Opopaea rigidula, Tong, Yanfeng & Li, Shuqiang, 2015

Tong, Yanfeng & Li, Shuqiang, 2015, Six new species of the genus Opopaea Simon, 1891 from Xishuangbanna Rainforest, southwestern China (Araneae: Oonopidae), Zootaxa 3931 (1), pp. 41-62 : 51-55

Opopaea rigidula sp. nov.

( Figures 8–10 , 12 E, F, K, L)

Type material. Holotype: male ( IZCAS Ar-25051), China: Yunnan Province, Mengla County, Menglun Town, XTBG, secondary tropical seasonal moist forest (21º54.984′N, 101º16.982′E, Alt: 656 m), searching, 10–20 June 2007, leg. G. Zheng. Paratypes: 2 females, 4 males ( IZCAS Ar-25051), same data as holotype; 2 females, 2 males ( IZCAS Ar-25047), same data as holotype, pitfall traps, 1–15 July 2007; 2 females, 1 male ( IZCAS Ar-25050), same data as holotype, searching, 19–25 September 2006; 1 female, 1 male ( IZCAS Ar-25053), same data as holotype, searching, 19–25 October 2006; 1 female, 1 male ( IZCAS Ar-25055), same data as holotype, pitfall traps, 1–15 March 2007; 1 female, 1 male ( IZCAS Ar-25046), same data as holotype, searching, 19–25 September 2006; 2 females, 1 male ( IZCAS Ar-25056), same data as holotype, searching, 5–12 November 2006; 2 females, 2 males ( IZCAS Ar-25059), searching, primary tropical seasonal rainforest (21º57.669′N, 101º11.893′E, Alt: 790 m), 19–25 November 2006, leg. G. Zheng; 1 female, 1 male ( IZCAS Ar-25049), same data as above, pitfall traps, 16–31 November 2007; 1 female, 2 males ( IZCAS Ar-25052), same data as above, searching, 5–12 December 2006; 1 female, 1 male ( IZCAS Ar-25058), searching, rubber-tea plantation (21º55.551′N, 101º16.923′E, Alt: 561 m), 4–11 May 2007, leg. G. Zheng; 3 males ( IZCAS Ar-25057), same data as above, pitfall traps, 1–15 February 2007; 2 females, 2 males ( IZCAS Ar-25048), same data as above, pitfall traps, 1–15 June 2007; 1 female, 2 males ( IZCAS Ar-25054), same data as above, searching, 19–26 April 2007.

Etymology. The specific name means “rigid” in Latin, and refers to the strongly sclerotized posterior scutal ridge in female genital area; adjective.

Diagnosis. The males of the new species are similar to those of O. tumida Tong & Li, 2013 , but can be distinguished by the anterior end of endites with two small, sharply pointed projections ( Fig. 8 H) and the broad distal part of palpal bulb (compare Fig. 10 A, B and Tong & Li 2013b: Fig. 10 A, B); the females can be distinguished from the other congeneric species by the presence of the posterior scutal ridge (psr in Fig. 12 E, K) of genital area.

Description. Male (holotype). Yellowish brown species with yellow legs. Body length 1.53; carapace 0.61 long, 0.53 wide; abdomen 0.84 long, 0.57 wide. Habitus as in Fig. 8 A–C. Carapace: oval in dorsal view, sides with longitudinal streaks; dorsal area smooth with some hairs at lateral edges; pars cephalica slightly elevated in lateral view ( Fig. 8 E); lateral margin rebordered. Eyes: six, well developed, ALE largest, PLE smallest; posterior eye row straight from above, procurved from front; ALE separated by less than their radius, ALE-PLE separated by less than ALE radius, PME touching throughout most of their length, PLE-PME separated by less than PME radius. Clypeus margin unmodified; clypeus height about 1.5 times ALE diameter ( Fig. 8 G). Sternum longer than wide, uniform, fused to carapace; radial furrows present between coxae I-II, II-III, III-IV, with rows of small pits; surface smooth, without pits, microsculpture only in furrows ( Fig. 8 F). Anterior end of endites with two small, sharply pointed projections ( Fig. 8 F, H). Legs short, thick and spineless. Abdomen: dorsal scutum strongly sclerotized, punctate, covering full length of abdomen. Book lung covers large, ovoid, without setae. Pedicel tube short, ribbed, with small, dorsolateral, triangular extensions, scuto-pedicel region lower than diameter of pedicel, with nearly straight scutal ridges ( Fig. 8 I), scutum not extending far dorsal of pedicel. Sperm pore small, transverse; posterior spiracles connected by groove ( Fig. 8 J); posteriorly directed apodemes present. Palp ( Fig. 10 ): patella 0.29 long, 0.16 wide, attached to femur at 0.47; cymbium completely fused to bulb, no seam visible; bulb distal part broad, with a small apophysis (sap) in the retrolateral distal region.

Female. As in male except as noted. Habitus as in Fig. 9 A–C. Body length 1.72; carapace 0.68 long, 0.53 wide; abdomen 1.05 long, 0.65 wide. Endites without projections ( Fig. 9 F). Genitalia ( Fig. 12 E, F, K, L): in ventral view anterior scutal ridge (asr) of postgynum with small median knob (smk), between the asr and the groove connecting spiracles with a posterior scutal ridge (psr); paddle-like sclerite (pls) with thin straight arms bent at end; nail-like process (nlp) well separated; globular appendix (ga) small.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 8. Opopaea rigidula sp. nov., male. A – C. Habitus, dorsal, lateral and ventral views; D – G. Prosoma, dorsal, lateral, ventral and anterior views; H. Endites (arrows show the two projections); I, J. Abdomen, anterior and ventral views. Abbreviations: boc = booklung covers; dte = dorsolateral, triangular extensions; sr = scutal ridge. Scales: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 9. Opopaea rigidula sp. nov., female. A – C. Habitus, dorsal, lateral and ventral views; D – G. Prosoma, dorsal, lateral, ventral and anterior views; H, I. Abdomen, anterior and ventral views. Scales: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 10. Opopaea rigidula sp. nov., male. A, C. Palp, prolateral views; B, E. Same, retrolateral views; D. Distal part of palpal bulb, dorsal view. Abbreviations: sap = small apophysis. Scales: A, B, C, E = 0.1 mm; D = 0.05 mm.

FIGURE 12. Opopaea semilunata sp. nov. (A, B, G, H); Opopaea flabellata sp. nov. (C, D, I, J); Opopaea rigidula sp. nov. (E, F, K, L). A, C, E, G, I, K. Female genitalia, ventral views; B, D, F, H, J, L. Same, dorsal views; Abbreviations: apo = apodeme; asr = anterior scutal ridge; fse = fan-shaped extension; ga = globular appendix; lte = long median triangular extension; nlp = nail-like process; pd = postgynum depression; pls = paddle-like sclerite; psr = posterior scutal ridge; smk = small median knob. Scales: 0.1 mm.