Figures 7 A, 8 B, 11 C, 20 C, 54 A–C, 71 A, B, 80 J, Maps 4, 16.

Type material. Holotype female (CASENT9006008) from Périnet, 18º55ʹS; 48º25ʹE, Toamasina Province, Madagascar, collected 1–3 August 1992, by V. and B. Roth, deposited in California Academy of Sciences. Paratype female (CASENT9006005), same data, also in CAS. Paratype females from Ranomafana in Fianarantsoa Province, Madagascar, collected 19–20 July 1992 by V. and B. Roth (CASENT9006004), deposited in MCZ, (CASENT9006005) collected 5 March 1992, deposited in CAS. Paratype male (CASENT9006006) collected at 57 km Route d’Anosibe de Moramanga, September 1953 by J. Millot, deposited in MNHN Paris.

Etymology. The species epithet refers to the similarity of this species to the ecribellate Calamistrula evanescens Dahl 1901, whereas this new species Uduba pseudoevanescens has a divided cribellum.

Diagnosis. Uduba pseudoevanescens belong to Group II, the Epigynum lateral projection group, or Uduba evanescens group (Map 16). Males (Figs. 54 A–C) can be distinguished from those of other Uduba species except U. evanescens and U. rakotofrah in that the palp has a notched MA and the pointed TA2 that extends far apicad but differs from U. rakotofrah in that TA3 and conductor extend apicad of all processes (in U. rakotofrah the TA2 extends far apicad, Figs. 57 A–C), TA3 is large and swollen (small and hidden in U. rakotofrah) and the basal lobe of the MA is entire with a concave margin (deeply forked in U. rakotofrah). The females have the epigynum of the typical “ Calamistrula ” type, or Uduba evanescens group (Map 16), with large, earlike lobes extending laterally of the median sector (Figs. 71 A, 80 J ). The lateral lobes are laterally rounded and larger than those on the epigyna of species U. goodmani (Figs. 77 A, C) and U. volana (Figs. 77 D, E). The genitalia of Uduba evanescens (Fig. 80 G) and U. pseudoevanescens (Fig. 80 J) are nearly identical and not diagnostic, but U. evanescens is ecribellate (Fig. 20 D) and U. pseudoevanescens has a divided cribellum (Fig. 20 C) or a vestige in the adult male.

