Oedothorax paralegrandi, Andrei V. Tanasevitch, 2016

Andrei V. Tanasevitch, 2016, A case of disjunct montane linyphiid species (Araneae) in the Palaeotropics, with notes on synonymy and the description of a new species, Revue suisse de Zoologie 123 (2), pp. 235-240 : 237-239

Oedothorax paralegrandi sp. nov.

Figs 2-13

Holotype: MHNG; male; INDIA, Himachal Pradesh, Dalhousie , 1950 m a.s.l., in soil; 20.X.1988, leg. S. Vit [ 27/88 ].

Paratypes: MHNG; 2 females collected together with the holotype. – MHNG; 2 females; Dalhousie, 1950 m a.s.l., in soil, 20.X.1988; S. Vit [26/88].

Diagnosis: The new species is very similar to the Afrotropical Oedothorax legrandi Jocqué, 1985 , known from the Comoros ( Jocqué, 1985), but differs clearly by the arrangement of numerous small tubercles on the male palpal tibia, as well as by the straight and narrow main body of the convector in the male. The female differs by the larger size of its receptacula.

Etymology: The species name refers to the close relationship between the new species and Oedothorax legrandi .

Description:

Male (holotype): Total length 1.98. Carapace 0.85 long, 0.70 wide, greyish dark brown, unmodified ( Figs 2-3 ). Eyes enlarged. Chelicerae 0.25 long, unmodified. Legs pale brown. Leg I 3.18 long (0.88+0.25+0.70+0.80+0.55), IV 3.42 long (0.90+0.25+0.87+0.90+0.50). Chaetotaxy 2.2.1.1, length of spines 1.5-2 diameters of segment. All metatarsi with a trichobothrium. TmI 0.58. Palp ( Figs 4-11 ): Palpal tibia short, with numerous small tubercles of different sizes. Paracymbium small, L-shaped, carrying short curved spines in distal part. Distal suprategular apophysis very short, rounded apically, with a pointed tooth-shaped apophysis. Convector narrow, elongated, almost straight, distal apophysis long, pointed apically, somewhat bent distad, forming a gutter embracing tip of embolus. Lateral extention of convector absent. Embolus with small, rounded radix and relatively long embolus. Abdomen 1.13 long, 0.83 wide, grey, with sparse hair cover.

Female: Total length 2.25. Carapace 1.00 long, 0.80 wide, unmodified, pale brown, with a narrow dark margin. Chelicerae 0.38 long, unmodified. Leg I 3.45 long (0.93+0.28+0.88+0.83+0.53), IV 3.74 long (1.03+0.28+0.98+0.95+0.50). TmI 0.58. Abdomen 1.25 long, 0.80 wide, with sparse hair cover. Epigyne ( Figs 12-13 ): ventral plate wide but narrow, seminal ducts thick, gradually expanding, making a loop and running into relatively large receptacula. Body and leg coloration, as well as chaetotaxy, as in male.

Taxonomic remarks: The new species is very similar to the only known Afrotropical congener, O. legrandi , described from the Comoro Islands ( Jocqué, 1985). Similarities are found in the unmodified carapace, as well as in all elements of the male palp, i.e., in the poorly modified palpal tibia carrying numerous small tubercles; in the same shape of the paracymbium bearing short, curved spines distally; in the shape of the distal apophysis of the convector acting as a sheath for the relatively long embolus proper.

Distribution: At present this species is only known from a single locality in the highlands of the Indian Himalayas.

Figures

Figs 2 - 13. Oedothorax paralegrandi sp. nov., male holotype (2 - 11) and female paratype (12 - 13). (2 - 3) Carapace, lateral and dorsal views, respectively. (4 - 5) Right palp, retro- and prolateral views, respectively. (6) Palpal tibia and paracymbium, proximalretrolateral view. (7 - 8) Palpal tibia, dorsal and prolateral views, respectively. (9) Distal suprategular apophysis. (10 - 11) Distal suprategular apophysis and embolic division, retro- and prolateral views, respectively. (12) Epigyne, ventral view. (13) Cleared epigyne, dorsal view.