3.15 + 3.25 + 1.60 = [12.85]; IV: 5.10 + 1.10 + 4.30 + 4.40 + 1.75 = [16.65]; palp: 1.50 + 0.60 + 0.85 + (absent) + 1.95 = [4.90]. Epigynum as in Figure 38A, spermathecal ducts spiralling around a central, longitudinal spiral chamber, outside ducts make six spiral turns (Fig. 38C), poreplate at apex of spermathecae (Fig. 34C, D).

Variation (N = 3): Total length 8.00–9.00; carapace length 1.18–1.38 times width, height 0.33–0.41 times width; PER width 2.48–2.97 times OAL; OQP 1.33– 1.39 times OQA; clypeal height 1.38–2.00 times AM diameter; cheliceral length 5.83–7.44 times clypeal height; pro- and retromargins of fang furrow with 5–7 teeth; sternum length 1.26–1.28 times width; femur I length 1.89–2.26 times carapace length; metatarsus I 1.50–2.09 times carapace length; epigynum as in Figures 34A and 38A, B, vulva with 4–6 outer spirals (Figs 34B, C, 38C, D).

Natural history: Unknown except that a specimen was collected by beating low vegetation in montane rainforest.

Distribution: Known only from Montagne d’Ambre in far northern Madagascar (Fig. 58).

Material examined: MADAGASCAR: Antsiranana Prov. Parc National Montagne d’Ambre, 12.2 km