Ptocasius longapophysis, Yang & Peng, 2023

Yang, Su-Fang & Peng, Xian-Jin, 2023, A review of the Ptocasius Simon, 1885 spiders of Gaoligong Mountains, China (Araneae: Salticidae), European Journal of Taxonomy 903 (1), pp. 1-61 : 29-34

Ptocasius longapophysis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9D525100-B97A-4CD7-8383-FEB52FE4588A

Figs 21–23 , 42

Diagnosis

The male of the new species resembles that of P. pseudoflexus ( Liu, Yang & Peng, 2016) ( Liu et al. 2016: figs 13–17), but can be distinguished by: (1) tibial apophysis band-shaped, terminal end extending beyond anterior margin of genital bulb in ventral view ( Figs 21B–C , 23A–B ), while finger-shaped and retained below anterior margin of genital bulb in P. pseudoflexus ( Liu et al. 2016: figs 14–17). The female of the new species resembles that of P. pseudoflexus ( Liu et al. 2016: figs 19–24), but can be distinguished by: (1) pockets eyebrow-shaped, away from copulatory openings in ventral view ( Figs 22B , 23D ), while angular-shaped, close to copulatory openings in P. pseudoflexus ( Liu et al. 2016: figs 20, 22); (2) top margins of spermathecae close to copulatory openings in dorsal view ( Figs 22C , 23E ), while away from copulatory openings in P. pseudoflexus ( Liu et al. 2016: figs 21, 23).

Etymology

The specific name is derived from the Greek noun ‘ apophysis ’ (‘prominence’) in combination with the Latin adjective ‘ longus ’ (‘long’), referring to the long tibial apophysis.

Type material

Holotype

CHINA • ♂; Yunnan Province, Tengchong County, Houqiao Township, 2 km down the road from Guyong Forestry Station ; 25°23′44″ N, 98°18′44″ E; 2374 m a.s.l.; 27 May 2006; Xin-ping Wang and Peng Hu leg.; HNU-Wang060527–3A.

Paratypes (37 ♂♂, 9 ♀♀)

CHINA – Yunnan Province • 11 ♂♂, 6 ♀♀; same collection data as for holotype; HNU-Wang060527–3P • 1 ♂; Tengchong County, Old Pass , 28 km East of Tengchong; 24º57′00″ N, 98º45′00″ E; 2300 m a.s.l.; 26–31 Oct. 1998; Charles Griswold, David Kavanaugh and Chun-lin Long leg.; HNU-98–OP–1 • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Tengchong County, Houqiao Township, Danzha Forest Station , Zhaobitang Village , 25°32′16″ N, 98°12′33″ E; 2480 m a.s.l.; 29 May 2006; Xin-ping Wang and Peng Hu leg.; HNU-Wang060529–1 • 7 ♂♂; Baoshan City, Bawan Village, 40 km of the road Bawan to Tengchong ; 24º33′16″ N, 98º27′11″ E; 2320 m a.s.l.; 16 Oct. 2003; Guo Tang leg.; HNU-Tang031016 • 14 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Baoshan City, Bawan Village, Luoshuidong cave of Yakou , 41 km of the Road Bawan to Tengchong ; 24º33′44″ N, 98º27′04″ E; 2440 m a.s.l.; 15 Oct. 2003; Guo Tang leg.; HNU-Tang031015–2 • 2 ♂♂, 1 ♀; Baoshan City, Bawan Village, 41–42 km of the road Bawan to Tengchong ( Yakou ); 24º33′22″ N, 99º27′05″ E; 2416 m a.s.l.; 13 Oct. 2003; Guo Tang leg.; HNU-Tang031013 .

Description

Male (holotype)

BODY AND HEAD. Total length 4.34. Prosoma 2.18 long, 1.62 wide. Opisthosoma 2.33 long, 1.36 wide. Clypeus height 0.15. Carapace ( Fig. 21A ) brown, carapace margin and eyes base black; lateral area of carapace and median area of thoracic region yellowish brown; ocular area covered with dense hairs, anterior and lateral margins black, covered with long brown hairs. Fovea reddish brown and sulciform. Cervical groove indistinct, radial groove brown. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.40, ALE 0.20, PLE 0.20, AERW 1.35, PERW 1.20, EL 0.90. Sternum scutiform, yellowish brown, covered with short brown hairs; marginal areas brown. Clypeus dark brown. Endites and labium light yellow, distal area densely covered with grayish hairs.

CHELICERAE ( Fig. 23C ). Reddish brown, covered with white hairs, two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal denticle.

