Zorodictyna almae Henrard, Griswold & Jocqué, 2024, sp. nov.

Zorodictyna almae sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 9F5FEFEF-155C-4C64-862B-3F6F67A52A01 Figs 22–23, 26 Zorodictyna sp. 1 – Polotow et al. 2015. Diagnosis Males of Zorodictyna almae sp. nov. are distinguished from Z. oswaldi (Lenz, 1891) by having a retrobasal cymbial extension (CE) that extends at least ¼ the length of the papal tibia and a thick retrobasal paracymbial process (PP) (Fig. 23B–C) (vs Z. oswaldi lacks the PP and has a very short CE; Griswold 1993: 19–21). It is distinguished from Z. silvadavilae sp. nov. in having the male palp with a nearly triangular basal embolic hook, the embolus lacking a crest, and a retromedian longitudinal ridge that extends for most of the tegulum length (Fig. 23A–C) (vs Z. silvadavilae has slender, crescentic basal embolic hook, the embolus with subapical distal crest, and the tegular retromedian longitudinal ridge that is weak, short, extending for less than one-half tegulum length, Fig. 25A–C). Females of Z. almae are distinguished from Z. oswaldi by lacking teeth on the lateral lobes (LL) of the epigyne (Fig. 23D) (vs Z. oswaldi has the LL with teeth; Griswold 1993: fig. 24); females of Z. almae are distinguished from Z. silvadavilae by having the lateral lobes of epigyne parallel and the median sector (MS) rectangular (Fig. 23D). The female endogyne has copulatory ducts (CD) larger than spermathecae (Fig. 23E) (vs in Z. silvadavilae, the LL are converging posteriorly, and the MS is triangular, Fig. 25D, and the endogyne has CD and spermathecae equal in size, Fig. 25E). Etymology The species name is a matronym in honor of Alma Saucedo Mejia, participant in the 2011 expedition that produced the female paratype (CASENT_9031271) that was a DNA voucher in Polotow et al. (2015) [DNA-DP-Lyc-voucher, Z-1, DP2014d]. She is also the discoverer of many Madagascar goblin spiders. Type material Holotype MADAGASCAR – Mahajunga Province • ♂; R. F. l’Ankarafantsika, 5 km SSW of Ampijaroa; 16°20.3′ S, 46°47.6′ E; 160 m a.s.l.; 4–7 Feb. 1997; S. Goodman leg.; CASENT_9082245; FMNH. Paratypes MADAGASCAR – Mahajunga Province • 1 ♀; same data as for holotype; CASENT_9082245; FMNH • 1 ♀; Ampijoroa, National Park Ankarafantsika, near Lake Ravelobe; 16°17.48′7″ S, 46°48.50′7″ E; 26–28 Jan. 2009; C. Griswold, A. Saucedo and H. Wood leg.; DNA-DP-Lyc-voucher, Zorodictyna sp. 1, in Polotow D., Carmichael A. & Griswold C.E. 2015; Z-1; DP2014d; CASENT_9031271; CAS • 1 ♀; Parc National d’Ankarafantsika, Forêt de Tsimaloto, 18.3 km 46° NE of Tsaramandroso; 16°3′41″ S, 46°8′37″ E; 135 m a.s.l.; 2–8 Apr. 2001; J.J. Rafanomezantsoa et al. leg.; general collecting, day, tropical dry forest; [epigyne illustrated by CEG]; CASENT_9002829; CAS. Other material examined MADAGASCAR – Mahajanga Province • 1 ♀; Ampijoroa, National Park Ankarafantsika, near Lake Ravelobe; 16°17.487′ S, 46°48.507′ E; 26–28 Jan. 2009; C. Griswold, A. Saucedo and H. Wood leg.; CASENT_9031270; CAS. Description Male holotype (CASENT_9082245; FMNH) MEASUREMENTS. Total length: 21.00. Carapace: length 12.00, width 9.80, height 5.70. COLORATION (Fig. 22A–B). Dorsal and lateral sides of cephalothorax, abdomen and legs unicolorous grey-brown, venter of sternum, mouthparts, coxae and trochanters yellow white. STERNUM (Fig. 22B). Oval with slightly sinuous margins; 4.50 wide, 5.60 long. CHILUM. 0.25 high, 0.85 wide. EYES. ALE 0.28; AME 0.28; PLE 0.35; PME 0.30; ALE–AME 0.13; AME–AME 0.70; PLE–PME 0.45; PME–PME 0.28; MOQ: AW 0.73, PW 0.83, L 0.80. CLYPEUS. With 18 long setae. LEGS. Trochanters deeply notched. Unpaired claws smooth, rudimentary on legs III and IV. Strong scopulae beneath all tarsi, apices of metatarsi III and IV, and apical halves of metatarsi I and II. Leg measurements FPTMttTotalI10.205.1011.5011.106.3044.20II11.005.009.709.805.0040.50III9.304.107.609.404.6035.00IV11.904.7010.9015.206.0048.70 Spination FPTMtIpl3d3rl2pl1rl1pl3d3rl3v2-2-2-2pl4rl4v2-2-3IIpl3d3rl3–pl2d3rl2v2-2-2-2pl3rl3v2-2-3IIIpl3d3rl3pl1rl1pl2d2rl2v2-2-2pl4d1rl4v2-2-2IVpl3d3rl3pl1rl1pl2d2rl2v2-2-2pl4rl4v1-1-1-2-3 MALE PALP (Fig. 23 A–C). Tibia VTA apical, curved