Description. Male (Paratype, CASENT9006006): Total length 13.29. Markings as in Figs. 8 B, 11 C. Carapace 6.79 long, 4.93 wide, 2.00 high; clypeus 0.29 high. Eye diameters: AME 0.18, ALE and PME 0.27, PLE 0.34. Chelicerae 3.07 long; sternum 3.39 long, 2.43 wide; labium 1.43 long; palpal coxae 2.11 long. Ratios: carapace length / width = 1.36, carapace height / width = 0.41, PER / carapace width = 0.97, PER / OAL = 2.53, PER / AER = 1.24, OAL /OQL = 1.23, OQP / OQA = 1.03, clypeus height / AME diameter width = 1.07, cheliceral length / clypeus height = 10.75, sternum length / width = 1.40, palpal coxa length / width = 2.19, femur I length / carapace width = 1.30, metatarsus I length / carapace width = 1.29, femur IV length / carapace width = 1.30, cymbium length / carapace width = 0.65, cymbium length / palpal patella length = 2.81, cymbium length / palpal tibia length = 3.00, cymbium length / palpal femur length = 1.22, palpal tibia length / palpal patella length = 0.94. Divided cribellum. Spination: palpus–femur d1-1-1, p0-0-2, patella p0-1-0, tibia p2-0-0; leg I–femur d1-1-1, p0-1-2, r0-1-0-1, tibia p0-1-1-0, v2-2-2-2, r0-1-1-0, metatarsus p1-1-1-1, v2-2-1, r1-0-1-0; leg II–femur d1-1-1, p1-1-2, r0-1-0-1, patella r1, tibia p0-1- 1-0, v2-2-2-2, r0-1-1-0, metatarsus p1-1-0-1, v2-2-2, r1-1-0; leg III–femur d1-1-0-1, p0-1-1-1, r0- 1-1-1, tibia d0-1-0, p0-1-1-0, v2-2-2, r0-1-1-0, metatarsus p1-1-1-2, v2-2-2, r1-2-2; leg IV–femur d1-1-0-1, p1-0-0-1, r0-0-0-1, tibia d0-0-1-0, p0-1-1-0, v2-2-2, r0-1-1-0, metatarsus d0-1-0, p1-1-2, v2-2-1, r1-2-2. Scopulae: cymbium, apicodorsal; tarsi and apical metatarsi I–II, ventral. Leg measurements: I: 6.43 + 2.57 + 6.21 + 6.36 + 3.57 = 25.14; II: 5.50 + 2.36 + 5.21 + 5.50 + 3.00 = 21.57; III: 4.64 + 1.86 + 3.36 + 4.43 + 2.36 = 16.64; IV: 6.43 + 2.29 + 5.64 + 6.57 + 2.86 = 23.79; palpus: 2.64 + 1.14 + 1.07 + NA + 3.21 = 8.07. Leg formula 1423. Male palp (Figs. 54 A–C): palpal tibia 0.31 times cymbial length, RTA triangular (Fig. 54 C), length 0.34 tibia length, length 1.375 times width, apex narrowed, sharply-pointed, VTA long, stout, cylindrical, upturned (Fig. 54 B), length 2.375 times width, length 0.459 times tibia width; tibia with slender spines but lacking stout spines; tegulum convex, with retroapical indentation, without ridge, tegulum length 1.13 times width; TA1 ends just before tegulum apex, TA2 and TA3 extend beyond TA1 and tegulum apex, TA3 a convex, blunt lobe, extending farthest apicad of all tegular processes (Fig. 54 A), TA2 a large, pointed, curved triangle; MA complex (Figs. 54 A, C), with proximal blunt lobe, median transverse notch, and apical curved lobe, origin at 0.17 times tegulum length, tegulum apex at 0.38 tegulum length from MA apex, length (including apical processes) 0.85 times width, MA large, length 0.415 times tegulum length, width 0.55 tegulum width (Figs. 54 A–C); tegulum with low apical mound that partially covers base of TA3 (Fig. 54 A); conductor fan convex. Female (Holotype): Total length 12.80. Markings as in Fig. 7 A. Carapace 6.20 long, 4.10 wide, 2.60 high; clypeus 0.40 high. Eye diameters: AME 0.20, ALE 0.26, PME 0.24, PLE 0.30. Chelicerae 3.00 long; sternum 2.70 long, 2.00 wide; labium 1.40 long; palpal coxae 2.00 long. Divided cribellum (Fig. 20 C). Spination: (Holotype): palpus–femur d0-1-2, patella p0-1-0, tibia p2-0, r1-0, tarsus p2- 1; leg I–femur d1-0-0, p0-0-2, tibia v2-2-2-2, metatarsus v2-2-3; leg II–femur d0-1-0-0, p0-0-0-1, tibia v1-1-1-2, metatarsus v2-2-3; leg III–femur d1-0-0-1, p0-1-0-1, r0-1-1-0, tibia d0-0-1-0, p0-1- 1-0, v2-2-2, r0-1-1-0, metatarsus p0-0-2, v2-2-2, r0-0-2; leg IV–femur d0-1-1-0, tibia v1-1-2, r0- 1-1-0, metatarsus p0-0-2, v1-1-2-2, r0-0-2. Scopulae: ventral on tibia–tarsus I and II, metatarsus– tarsus III and IV and apical metatarsus III and IV. Leg measurements: I: 4.40 + 2.30 + 3.40 + 3.00 + 1.80 = 14.90; II: 3.80 + 2.00 + 3.00 + 2.80 + 1.70 = 13.30; III: 3.00 + 1.50 + 1.90 + 2.10 + 1.50 = 10.00; IV: 4.30 + 1.90 + 3.40 + 3.60 + 1.80 = 15.00; palpus: 2.10 + 1.10 + 1.10 + NA + 2.50 = 6.80. Leg formula 4123. Female genitalia (Forêt Marovato, MNHN, CASENT9006007): epigynal plate without depressed atrium, lateral lobes extending to sides forming earlike lobes (Figs. 71 A, 80 J), plate width 2.95 times length; width between bases of LL 0.55 times epigynum width; lateral ears wide, (LL side) width 0.19 times width epigynum, arising far from epigastric furrow, lateral ears (LL side) width 0.92 times LL side length; median lobe a flat plate with longitudinal, weakly convex median hoods, with copulatory openings beneath lateral hoods, close together, distance between copulatory openings 0.16 times epigynum width, CO origin at 0.475 of epigynum length. Vulva (Figs. 71 B, 80 J) with spermathecal ducts forming three loose, longitudinal loops, vulva length 0.54 times width, fertilization ducts well separated, vulva width 5.33 times distance between FD.

