Stenaelurillus belihuloya sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 6D137A2F-C833-4DFE-BFC7-0ECB2A7E3F02

Figs 79–86, 509

Diagnosis

The male of the new species is most similar with that of S. albus described recently from Western Ghats in India (cf. Sebastian et al. 2015: Figs 2 A–G, 8A–I), but can be readily distinguished from it by the different shape of the embolus and retrolateral tibial apophsyis, as well as by the body coloration: viz., the absence of a wide white transverse band at the anterior end of the dorsum, the less-pronounced white marginal band on the carapace, and the monochrome palp colour.

Etymology

The specific epithet is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality, the village Belihuloya in the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka.

Material examined

Holotype

SRI LANKA: ♂, Sabaragamuwa Prov., Ratnapura Distr., Belihuloya, 6°43′06.2″ N, 80°46′26.7″ E, 10– 14 Feb. 1969, F. Hill leg. (ZMTU).

Description

Male

Measurements: carapace 2.50 long, 1.75 wide and 1.13 high at PLE. Ocular area: 1.05 long, 1.50 wide anteriorly and 1.45 wide posteriorly. Diameter of AME 0.46. Clypeal height 0.19, chelicera length 0.57. Abdomen 2.25 long, 1.63 wide. Length of leg segments: I 1.20 + 0.60 + 0.73 + 0.50 + 0.50 (3.53); II 1.20 + 0.63 + 0.65 + 0.61 + 0.40 (3.49); III 1.75 + 0.95 + 1.08 +1.30 + 0.55 (5.63); IV 1.58 + 0.65 + 1.04 + 1.35 + 0.55 (5.17). Leg formula III,IV,I,II. Leg spination: I: Fm d 0-1-1-3; Tb pr 1-2, v 1-1-2ap; Mt pr 1-1ap, rt 1 ap, v 2-2ap. II: Fm d 0-1-0-4; Pt pr 0-1-0; Tb pr 1-1, v 1-1-2ap; Mt pr 1-1ap, rt 1ap, v 2-2ap. III: Fm d 0-1-1-3; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb pr and rt 1-1-1, v 1-0-2; Mt d 1-1, pr and rt 1-0-2ap, v 0-1-2ap. IV: Fm d 0-1-1-4; Pt pr and rt 0-1-0; Tb d 1-0, pr and rt 1-1, v 1-0-2ap; Mt d and pr 1-1- 2ap, rt 0-1-2ap. Coloration (in alcohol; Figs 84–86). Carapace brown, eye field dark brown, almost black; thorax with black radial patches and a wide white marginal band; clypeus densely covered with white hairs. Sternum, endites and labium yellow, tinged with brownish. Chelicerae brownish yellow. Abdomen: dorsum brown, with a large shiny scutum occupying the anterior half and with a pair of white round spots on its rear third; sides brownish yellow, covered with white scales; venter yellow. Book-lung covers and spinnerets yellow, gently brownish tinged. Legs I and II brown, legs III and IV brown with yellow (semi-rings), coxae III and IV completely yellow. Palps yellow, tinged with brown. Palpal structure as in Figs 79–83: VTA bulge-shaped; RTA short, hook-shaped, sharpened apically and directed anteriad; the cymbium with a visible cymbial ventral process (CLP); the tegulum small and elongated, with a finger-shaped tegular process (TP); the functional tegulum wide and elongated, with well-developed proximal (PP) and poorly-developed, obtuse distal (DP) projections; the embolus fingershaped, with a wide base that is fused with the apical edge of the functional tegulum.

Female

Unknown.

Distribution

The type locality only (Fig. 509).