Hermippus globosus, Sankaran, Pradeep M., Jobi, Malamel J., Joseph, Mathew M. & Sebastian, Pothalil A., 2014

Sankaran, Pradeep M., Jobi, Malamel J., Joseph, Mathew M. & Sebastian, Pothalil A., 2014, On the genus Hermippus Simon, 1893 (Araneae: Zodariidae, Zodariinae) in India with the description of three new species from the Western Ghats and proposing a new biogeographical hypothesis for the distribution of the genus, Zootaxa 3893 (1), pp. 114-126 : 116-117

Hermippus globosus sp. nov.

( Figs 1a–1 d, 2a–2b, 3, 4a–4b & 18)

Type material. Holotype: Female ( ADSH 1090130A): India, Kerala, Ernakulum, Cherukadu (10o08'22.48''N and 76o40'02.14''E) in Bhoothathankettu reserve forest (10o08'22.79''N and 76o40'02.09''E), 123 ft. alt., Pradeep M. S. leg. 0 6 November 2013, by hand.

Diagnosis. Females of H. globosus sp. nov. can be recognized by the presence of the less sclerotized, trapezoidal epigynal median septum (Figs 2a & 4a), the globular spermathecae with short, prolaterally placed spermathecal head (Figs 2b & 4b) and the characteristic dorsal opisthosomal pattern ( Figs 1a & 18 ).

Description. FEMALE (holotype, figs 1a–1d, 3 & 18): Carapace uniform coquelicot, shiny, finely granulated, almost glabrous. Fovea longitudinal, reddish. Eyefield black. Clypeus black, finely granulated. Chilum triangular, wider than long, dark brown. Chelicerae black, promargin with two teeth, retromargin without teeth or denticles. Labium and maxillae light brown; maxillae scopulated. Sternum yellowish-brown, posterior tip short, sharp, with poorly defined inter-coxal extensions. Opisthosoma oval, hairy, dorso-laterally black; dorsum provided with characteristic pattern of chalk-white patches ( Figs 1a & 18 ); lateral opisthosoma with narrow, longitudinal, roughly zig-zag chalk-white stripe; venter grayish with few chalk-white and black spots. Spinnerets yellowish; spigots large and conspicuous ( Fig 18 ). Posterior ventral spines (PVS) present, arranged in three rows (Fig 3). Legs yellowish to yellowish-brown; tarsi rebordered, with 5–8 short spines. Palpal segments yellowish-orange with dark brown tarsus. Body length 5.43. Prosoma length 2.68, prosoma width (at the middle) 2.14, prosoma thickness (at the middle) 1.76. Opisthosoma length 2.75, opisthosoma width (at the middle) 1.87, opisthosoma thickness (at the middle) 1.74. Eyes diameter: AME 0.19. ALE 0.18. PME 0.11. PLE 0.17. Eye interdistance: AME–AME 0.12. PME–PME 0.22. AME–ALE 0.27. PME–PLE 0.41. AME–PME 0.12. ALE–PLE 0.12. Clypeus height at AMEs 0.64, at ALEs 0.44. Chilum length 0.16, width 0.38. Chelicera length 1.13. Measurements of palp and legs. Palp 2.01 [0.60, 0.39, 0.27, 0.75], I 7.21 [1.86, 0.87, 1.52, 1.69, 1.27], II 7.34 [1.95, 0.85, 1.45, 1.81, 1.28], III 6.89 [1.81, 0.79, 1.36, 1.86, 1.07], IV 8.41 [2.01, 0.82, 1.63, 2.58, 1.37]. Leg formula: 4213. Spination. Palp. femur 0 200, patella 1010, tibia 3214, tarsus 4051; legs: femora I–II 0 400, III–IV 0500; patella I 0 0 0 0, II–III 1000, IV 1010; Tibia I 1006, II 2006, III 2136, IV 2235; metatarsi I–II 1017, III–IV 4047; Tarsus I 0 0 0 5, II 0 0 0 6, III–IV 0 0 0 8. Copulatory organ (Figs 2a–2b & 4a–4b): Epigyne simple and nearly triangular (Figs 2a & 4a). Posterior border line of epigyne straight medially, curved laterally ( Fig 4a ). Median septum broad, trapezoidal, with heavily sclerotized and pigmented lateral sides; the median part less chitinized, appears membranous. ( Fig 4a ). Spermathecae nearly globular with short, prolaterally placed spermathecal head, without definite copulatory duct (Figs 2b & 4b).

Male. Unknown.

Etymology. The specific epithet is an adjective and refers to the spherical internal duct system of female genitalia: L. Globosus = spherical. Gender masculine.

Natural history. H. globosus sp. nov. inhabits semi-deciduous forest.

Distribution. At present known only from the type locality in Kerala, Southern India.

Figures

FIGURES 1 a – 1 d, 2 a – 2 b & 3. Hermippus globosus sp. nov. 1 a Female (holotype) habitus, dorsal view; 1 b Female habitus, ventral view; 1 c Female habitus, prolateral view; 1 d Female, frontal view. 2 a Epigyne; 2 b Internal duct system. 3 Posterior ventral spines.

FIGURES 18, 19 & 20. Hermippus spp., Female opisthosoma showing the characteristic dorsal pattern. 18 H. globosus sp. nov. 19 H. inflexus sp. nov. 20 H. gavi sp. nov. Scale bars: 18, 0.47 mm; 19, 0.48 mm; 20, 0.53 mm.

FIGURES 4 a – 4 b. Hermippus globosus sp. nov. Female copulatory organ. 4 a Epigyne; 4 b Internal duct system. CO = Copulatory opening; FD = Fertilization duct; MS = Median septum; PB = Posterior border line of the epigyne; SH = Spermathecal head. Scale bars: 4 a, 0.13 mm; 4 b, 0.15 mm.