Ctenus holthoffi, Jager, 2012

Jäger, Peter, 2012, Asian species of the genera Anahita Karsch 1879, Ctenus Walckenaer 1805 and Amauropelma Raven, Stumkat & Gray 2001 (Arachnida: Araneae: Ctenidae), Zootaxa 3429 (1), pp. 1-63 : 35-38

Ctenus holthoffi spec. nov.

Figs 39 , 146–162

hand, by night, P. Jäger & J. Martens leg. 16.III.2010. Paratypes: 1 female ( SMF) with same data as for holotype . 1 male ( SMF), with same data as for holotype, but: primary forest, dry leaf litter and soil, at day, sieving, 16.III.2010 . 1 male ( SMF), with same data as for holotype, but: coffee plantation and primary forest, 12.III.2010 . 1 female ( SMF), with same data as for holotype, but: 19.III.2010 .

Additional material examined. 1 male, 1 female ( SMF), Laos, Khammouan Province, Gnommalat District, 2.5 km WNW Ban Thatot, Tham Kamouk , N 17°37.897´, E 105°07.502´, ca. 200 m altitude, in front of cave, secondary forest, leaf litter between rocks, by hand, by sunset, P. Jäger leg. 30.IV.2012 .

Etymology. This species is named in honour of the former conductor of the Paderborn cathedral choir, Mr Theodor Holthoff, for his patience with a crowd of young boys and a good time especially when we played football in a special room of the cathedral; name in genitive case.

Diagnosis. Medium-sized Ctenidae (total length male 11.8, female 13.0–15.0). Distinguished from other Ctenus spp. by the modified leg coxae III and IV in males each with ventral hump and covered by small stout spines ( Figs 157–158 ), those on coxae III indistinct; moreover, palpal tibia provided with strong RTA curved inwards ( Fig. 147 ); tegulum with large longitudinally elongated central tegular apophysis ( Fig. 147 ). Females are recognised by their huge lateral teeth almost extending over the entire length of epigyne ( Figs 149–151 , 162 ) and their widely separated spermathecae (> two diameter of spermathecae) ( Fig. 152 ).

Description. Male (holotype). PL 6.3, PW 4.8, AW 2.4, OL 5.8, OW 3.5. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.30, ALE 0.19, PME 0.38, PLE 0.35, AME–AME 0.13, AME–ALE 0.31, PME–PME 0.22, PME–PLE 0.34, AME–PME 0.07, ALE–PLE 0.15, clypeus AME 0.13, clypeus ALE 0.50. Palp and leg measurements: palp 7.6 (2.8, 1.1, 1.5, -, 2.2), I 19.5 (5.2, 2.6, 5.2, 4.7, 1.8), II 17.6 (4.8, 2.6, 4.4, 4.3, 1.5), III 15.3 (4.2, 2.2, 3.5, 4.1, 1.3), IV 22.3 (5.5, 2.4, 5.3, 7.2, 1.9). Leg formula 4123. Spination of palp and legs: palp 141, 100, 1100; femora I p021, d111, r112, II p112, d111, r 112, III p1(0)12, d111, r112, IV p112, d111, r002; patellae 101; tibiae I p010, r110, v22222, II p010, r110, v22222, III p1(2)1, d111, r11, v222; IV p11, d111, r11, v222; metatarsi I–II p111, r111, v223, III p112, d010, r112, v222, IV p112, d010, r112, v2222. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal, 5 retromarginal teeth, and with elongated patch of several tiny denticles along entire cheliceral furrow. Retromargin of chelicerae close to fang base with 6 bristles. Sparse scopula on all tarsi and metatarsi I–III. Leg claw I and IV with 3 secondary teeth. Position of tarsal organ: I 0.88, II 0.85, III 0.78, IV 0.77.

Palp as in diagnosis ( Figs 146–138 ). RTA with relatively broad base, tip with scratches distally in retrolateral view. Cymbium tip slightly conical, retro-proximally widened and with small pocket. Embolus arising at 8 to 8.30- o’clock-position from tegulum, semicircular in ventral view, short with broad base, its tip slightly bifurcated and situated in distal half of tegulum. Conductor arising at 12-o’clock-position subdistally. Tegular apophysis arising at 6-o’clock-position from tegulum, distinctly excavated on dorsal side.