Variation. Male variation is unknown: only a single male is known. Female (N = 5): Total length 9.30–14.50; carapace length / width = 1.46–1.58, carapace height / width = 0.54-0.66, PER / carapace width = 0.46-0.48, PER / OAL = 2.91–3.26, PER / AER = 2.91–3.26, OAL / OQL = 1.07–1.21, OQP / OQA = 1.06–1.13, clypeus height / AME = 1.00–1.92, cheliceral length / clypeus height = 6.60–10.50, sternum length / width = 1.25–1.38, palpal coxa length / width = 2.00–2.56, femur I length / carapace width = 1.00–1.14, metatarsus I length / carapace width = 0.70–0.86, femur IV length / carapace width = 0.98–1.09, palpal tarsus length / carapace width = 0.44–0.61, palpal tibia length / palpal patella length = 1.75–2.27, palpal tarsus length / palpal tibia length = 1.56–2.27, palpal tibia length / palpal patella length = 1.00-1.20. Female genitalia as in Figs. 71 A, B, 80 J.

Material examined. MADAGASCAR: Province not specified [“ Madagascar E. ”]: F. de Ankaraoka, November 1946, J. Millot, (CASENT9006002, 1♀, MNHN); F. Marovato, November 1946, J. Millot (CASENT9006007, 1♀, MNHN), “ Sandragate (Battage) bord du torrent” 57 km Route d’Anosibe de Moramanga, September 1953, J. Millot, MNHN Paris (Paratype, CASENT9006006, 1♂, MNHN). Fianarantsoa Province: Ranomafana, ca. 21º12ʹS; 47º27ʹE, 19– 20 July 1992, V. and B. Roth (Paratype, CASENT9006004, 1♀, MCZ); Ranomafana N. P., township of Ranomafana, 5 March 1992, V. Roth (Paratype, CASENT9006003, 1♀, CAS). Toamasina Province: Périnet, 18º55ʹS; 48º25ʹE, 1-3 August 1992, V. and B. Roth (Holotype, CASENT9006008, 1♀), (Paratype, CASENT9006005, 1♀, CAS).

Natural history. Natural history data are few, but most collections of Uduba pseudoevanescens are from forested areas. At least one female was collected from an “… open tube, excavated in soil and rotting wood” (V. and B. Roth, label data) suggesting that these cribellate spiders dig burrows and use silk to line them.

Distribution. The species Uduba pseudoevanescens is distributed along the eastern side of the escarpment from Ranomafana in Fianarantsoa Province in the south to Ankaraoka in the north (Maps 4, 16 ). There is one case of sympatry with the closely related ecribellate species U. evanescens at Ranomafana: females of U. pseudoevanescens have been collected there on 5 March and 19–20 July 1992 by V. and B. Roth, whereas we have collections of U. evanescens from the Ranomafana area virtually throughout the year.