Flavonuncia mahaka, Abel & Pérez-González, 2025

Flavonuncia mahaka n. sp.

( Figs 10-14 View FIG View FIG ; 23C, H, M View FIG )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:497B2497-7BB3-4F63-8315-BB2E5B198D80

TYPE MATERIAL. — Holotype. Madagascar • ♂; Toliara, Parc National Andohahela, Col de Tanatana 33.3 km NW Tolagnaro;

Elev. 275 m; 24°45’31”S, 46°51’13”E; coll. B. L. Fisher et al.; 22-24. XI.2006; sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood) montane rainforest; collection code: BLF15100; CASTYPE 21650.

Paratypes. Madagascar • 5 ♂, 35 ♀; same data as for holotype; CASENT 9072050 • 1♂; SEM voucher; same data; MACN-Ar 46001 • 3♂, 3 ♀; same data; MACN-Ar 46002 .

ETYMOLOGY. — The species epithet, mahaka , is a trickster deity of Malagasy mythology. Noun in apposition.

COMPARATIVE DIAGNOSIS. — Differs from all known Flavonuncia species by the presence of three tubercles on the dorsal distal femur of the pedipalp and by the penis morphology showing a pair of high sclerotized processes on the ventral plate ( Fig. 14 View FIG ).

DISTRIBUTION ( Fig. 1 View FIG ). — Known only from the type locality.

DESCRIPTION

Male (holotype CASTYPE 21650)

Measurements. See Table 1.

Dorsum ( Figs 10A, C View FIG ; 11A, B View FIG ). Outline hourglass-shaped of Eta (η) type. Ocularium conical, eyes situated at ocularium midpoint. Mesotergal scutum without tubercles or apophyses, carapace smaller than mesotergum, mesotergal areas not cleared defined, areas I-II with 1-2 small setiferous granules, area III with five, area IV with eight, the posterior border with a row of c. 12 granules. Free tergites bearing a row of granules on each tergite.

Venter ( Figs 10E View FIG ; 11C, D View FIG ). Coxae ventral surface covered by setae; coxa I bearing 6-7 granules; almost all ventral surface covered by cerotegument, except by the proximal coxae II-III; proximal coxa II with three tubercles bearing basal setae, coxa III with three tubercles, two of those with basal seta; small bridge present, spiracles not visible.

Chelicerae ( Fig. 12A, B). Basicheliceritae bearing a small tubercle on dorsal distal surface, cheliceral hand bearing five small ectal tubercles with subdistal setae, three small mesal granules, and four mesal setae.

Pedipalps ( Fig. 12C, D). Trochanter with 2-3 ventral and 1-2 small dorsal tubercles, femur bearing a ventral row of small tubercles and three distal acute tubercles, mesal view with three remarkable tubercles, patella with five mesal tubercles, tibia ventral surface bearing sparse small tubercles, with a medial and 2-3 apical acute tubercles with subdistal setae, tarsus bearing four ectal and five mesal tubercles with setae.

Legs ( Fig. 12E, H). Astragalus longer than calcaneus. Tarsal count: 3-6-4-4.

A C D B E F G H

Genitalia ( Figs 13 View FIG ; 14 View FIG ; 23C, H, M View FIG ). Ventral plate bearing five macrosetae in the ventrolateral surface, apical part of the ventral plate acute composing two highly sclerotized processes ( Fig. 14 View FIG ). Capsula interna longer than the ventral plate, ventral view with a cleft separating the capsula interna into two halves, distal capsula interna with a complex structure ending in a thin free stylus visible in ventral view.

Female (CASENT 9072050) ( Fig. 10B, D, F View FIG ). Similar to male, showing dimorphism in body coloration, females having a dark brown opisthosoma, males yellowish with brown stripes. Pedipalps larger in males.