Maculoncus orientalis new species

Figs 1–6

Type material. Holotype: 3, Taiwan (R.O.C.): Taitung County, Road 20, km 173, 1200 m a.s.l., sugar cane litter, 13.IV.2009, leg. S. Vit [TAIW-09/25].

Paratypes. 1 3, same locality and date, together with holotype.

Etymology. The specific name is to emphasize the easternmost representative in the genus; adjective.

Diagnosis. The new species differs from the only known congener by the presence of the modified male palpal tibia and by having the anterior radical process in the embolic division divided into two branches.

Description. Male (paratype): Total length 1.63 (holotype 2.00). Carapace 0.75 long, 0.68 wide, reddishbrown, unmodified. Eyes rather large. Chelicerae 0.28 long, unmodified. Legs reddish-brown. Leg I, 2.24 long (0.63+0.23+0.55+0.48+0.35), IV, 2.19 long (0.63+0.20+0.55+0.48+0.33). Chaetotaxy 1.1.1.1, length of spines about 1.5–2 diameters of segment. TmI, 0.47 (holotype, 0.48). Metatarsi IV without trichobothrium. Palp (Figs 1– 6): Tibia elongated, narrowing before broadened apically. Paracymbium rather small, its proximal part much wider than apical one. Tegulum with a long and narrow protegulum. Distal suprategular apophysis flat, relatively short, shovel-shaped. Anterior radical process of embolic division complex, divided into two lobes directed forward. Embolus coiled, as a long, flat and narrow band. Opisthosoma 1.00 long, 0.83 wide, grey.

Female: unknown.

Taxonomic remarks. The leg tibial spination (1.1.1.1) and the structure of the embolic division, i.e. elongated radix having the anterior radical process, and the coiled embolus, of M. orientalis n. sp. is similar to that of both formerly monotypic Maculoncus Wunderlich, 1995 and Maso Simon, 1884 . From the representatives of Maso, the new species differs by the lack of a trichobothrium on metatarsi IV and the position of the trichobothrium on metatarsi I (in Maso, TmI>0.80), as well as by the lack of strong ventral spines on the tibia and metatarsi I–II. Because the female and/or other possible congeners are unknown, the taxonomic position of this species is unclear. The genus Maculoncus seems to fit best to encompass it.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality (see Fig. 29).