Opopaea auriforma, 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 : 42-45

Opopaea auriforma sp. nov.

( Figures 1–3 )

Type material. Holotype: male ( IZCAS Ar-25004), China: Yunnan Province, Mengla County, Menglun Town, XTBG, Paramichelia baillonii plantation (21º54.772′N, 101º16.043′E, Alt: 556 m), pitfall traps, 1–15 June 2007, leg. G. Zheng. Paratypes: 1 female ( IZCAS Ar-25003), same data as holotype, pitfall traps, 16–24 November 2006; 1 male ( IZCAS Ar-25001), same data as holotype, pitfall traps, 16–31 May 2007; 1 male ( IZCAS Ar-25002), same data as holotype, pitfall traps, 16–24 October 2006; 1 female ( IZCAS Ar-25000), same data as holotype; 2 females ( IZCAS Ar-25005), same data as holotype, pitfall traps, 16–24 November 2006; 1 female ( IZCAS Ar- 25006), same data as holotype, searching, 19–26 April 2007; 1 female ( IZCAS Ar-25007), same data as holotype, searching, 19–26 May 2007.

Etymology. The specific name is Latin, meaning ear-shaped, referring to the shape of distal part of male palpal bulb; adjective.

Diagnosis. The males of the new species are similar to those of O. sanya Tong & Li, 2010 , but can be distinguished by the ear-shaped distal part of male palpal bulb ( Figs 1 H, I, 3A–C); the females are distinguished from the other congeneric species by the presnece of the narrow anterior scutal ridge (asr in Figs 2 G, 3D) of female genital area.

Description. Male (holotype). Yellow, small sized species. Body length 1.23; carapace 0.51 long, 0.43 wide; abdomen 0.69 long, 0.38 wide. Carapace ( Fig. 1 A, B): oval in dorsal view; sides with longitudinal streaks; dorsal area smooth with some hairs at lateral edges; pars cephalica flat in lateral view; lateral margin rebordered. Eyes: six, well developed, ALE and PME nearly equal sized, 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 1.2 times ALE diameter ( Fig. 1 D). Sternum ( Fig. 1 C) 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. Anterior end of endites with a small, sharply pointed projection. 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, without small, dorsolateral, triangular extensions, scuto-pedicel region lower than diameter of pedicel, with nearly straight scutal ridges ( Fig. 1 G), scutum not extending far dorsal of pedicel. Sperm pore small, transverse; posterior spiracles connected by groove ( Fig. 1 E); posteriorly directed apodemes present. Palp ( Figs 1 H, I, 3A–C): patella 0.26 long, 0.12 wide, attached to femur at 0.43; cymbium completely fused to bulb, no seam visible; bulb short, slightly bulging ventrally, distal part ear-shaped, with a small outgrowth (smo).

Female. As in male except as noted. Habitus as in Fig. 2 A–D. Body length 1.45; carapace 0.59 long, 0.45 wide; abdomen 0.86 long, 0.49 wide ( Fig. 2 E, F). Endites without projections. Genitalia ( Figs 2 G, H, 3D, E): in the middle of the epigastric furrow there is a dark, chestnut-shaped spot (dcs); postgynum depression semicircleshaped, medially with a large orifice (ori); anterior scutal ridge (asr) narrow, with the base bean-shaped, ending at the postgynum depression; in dorsal view without paddle-like sclerite, chestnut-shaped structure with narrow slit (ns).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Opopaea auriforma sp. nov., male. A – D. Prosoma, dorsal, lateral, ventral and anterior views; E – G. Abdomen, ventral, lateral and anterior views; H, I. Left palp, prolateral and retrolateral views. Scales: A – G = 0.2 mm; H, I = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 2. Opopaea auriforma sp. nov., female. A – D. Prosoma, dorsal, lateral, ventral and anterior views; E, F. Abdomen, anterior and ventral views; G, H. Genitalia, ventral and dorsal views. Abbreviations: boc = booklung covers; sr = scutal ridge. Scales: A – F = 0.2 mm; G, H = 0.1 mm.

FIGURE 3. Opopaea auriforma sp. nov. A. Male left palp, prolateral view; B. Same, retrolateral view; C. Distal part of male palpal bulb, dorsal view; D. Female genitalia, ventral view; E. Same, dorsal view. Abbreviations: apo = apodeme; asr = anterior scutal ridge; bs = bean-shaped structure; dcs = dark, chestnut-shaped spot; ns = narrow slit; ori = orifice; pd = postgynum depression; smo = small outgrowth. Scales: A, B, D, E = 0.1 mm; C = 0.05 mm.