Cesonia africana Lecigne & Ouakri sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: F7026DE1-81B6-4D50-9E98-D230AAC4FE3C

Figs 3–4, Table 2

Diagnosis

The new species resembles Cesonia aspida Chatzaki, 2002 in the conformation of the genitalia, but males can be distinguished by the hook-like RTA. The embolus is long, evenly tapered and curved outwards, consisting of a single branch, tip not bifid and the conductor lacks a sclerotized ventral tip. In C. aspida the RTA is claw-like, the embolus small and curved inwards and the slender side branch has a bifid tip. The conductor has a sclerotized ventral tip (cf. Fig. 3C–H and Chatzaki et al. 2002: 626, figs 63–65). The females of the two species differ in the relative position of the spermathecae. In C. africana Lecigne & Ouakri sp. nov., they are separated by about a third of their diameter, but in C. aspida by about 0.56 × of their diameter. The globular lobes are smaller than the spermathecae in C. africana but in C. aspida they are larger than the spermathecae (cf. Fig. 4C–F and Chatzaki et al. 2002: 626, figs 66–67). Moreover, the lateral heads are larger in the new species.

Finally, the two species can also be distinguished by the shape of the dark median band on the abdomen, which in C. africana Lecigne & Ouakri sp. nov. tapers towards the spinnerets but is expanded posteriorly in C. aspida and the two light dorsal strips which are not connected at the posterior end whereas connected at the posterior end in C. aspida (cf. Fig. 3A and Chatzaki et al. 2002: 627, fig. 68).

Etymology

We name these specimens of both sexes as the first representative of the genus Cesonia in Africa.

Type material

Holotype

MOROCCO – Agadir Ida-Outanane Prefecture • ♂ (left pedipalp detached); Agadir, Anza; 30.47808° N, 9.66300° W; 80 m a.s.l.; 22 Mar. 2025; S. Lecigne and N. Ouakri leg.; sparse Argan grove and Euphorbia L., on arid rocky ground, under stones; by hand; SMF, MOR _1677.

Paratypes

MOROCCO – Agadir Ida-Outanane Prefecture • 1 ♂ (abdomen and epigyne separated, abdomen lost); same data as for holotype; SMF, MOR _1677 • 1 ♀; same data as for holotype; 5 Jun. 2025; N. Ouakri leg.; SMF, MOR _1963.

Description

The specimens feature the characters listed by Chatzaki (2002: 626), i.e., dark longitudinal bands covering the entire length of the abdomen dorsally and laterally, separated by intervening light bands (see Fig. 3A compared with Chatzaki 2002: 627, fig. 68); PME closer to PLE than to each other; embolus close to the membranous conductor, protruding beyond the tegulum. We therefore assign these specimens to the genus Cesonia.

Male (holotype; Fig. 3)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 6.35; carapace length 2.83, width 2.35, CL/CW 1.20; scutum length 0.9.

COLOUR OF LIVE SPECIMEN (Fig. 3A). Carapace dorsally with three light and two dark longitudinal strips, the light median band joining the two light marginal bands posteriorly. Legs dark brown, covered with white hairs. Abdomen with two light dorsal strips not connected at posterior end, one median and two lateral longitudinal dark strips, one on each side.

COLOUR IN ETHANOL (Fig. 3B). Chelicerae brown, distal part paler. Sternum dark brown to brown. Legs dark brown except sides of Fe I, yellowish and all metatarsi and tarsi paler. Abdomen ventrally pale brown.

CARAPACE. PME closer to PLE than to each other. Chelicerae: outer cheliceral margin armed with three small teeth, increasing in size distally.

LEG SPINATION. Tibiae I–II, 3 pairs of ventral spines; metatarsi I–II, 1 pair of ventral, proximal spines, other segments with variable number of spines, more numerous on legs III–IV.

ABDOMEN. Anterior scutum occupying 27–28% of its length.

PALP (Fig. 3C–H). Tibial apophysis short, hook-like, supported by rounded protrusion (Fig. 3G, RTA). Subtegulum striated on its prolateral side, ending behind conductor in broad flat process, curved and pointed (Fig. 3H, St). Embolus fairly long, evenly tapered, slightly curved outwards, extending beyond edge of cymbium, at about 12 o’clock position. Conductor, membranous projection close to embolus.

Female (paratype; Fig. 4); as in male except as noted

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 6.33; carapace length 2.65, width 2.18, CL/CW 1.21.

COLOUR IN ETHANOL (Fig. 4B). Sternum brown, central area paler; chelicerae pale brown.

EPIGYNE / VULVA (Fig. 4C–F). Inner margins sclerotized, S-shaped (Fig. 4F, dotted arrows). Median part forming a translucent V-shaped plate reaching lateral margins (Fig. 4F, black arrow). Copulatory openings located laterally. Spermathecae rounded, separated by about ⅓ of their diameter, surmounted by two lateral heads and then by two globular lobes in contact with each other, inclined towards each other (Fig. 4G, L).

Variation

MEASUREMENTS. Male (n = 2): total length 5.40–6.35, carapace length 2.53–2.83, width 2.05–2.35, CL/ CW 1.20–1.23; scutum length 0.80–0.90.

Distribution and habitat

Only recorded from Morocco. To date, only known from a single station (Anza), in the coastal zone north of Agadir, in a xerothermophilic habitat facing west. It was recorded under stones, close to Euphorbia in an Argan grove.