LEGS. Brown, sparsely covered with short brown hairs, bearing numerous short spines. Tibiae I and II with three pairs of long ventral spines, metatarsi I and II with two pairs of ventral spines.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. I = 4.20 (1.30, 1.60, 0.80, 0.50), II = 3.70 (1.20, 1.40, 0.60, 0.50), III = 4.10 (1.30, 1.40, 0.80, 0.60), IV = 4.50 (1.40, 1.60, 0.90, 0.60). Leg formula: IV–III–I–II.

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 21A ). Almost oval, dorsum yellowish brown, densely covered with white hairs and sparse brown hairs; each side with a discontinuous gray longitudinal band, mid-dorsally with two pairs of sigillae; the posterior median with two discontinuous herring bones; ventral yellow, covered with white hairs; the median area with a gray longitudinal band; ventral side with little black twills. Spinnerets dark brown, densely covered with long brown hairs.

PALP ( Figs 21B–C , 23A–B ). Longer than wide; embolus slender and sinuous, as long as the genital bulb, originates at about 10:00 o’clock position; genital bulb with membranous structure, the terminal area with a square genital lobe; tibial apophysis long, band-shaped, apex extending beyond genital bulb margin.

Female (paratypes)

BODY AND HEAD. Total length 4.55. Prosoma 1.92 long, 1.40 wide. Opisthosoma 2.62 long, 1.57 wide. Clypeus high 0.09. Carapace ( Fig. 22A ) yellowish white, sides yellowish brown; carapace margin and eyes base black; ocular area densely covered with hairs, anterior and lateral margins black, covered with long brown hairs. Fovea reddish brown and sulciform, covered with white hairs. Cervical groove indistinct, radial groove dark brown. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.37, ALE 0.17, PLE 0.20, AERW 0.90, PERW 1.00, EL 0.80. Sternum scutiform, yellowish brown, margin darker, densely covered with brown hairs. Clypeus dark brown. Endites and labium dark brown, covered with long brown hairs; distal area yellowish brown with dense grayish brown hairs.

CHELICERAE ( Fig. 23F ). Dark brown, covered with black hairs, distal area yellowish brown, two promarginal teeth and one retromarginal denticle.

LEGS. Yellowish brown, sparsely covered with long yellowish-brown hairs, bearing numerous short spines; tibiae I strong, dark brown, covered with long brown hairs. Tibiae I and II with three pairs of long ventral spines, metatarsi I and II with two pairs of ventral spines.

LEG MEASUREMENTS. I = 3.04 (0.93, 1.20, 0.50, 0.41), II = 2.81 (0.91, 1.07, 0.40, 0.43), III = 3.38 (1.12, 1.13, 0.62, 0.51), IV = 3.77 (1.29, 1.15, 0.78, 0.55). Leg formula: IV–III–I–II.

ABDOMEN ( Fig. 22A ). Oval, the posterior portion slightly pointed. Dorsum yellowish white, densely covered with white and sparse long brown hairs; margin sparsely covered with long brown hairs; the median area yellowish white, sparsely covered with brown dot spots; each side with a wide longitudinal band; the posterior inner with four inclined markings; the posterior median with four to five continuity herring bones. Ventral yellowish white, densely covered with white hairs; the median area with a grayish longitudinal band; sides with black twills. Spinnerets dark brown, densely covered with long brown hairs.

EPIGYNUM ( Figs 22B–C , 23D–E ). Longer than wide; the pockets eyebrow-shaped, away from copulatory openings; copulatory openings about arc-shaped; atrium about rectangular in dorsal view; spermathecae large, close to each other, the top margins of spermathecae close to copulatory openings.

Distribution

China (Yunnan Province, Fig. 42 ).

Figures

Fig. 21. Ptocasius longapophysis sp. nov., holotype, ♂ (HNU-Wang060527–3A). A. Body, dorsal view. B. Palp, ventral view. C. Palp, retrolateral view. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm; B–C = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 22. Ptocasius longapophysis sp. nov., paratype, ♀ (HNU-Wang060527–3P). A. Body, dorsal view. B. Epigynum, ventral view. C. Vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: A = 0.5 mm; B–C = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 23. Ptocasius longapophysis sp. nov. A–C. Holotype, ♂ (HNU-Wang060527–3A). D–F. Paratype, ♀ (HNU-Wang060527–3P). A. Palp, ventral view. B. Palp, retrolateral view. C. Chelicerae, posterior view. D. Epigynum, ventral view. E. Vulva, dorsal view. F. Chelicerae, posterior view. Scale bars = 0.1 mm.

Fig. 42. Distribution records of the species: P. circulus sp. nov. (▲), P. danzhu sp. nov. (•) and P. longapophysis (▇).