Belisana khanensis, Yao, Zhiyuan & Li, Shuqiang, 2013

Yao, Zhiyuan & Li, Shuqiang, 2013, New and little known pholcid spiders (Araneae: Pholcidae) from Laos, Zootaxa 3709 (1), pp. 1-51 : 16

Belisana khanensis sp. nov.

Figs 10–12 , 41

Type material. Holotype: Male ( IZCAS), Khan Cave [18°55.592′N, 102°23.718′E, alt. 270 m], 5.35 km west of Vieng keo Village, Vang Vieng District, Vien Tiane, Laos, 1 December 2012, leg. Z. Yao (Yao-LA 076–078). Paratype: 1 female ( IZCAS), same data as holotype.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the type locality; adjective.

Diagnosis. The species resembles B. sepaku ( Huber 2005a: 74, figs 432–436 and 444–448), but can be distinguished by absence of eyes ( Figs 11 E–F), protruding posterior of epigynum ( Figs 11 A and 12D), absence of transversal grooves on pockets ( Figs 11 A–B and 12D–E) and different position of pockets ( Figs 11 A–B and 12D– E).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 1.34 (1.40 with clypeus), prosoma 0.52 long, 0.58 wide, opisthosoma 0.82 long, 0.55 wide. Leg I: 14.28 (3.35 + 0.31 + 3.48 + 5.64 + 1.50), leg II: 11.00 (2.76 + 0.29 + 2.69 + 4.19 + 1.07), leg III: 7.96 (2.10 + 0.26 + 1.94 + 2.91 + 0.75), leg IV: 10.04 (2.75 + 0.28 + 2.50 + 3.75 + 0.76); tibia I L/d: 58. Habitus as in Fig. 11 E. Dorsal shield of prosoma and sternum whitish, without marks. Legs yellowish, but dark brown on patellae and tibia-metatarsus joints, without darker rings. Opisthosoma yellowish, without spots. Eyes absent. Ocular area not elevated. Thoracic furrow absent. Sternum about as wide as long (0.43). Chelicerae as in Figs 11 D and 12C, with a pair of thumb-shaped apophyses proximally and a pair of short, pointed apophyses distally (distance between tips: 0.08). Pedipalpi as in Figs 10 A–B and 12A–B; trochanter with a short retrolatero-ventral apophysis; femur with a dorsal apophysis; procursus simple proximally but complex distally, with a membranous flap retrolaterally and a bent spine; bulb with a hooked apophysis and a simple embolus. Retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia I at 15%; legs with short vertical hairs on metatarsi, without spines and curved hairs; tarsus I with about 11 distinct pseudosegments.

Variation: Unknown.

Female: Similar to male, habitus as in Figs 11 F–G. Total length 1.68 (1.76 with clypeus), prosoma 0.60 long, 0.63 wide, opisthosoma 1.08 long, 0.79 wide; tibia I: 3.72. Eyes absent. Epigynum ( Figs 11 A and 12D) simple, with a pair of pockets 6 Μm apart. Vulva ( Figs 11 B and 12E) with a ridge-shaped arch anteriorly and a pair of long, narrow pore plates.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 41 ).

Figures

FIGURE 10. Belisana khanensis sp. nov., male holotype. A – B. Pedipalpus (A. Prolateral view; B. Retrolateral view); C – D. Distal part of procursus (C. Prolateral view; D. Retrolateral view).

FIGURE 11. Belisana khanensis sp. nov., male holotype (C – E) and female paratype (A – B, F – G). A. Epigynum, ventral view; B. Vulva, dorsal view; C. Bulb, prolateral view; D. Chelicerae, frontal view; E – G. Habitus (E – F. Dorsal view; G. Ventral view).

FIGURE 12. Belisana khanensis sp. nov., male holotype (A – C) and female paratype (D – E). A – B. Pedipalpus (A. Prolateral view; B. Retrolateral view); C. Chelicerae, frontal view; D. Epigynum, ventral view; E. Vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.10 (A – C), 0.20 (D – E).

FIGURE 41. Known distribution of new species of Pholcidae from Laos. 1. Belisana champasakensis sp. nov.; 2. B. crystallina sp. nov.; 3. B. gigantea sp. nov.; 4. B. khanensis sp. nov.; 5. B. lancea sp. nov.; 6. B. martensi sp. nov.; 7. B. tadetuensis sp. nov.; 8. B. xiangensis sp. nov.; 9. Calapnita longa sp. nov.; 10. Khorata circularis sp. nov.; 11. K. dupla sp. nov.; 12. Pholcus arcuatilis sp. nov.; 13. P. sublaksao sp. nov.; 14. Spermophora falcata sp. nov.