Sphingius bifurcatus, Dankittipakul, Pakawin, Tavano, Maria & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2011

Dankittipakul, Pakawin, Tavano, Maria & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2011, Neotype designation for Sphingius thecatus Thorell, 1890, synonymies, new records and descriptions of six new species from Southeast Asia (Araneae, Liocranidae), Zootaxa 3066, pp. 1-20 : 15

Sphingius bifurcatus sp. nov.

Figures 31–35

Type material. Holotype: ♂, THAILAND: Satun Province: Tarutao Island, sifting decomposing leaves in forests between wharf and national park headquarters, 1 September 2002, leg. P. Dankittipakul ( TNHM, PD571) . Paratypes: data as holotype, 2♂, 1♀ ( TNHM, PD572) . MALAYSIA: Kedah State: Langkawi Island, Mt. Raya, northeast side, 300–500 m, 29–30 December 2004, leg. A. Schulz, 2♂, 1♀ ( MHNG, AS- 04/28) ; 700–800 m, 31 August 2004, leg. A. Schulz, 1♂, 2♀ ( MHNG, AS-04/18) ; 700–800 m, 1–7 January 2005, leg. A. Schulz, 2♀ ( MHNG, AS- 04/29) .

Diagnosis. Males of S. bifurcatus sp. nov. can be easily distinguished by the bifurcated RTA on the male palp ( Fig. 32 ); females resemble those of S. elongatus sp. nov. in possessing the long, mid-longitudinally running insemination ducts but can be distinguished by the smaller epigynal atrium, the spatulate anterior bursae, and the spherical spermathecae instead of having large, rectangular epigynal atrium, spherical anterior bursae and digitiform spermathecae.

Etymology. The specific epithet, a nominative of an adjective, is derived from a combination of Latin words and refers to a RTA of the male palp dividing into two separated branches (bis = two; furcatus, -a, -um = elongate).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 3.68. Prosoma 1.76 long, 1.14 wide. Opisthosoma 1.92 long, 1.22 wide. Spination: femora I–III 1 d, IV 1-0d; tibia I–III 1 -0- 1 v, IV 1-1 -0v, 1-1r; metatarsi III–IV 1 pv, 1- 1v. Eye size and interdiatances: AME 1/2 d of ALE; PME 3/4 d of PLE; AME-AME their d apart; AME-ALE 1/3 d of AME; PME-PME 1/3 d of AME; PME-PLE 1/3 d of AME; PME-PLE 1/2 d of AME; ALE-PLE 3/4 d of AE. MOQ longer than wide, narrower in front than behind.

Prosoma dark brown; lateral margin smooth, posterior margin slightly excavated, strongly rebordered; carapace integument smooth. Fovea deep, longitudinal. Sternum orange-brown; integument finely punctated. Chelicerae, labium and gnathocoxae orange-brown. Legs yellowish brown.

Opisthosoma ovoid. Dorsal scutum occupying entire length of opisthosoma, orange-brown, slightly paler posteriorly, covered with fine, black pubescence. Epigastric scutum extending anteriorly, represent by groove collar. Ventral scutum smaller than dorsal one, tightly fused with epigastric scutum, posterirorly with group of bristles.

Palp ( Figs 31–33 ): RTA bifurcated, with two parallel prongs, ventral prong large, triangular, abruptly bent at its base; dorsal prong elongated, slender, sharply pointed. Embolus filiform, elongated; embolic base originating posterior medially. Conductor indistinct. Median apophysis transparent, protruding anteriorly, with sharply pointed apex, slightly elevated prolaterally, distinctly elevated retrolaterally.

Female (paratype, MHNG, AS-04/28): Total length 3.88. Prosoma 1.88 long, 1.20 wide. Opisthosoma 2.00 long, 1.28 wide. Spination: femora I–IV 1d; tibia I–III 1-0- 1 v, IV 1-1-2v, 1r; metatarsi III–IV 1pv, 1- 1v. Eye size and interdistances: AME 1/2 d of ALE; PME 1/2 d of PLE; AME-AME their d apart; AME-ALE 1/3 d of AME; PME-PME 1/2 d of AME; PME-PLE 1/3 d of AME; PME-PLE 1/2 d of AME; ALE-PLE 3/4 d of AE. MOQ longer than wide, narrower in front than behind.

General appearance as in male except prosoma slightly wider posteriorly; carapace and sternum smooth; dorsal and ventral scuta on opisthosoma absent; dorsum of opisthosoma dark greenish, with pale cardiac region, sparsely covered with black pubescence.

Genitalia (Figs 34–35): Epigynal plate weakly sclerotized. Atrium shallow, situated anteriorly, its anterior margin invaginated, posterior margin indistinct. Copulatory orifices situated on anterior lateral border of epigynal atrium. Insemination ducts long, curving anteriorly then descending in parallel mid-longitudinal axis. Anterior bursae spatulated, originating on subproximal portion of insemination ducts. Spermathecae ovoid, situated posteriorly. Fertilization ducts acicular-shaped.

Natural history. The types of S. bifurcatus sp. nov. were collected in evergreen lowland rainforest.

Distribution. Southern Thailand and Malaysia ( Fig. 40 ).

Figures

FIGURE 40. Map of some Sphingius species treated in the present study. ̻ S. thecatus Thorell; ● S. rama sp. nov.; ˔ S. elongatus sp. nov.; ․ S. spinosus sp. nov.; * S. superbus sp. nov.; ♢ S. bifurcatus sp. nov.; ♦ S. prolixus sp. nov.

FIGURES 31 – 35. Sphingius bifurcatus sp. nov., holotype male (31 – 33) and paratype female (34 – 35). 33 – 34 Left male palp, ventral (31) and retrolateral (32). 33 MA, proventral. 34 Epigyne, ventral. 35 Internal genitalia, dorsal.