Colour ( Figs 154–158 ). Reddish-brown with dark pattern. Dorsal prosoma with distinct light median band consisting of white dense hairs, laterally with radial marble-like pattern; distinctly marked fovea partly hidden behind hairs. Sternum and ventral coxae reddish-brown without pattern; labium and gnathocoxae reddish-brown with grey and light distal parts. Chelicerae as dorsal prosoma with longitudinal lines in proximal half and with dark distal half. Legs reddish-brown with femora and hind legs darker; femora and partly other segments with white hairs dorsally; legs III + IV with distal tibia and metatarsi dark. Dorsal opisthosoma greyish-brown, with large light area and lateral dark patches in anterior half; posterior half with light median band and pairs of dark spots. Lateral opisthosoma without distinct pattern. Ventral opisthosoma dark with four posteriorly converging rows of white patches consisting of white hairs; epiandrium and muscle sigilla light. Anterior lateral spinnerets dark, posterior lateral and median spinnerets and anal tubercle light.

Female (paratype together with holotype). PL 6.1, PW 4.9, AW 3.2, OL 6.9, OW 4.3. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.31, ALE 0.28, PME 0.40, PLE 0.33, AME–AME 0.17, AME–ALE 0.39, PME–PME 0.22, PME–PLE 0.46, AME–PME 0.09, ALE–PLE 0.12, clypeus AME 0.15, clypeus ALE 0.56. Palp and leg measurements: palp 6.2 (2.2, 1.2, 1.3, -, 1.5), I 15.1 (4.3, 2.4, 3.8, 3.3, 1.3), II 14.4 (4.2, 2.3, 3.6, 3.1, 1.2), III 12.9 (3.9, 1.8, 2.9, 3.1, 1.2), IV 19.2 (5.1, 2.1, 4.6, 5.7, 1.7). Leg formula 4123. Spination of palp and legs: palp 131, 100, 1211, 1013; femora I p021, d111, r111, II p112, d111, r 111, III p112(1), d111, r 112, IV p1(0)12, d111, r002(1); patellae I–II 000, III–IV 101; tibiae I–II v22222, III–IV p11, d111, r11, v222; metatarsi I–II v222, III p112, d010, r112, v222, IV p112, d010, r112, v2122. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal, 5(4) retromarginal teeth, and with elongated patch of several tiny denticles along entire cheliceral furrow. Retromargin of chelicerae close to fang base with 6–7 thin bristles. Ventral tarsi and metatarsi I–II with sparse scopula. Leg claw I with 3 secondary teeth, leg claw IV with 5 (3 large and 2 small). Position of tarsal organ: I 0.84, II 0.79, III 0.66, IV 0.72.

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis ( Figs 149–153 , 162 ). Epigynal field anterio-laterally with two separate patches, close to the base of lateral teeth with two pairs of slit sense organs. Median plate roughly transverse oval, lateral teeth arising at anterior part and with small basal field of scratches. Epigyne rounded posteriorly. Internal duct system with rather short lateral folds diverging posteriorly. Transverse ovoid spermathecae directed towards each other, internally with a small chamber between spermathecae and fertilisation ducts, the latter pointing medially.

Colour ( Figs 159–161 ). As in male, but median dorsal opisthosomal band and bands on frontal chelicerae less distinct. Lateral and dorsal opisthosoma with additional dark spots.

Variation. Second female paratype: PL 7.0, OL 8.3. Epigyne larger and epigynal field fused with anterior patches ( Fig. 150 ). Only one pair of slit sense organs was recognised in the undissected epigyne. Colour was generally darker with a stronger contrast between light and dark parts.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 39 : 12).

Figures

FIGURE 39. Records of Ctenus spp. in South and Southeast Asia. 1 Between Chitre and Chandrung, Nepal. 2–5 Burma (2

FIGURES 146–153. Ctenus holthoffi spec. nov., from Tad Fane, Champasak, Laos (146–148 holotype male, 149–153 paratype females). 146–148 Left male palp (146 prolateral; 147 ventral; 148 retrolateral). 149–150 Epigyne, ventral; 151 Epigyne, posterior; 152 Vulva, dorsal; 153 Schematic course of duct system, dorsal.

FIGURES 154–162. Ctenus holthoffi spec. nov., from Tad Fane, Champasak, Laos (154–158 holotype male, 159–162 paratype female). 154–156, 159–161 Habitus (154, 159 dorsal; 155, 160 ventral; 156 lateral; 161 frontal). 157–158 Hump on