Nyctimus falcatus Benjamin & Dhiya’ulhaq sp. nov.

Fig. 4

Etymology.

The species epithet falcatus is derived from the Latin word falx / falcis, meaning “ sickle ” or “ scythe. ” It refers to the distinctly curved, sickle-shaped embolus of the male palp, a diagnostic feature of the species.

Type material.

Holotype. Thailand – Phang Nga Province • ♂; Khao Lak National Park; no more label data; RMNH RMNH.ARA.17861.

Diagnosis.

Males are very similar to N. saksang sp. nov., in having a similar sickle-shaped embolus, but they can be easily distinguished from it by the large, digitiform VTA, attached distally on the RTA (the corresponding part in N. saksang, sp. nov., is much smaller and attached medially on the ventral lobe of RTA; Fig. 4 B vs Figs 16 C, 17 A).

Description.

Male (holotype RMNH.ARA.17861; Fig. 4). Total length: 2.36. Prosoma length 1.23; width: 1.05. Opisthosoma length 1.13; width 1.02. Diameter of eyes: AME 0.08; ALE 0.15; PLE 0.14; PME 0.05. Interdistances between eyes: AME – AME 0.27; AME – ALE 0.08; ALE – ALE 0.59; PME – PME 026; PME – PLE 0.27; ALE – PLE 0.18; AME – PME 0.14; PLE – PLE 0.79. Prosoma cuboid, almost as long as wide, dark reddish brown; surface weakly granulated; laterally adorned with long macrosetae, each arising from a small tubercle. Chelicerae and sternum coloured as prosoma. Front legs brown; back legs brown except for the white femora III and IV. Opisthosoma round, light brown; dorsally covered with scutum; five large sigillae present, arranged in a triangular formation.

Palp (Fig. 4 B, C): cymbium oval. Embolus sickle-shaped. Tegulum round, with a small triangular projection next to the embolus; tegular hood small. RTA wide trapezoid; VTA large, digitiform, attached distally on the RTA.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution.

Only known from the type locality (Thailand: Phang Nga) (Fig. 19).

Remarks.

The specimen is partially damaged: both first legs are broken and incomplete, and the remaining legs are mostly missing or fragmented.