and blunt-tipped, RTA triangular, sharply pointed, located behind this dorso-retrolateral excavation to accommodate retrobasal cymbial extension (CE); cymbium oval, apical extremity narrowly rounded, without dorsal patch of chemosensitive setae, with protruding retrolateral paracymbial process (PP), retrobasal cymbial extension (CE) conical, extending at least ¼ the length of papal tibia; subtegulum large, filling most of cymbial concavity and extending to prolateral cymbial margin, with probasal broad ridge (SL) that interlocks with tegulum; tegulum rounded with rectangular process on prolateral margin (TL), which interlocks with subtegular ridge; embolus (E) proapical, broad and thick, with pointed apex, inner margin with twisted longitudinal ridge and triangular basomedian process (EBP) arising from embolus base; median apophysis (MA) strongly sclerotized, short, hooked, curved prolaterad; conductor (C) hyaline, fan shaped, narrow at base; paraconductor (Pc) large, cradling inner margin of E and extending past E apex; retroventral surface of tegulum with deep longitudinal groove that extends for two thirds of tegulum length. Female paratype (CASENT_9082245; FMNH; except as otherwise indicated) MEASUREMENTS. Total length: 30.00. Carapace: length 14.00, width 11.30, height 4.40. COLOUR (Fig. 22C–D). As in male: dorsal and lateral surfaces of cephalothorax, abdomen and legs unicolorous grey-brown; venter of sternum, mouthparts, coxae and trochanters yellow white. STERNUM (Fig. 22D). Oval with slightly sinuous sides; 4.90 wide, 6.40 long. CHILUM. 0.25 high, 1.08 wide. EYES. ALE 0.33; AME 0.33; PLE 0.31; PME 0.29; ALE–AME 0.20; AME–AME 0.75; PLE–PME 0.55; PME–PME 0.35; MOQ: AW 0.78, PW 0.93, L 0.78. CLYPEUS. With ten long setae. LEGS. Trochanters deeply notched. Unpaired claws smooth, rudimentary on legs III and IV. Strong scopulae beneath all tarsi, apex of metatarsus III, apical half of metatarsus II and all of metatarsus I. Leg measurements FPTMttTotalI10.305.2011.5011.106.3044.20II9.504.907.206.803.8032.30III8.204.205.807.203.8029.20IV10.904.709.0012.604.8042.00 Spination FPTMtIpl1d2–v2-2-2-2v2-2-2IIpl2d2–v2-2-2-2v2-2-2IIIpl3d3rl4pl1rl1pl2d2rl2v2-2-2pl4d1rl4v2-2-2IVpl1d3rl3pl1rl1pl2d2rl2v2-2-2pl5rl4v2-1-2-2 GENITALIA. Epigyne (paratype CASENT_9002829; CAS) (Fig. 23D) transverse quadrangular median lobe (ML) plate with smooth margin; copulatory openings (CO) hidden beneath anterolateral corners of ML; lateral lobes (LL) convex, without lateral teeth or projections but with concavities along lateral margins of ML, LL straight and parallel medially, exposing rectangular area of median sector (MS). Endogyne (Fig. 23E) with broad, simple, dark copulatory ducts (CD) larger than spermathecae (S), spermathecae with one half twist; fertilization ducts (FD) short and straight. Variation Male Variation unknown: only the single holotype has been studied. Female (n = 3) [Female variation from CASENT_9082245, CASENT_9031270 and CASENT_9031271]. Total length = 20.00–30.00, carapace length/width = 1.24–1.30, carapace height/width = 0.39–0.48, PER/carapace width = 0.21–0.24, PER/OAL = 2.90–3.13, PER/AER = 1.35–1.36, OQP/OQA = 1.18–1.23, sternum length/width = 1.20–1.31, palpal coxa length/width = 2.24–2.44, femur I length/carapace width = 0.87– 1.00, metatarsus I length/carapace width = 0.64–0.74, femur IV length/carapace width = 0.96–1.06, palpal tarsus length/carapace width = 0.34–0.41, palpal tarsus length/palpal patella length = 1.46–2.00, palpal tarsus length/palpal tibia length = 1.09–1.57, palpal tarsus length/palpal femur length = 0.76–0.95, palpal tibia length/palpal patella length = 1.08–1.40. Note on synonym A specimen of this species (CASENT_9031271) was used as an exemplar in a previously published molecular phylogeny, listed as “ Zorodictyna sp. 1 ” by Polotow et al. (2015). Natural history The species Zorodictyna almae sp. nov. is recorded from tropical dry forest.Although they have an entire cribellum we know nothing of their use of cribellate silk. Distribution Zorodictyna almae sp. nov. is known from National Park Ankarafantsika in Mahajunga Province in northwestern Madagascar (Fig. 26).