Pochytoides obstipa sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:173C9B4F-1596-4BEB-BE51-FE45B344E820

Figs 5–6

Etymology

The specific epithet is Latin for shrunken and refers to the short bulb.

Type material

Holotype

GUINEA: ♂, Mts Nimba, Seringbara, Isro forest, 593 m a.s.l., secondary forest, soil litter, 24 Feb. 2012, A. Hernard, C. Allard, P. Bimou and M. Sidibé leg. (MRAC 239 091).

Paratypes

GUINEA: 1 ♀, same locality as holotype, 24 Feb. 2012, A. Hernard et al. leg. (MRAC 239 249); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Mts Nimba, Oct.1951, M. Lamotte leg. (NHM); 2 ♀♀, Mts Nimba, Praira, 7°34′ N, 8°28′ W, 1600 m a.s.l., savanna with Andropogon, 20 Jun. 1942, M. Lamotte leg. (NHM); 1 ♀, Mts Nimba, bank of Véblo stream, 7°41′ N, 8°18′ W, 23 Dec. 1956, M. Lamotte leg. (NHM); 1 ♂, 1 ♀, Mts Nimba, Gbié, 469 m a.s.l., near river, in litter, sieving, 15 Mar. 2012, A. Hernard et al. leg. (MRAC 238 738B); 1 ♀, Mts Nimba, station de pompage Zié, 1250 m a.s.l., forest, litter under high grass, sieving, 11 Oct. 2011, Van den Spiegel and A. Hernard leg. (MRAC 237 989); 1 ♀, Mts Nimba, Freton, 572 m a.s.l., soil litter, sieving, 10 Mar. 2012, A. Hernard et al. leg. (MRAC 238 689).

Differential diagnosis

The male of P. obstipa sp. nov. is similar to that of P. monticola sp. nov., but can be distinguished by the shape of the embolic division, which is ribbon-like in the former species (Fig.5A) and serrated in the latter (Fig. 3A). The female is similar to that of P. poissoni comb. nov., sharing the epigyne with paired pockets placed at the level of the spermathecae, but can be distinguished from it by the shape of the shallow anterior depression which does not have a clearly marked anterior edge (Fig. 6A–D) as opposed to a distinct two-arched edge in P. poissoni comb. nov. (Fig. 10A–F).

Description

Male

DIMENSIONS. Cephalothorax: length 1.6–1.7, width 1.3–1.5, height 0.9–1.0. Eye field: length 0.8–0.9, anterior width 1.3–1.4, posterior width 1.1–1.2. Abdomen: length 1.3–1.4, width 1.0–1.2.

COLOUR AND BODY. Very small spider. Carapace light brown, eyes encircled by dark rings, some dark scales above anterior median eyes. Abdomen ovoid, bleached, beige greyish with traces of white chevrons. Body clothed in delicate colourless hairs, some white hairs on slopes of carapace. Legs dark yellow, bases and tips of their segments slightly darker, femora of first pair of legs brown.

GENITALIA. Palpal organ as in Fig. 5A–E, with short bulb, posterior lobe of the bulb wide, forming protruding prolateral rim. Embolic division curved toward prolateral side, ribbon like (Fig. 5F).

Female

DIMENSIONS. Cephalothorax: length 1.7–2.0, width 1.5–1.8, height 1.0–1.1. Eye field: length 0.9–1.1, anterior width 1.3–1.5, posterior width 1.1–1.4. Abdomen: length 1.6–2.3, width 1.3–1.7.

COLOUR AND BODY. Similar to male. A few whitish scales between anterior median eyes and anterior laterals, long light bristles beside anterior eyes. Some white hairs on slopes of carapace. Sternum yellow, mouthparts light brown. Abdomen greyish with median pale serrate band, lateral sides mottled. Spinnerets grey. First pair of legs light brown, others yellowish with brown sides of femora and darker rings on bases and tips of segments. Spines brown, leg hairs light. Pedipalp brown, its tarsus yellow.

GENITALIA. Epigyne with two pockets, usually clearly visible, and small groove anteriorly (Fig. 6A–D; each of the following figures show individual variation). Copulatory openings hidden in very deep atria, accessory glands connected to spermathecae (Fig. 6E–F).