Andromma ophiophagum sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 09CBE9C3-5143-4D0E-9197-B86CC8F8ABE0

Figs 30, 40

Diagnosis

The female of Andromma ophiophagum sp. nov. is characterized by the epigyne with transversely reniform copulatory openings surrounded by a sclerotised area and by the long copulatory ducts.

Etymology

The species name ophiophagum is an adjective referring to the king cobra, Ophiophagus hannah Cantor, 1836, because the spermatheca and the insemination duct together resemble a king cobra coming out of a basket.

Type material

Holotype

D.R. CONGO • ♀; North Kivu, Bulemba, Kivu, vallée de Bulemba, plaine de la Ruindi; 0°47′ S, 29°47′ E; 1100 m a.s.l.; 17 May 1972; M. Lejeune leg.; beating; RMCA _ARA _Ara 144686.

Paratypes

D.R. CONGO • 1 ♀; same collection data as for holotype • 1 ♀; North Kivu, Kaisola, Vallée de Kaisola, plaine de la Ruindi; 0°47′ N, 29°47′ E; 1100 m a.s.l.; 3 Jul. 1972; M. Lejeune; beating; RMCA _ARA _ Ara 144352.

Other material

BURUNDI • 1 ♀; Ruzizi, Plaine de la Ruzizi; 3°21′ S, 29°17′ E; Feb. 1967; S. Ndani leg.; RMCA_ ARA _Ara 131489.

Description

Female (holotype, Fig. 30)

MEASUREMENTS. Total length 5.75. Carapace length 2.13, width 1.92, height 0.78.

COLOUR (Fig. 30A–B). Carapace yellowish orange, paler towards the back; fovea reddish; chelicerae orange; endites yellowish orange, paler along median and anterior margins; labium orange, paler in distal half; sternum pale yellow with brownish margins and brown precoxal triangles; legs orange; abdomen dorsum pale grey, venter and spinnerets pale cream.

PROSOMA. Fovea: length 0.36, anterior end 1.14 from PME. MOQ length 0.30, anterior width 0.25, posterior width 0.30, AER straight from above, width 0.50, PER procurved from above, width 0.54. All eyes circular; AME 0.12, ALE 0.08, PLE 0.07, PME 0.05; AME–AME: 0.03, AME–ALE: touching, ALE–PLE: 0.16, PME–PME: 0.20. Clypeus vertical, 0.16, with four long setae. Chilum two poorly delimited sclerites, each 0.7 high, 0.16 wide. Sternum 1.42 long, 1.35 wide. Chelicerae: promargin with three teeth, the proximal one small; retromargin with one tiny tooth near fang base.

LEG I MEASUREMENTS. F: 2.13, P: 0.85, T: 1.70, Mt: 1.56, t: 0.99; total: 7.23.

LEG SPINATION. All femora with one dorsal spine; T I v 2-2-2-2; T II v 2-2-2-2; T III rl 1 v1-2; T IV pl 1 v 1-2; Mt I v 2-2-2; Mt II v 1-2; Mt III v 2-2; Mt IV v 1-2.

PALP. Female palpal tarsus slightly curved with well-developed scopula.

EPIGYNE (Fig. 30C–F). Roughly rectangular area, wider than long, with posterior margin slightly sinuous, central part concave; widely separated transverse reniform copulatory openings surrounded by sclerotised area. Copulatory ducts with three loose coils followed by a tightly coiled stretch running in retrolateral direction and ending in widely separated piriform spermathecae.

Male

Unknown.

Distribution

Known from the localities in eastern D.R. Congo (Fig. 40).