Charippus asper Yu, Maddison & Zhang, sp. nov.

Figs 7–29

Type material. Holotype: ♂ (UBCZ; KYU-SAL300), MALAYSIA: Sarawak: Mulu N. P., Summit Trail near Camp 1, 4.0489– 4.0491°N, 114.8601– 114.8606°E, 270 m elev., 21 March 2012, leg. W.P. Maddison, E.K. Piascik & A. Ang, WPM#12-070 . Paratypes: 1♂ 1♀ (UBCZ; KYU-SAL301~ 302), same data as holotype .

Etymology. The specific epithet is from the Latin asper, referring to the rough embolic disc of male palp.

Diagnosis. Males morphologically resemble Charippus bukittimah sp. nov. in the shape of palp, but can be distinguished by the well-developed denticles on the embolic base, two main LEDs distally fused, the rough surface of embolic disc (Figs 18, 21) and by the relatively short RTA (Figs 19, 22); vs. the embolic base lacks denticles and the surface of embolic disc is relatively smooth in C. bukittimah sp. nov. . Females can be distinguished from C. bukittimah sp. nov. by the trajectory of copulatory ducts (Figs 23–28) and by the ratio of the distance between copulatory ducts to window width (about 2/ 3 in C. asper sp. nov. vs. about 1/ 2 in C. bukittimah sp. nov.).

Description. Male. Habitus as shown in Fig. 11. Carapace length 1.21; abdomen length 0.94. Measurements of eyes: AME 0.25, ALE 0.16, PME 0.04, PLE 0.15. Measurements of legs: I 1.87 (0.63, 0.28, 0.44, 0.29, 0.23), II 1.60 (0.53, 0.22, 0.36, 0.26, 0.23), III 1.83 (0.63, 0.21, 0.37, 0.35, 0.27), IV 1.78 (0.58, 0.24, 0.40, 0.34, 0.22). Chelicerae with fang-like projection distally; promargin with two teeth, retromargin with one bicuspid tooth. Palp (Figs 17–22): embolus coiled for more than a circle, bearing dense denticles at base; embolic disc large and rough, slightly sclerotized, slightly raised centrally; with two main serrulate-edged LED fused distally; tegulum not obviously sclerotized, tegular lobe present; retrolateral tibial apophysis straight, distal part slightly inner-hooked in ventral view; cymbium with retrolateral lamina-like extension. Sternum without setal tuft. Color in alcohol (Fig. 11): carapace reddish brown, cephalon slightly darker, dorsal abdomen pale yellow, with dark brown markings, not obviously sclerotized; ventral abdomen grayish brown; legs I–II slightly darker than legs III–IV.

Female. Habitus as shown in Figs 12, 13. Carapace length 1.12; abdomen length 1.11. Chelicerae (Fig. 16) as in males but without fang-like apophysis. Measurements of eyes: AME 0.27, ALE 0.17, PME 0.06, PLE 0.14. Measurements of legs: I 1.52 (0.47, 0.25, 0.36, 0.23, 0.21), II 1.44 (0.46, 0.23, 0.30, 0.24, 0.21), III 1.61 (0.56, 0.19, 0.29, 0.31, 0.26), IV 1.79 (0.55, 0.22, 0.37, 0.35, 0.30). Color in alcohol (Figs 12–13) as in male but slightly lighter. Sternum as in male. Epigynum (Figs 23–25, 27): window large, with sclerotized rims, median septum weakly present; lateral depressions small and shallow. Vulva (Figs 26, 28): CD long and coiled, swerving for eight times; AG small; spermathecae slightly bulging, almost kidney shaped, internally with many protrusions.

Distribution. Malaysia (Sarawak).