Patu dakou S. Li & Lin sp. nov.

Figures 2, 3, 23

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (NHMSU Ar 132) and paratypes 2♂ 7♀ (NHMSU Ar 133-141) China: Yunnan Province, Longling County, Zhen’an Township, Bangbie Village at stream at 6.8 km on S317 Road, shaded embankments along stream, dusting webs in understorey (24.81333°N, 98.83280°E; 1560 m alt.), 22.VIII.2018, Y. Lin et al. leg.; 1♂ (NHMSU-HA135) and 1♀ (NHMSU-HA135) used for sequencing, GenBank: MW970248 and MW970247, same data as for preceding.

Etymology.

Formed from the Chinese word ( dà kŏu), referring to the large copulatory opening of the epigyne (Fig. 3C and E); noun.

Diagnosis.

The new species differs from other congeners with the exception of P. nigeri by the embolus completely encased in the tegulum, the knob-shaped parmula and the proximal position of the copulatory ducts forming a pair of horn-like structures (Fig. 3A-F). The male of P. dakou sp. nov. is similar to that of P. nigeri, but it can be distinguished by the more basal position of the embolus (Fig. 3A and B vs. fig. 4A and B in Lin and Li 2009). The female is similar to that of P. nagarat sp. nov. in the configuration of the vulva, but it differs by the nearly adjacent spermathecae, the knob-shaped parmula and the fertilisation ducts originating from the anterior side of the spermathecae vs. separated spermathecae, a triangular parmula and the fertilisation ducts originating laterally on the spermathecae (Fig. 3D-F vs. Fig. 9D-F).

Description.

Male (NHMSU Ar 132). Total length 0.56. Carapace 0.28 long, 0.28 wide, 0.28 high. Clypeus 0.08 high. Sternum 0.20 long, 0.20 wide. Abdomen 0.36 long, 0.40 wide, 0.36 high. Length of legs: I 0.80 (0.20, 0.06, 0.24, 0.12, 0.18); II 0.64 (0.12, 0.06, 0.16, 0.14, 0.16); III 0.46 (0.12, 0.06, 0.10, 0.08, 0.10); IV 0.58 (0.16, 0.10, 0.12, 0.08, 0.12).

Somatic characters (Fig. 2A-C). Colouration: carapace dark grey, darker on thoracic margin and centre. Chelicerae, endites and labium black. Sternum black. Legs light brown, with black pigmentation. Abdomen charcoal grey, dorsally lighter than ventrally, with irregular light spots. Prosoma: carapace as long as wide, dorsally rounded, laterally conical. ALE protruded, PER straight. Chelicerae with an anterior small hump (Fig. 2B). Labium semi-lunar. Sternum flat, smooth. Legs: Each patella with a long disto-dorsal seta. Tibia II with 1 ventral clasping spine sub-distally. Opisthosoma: dorsally rounded, laterally oval, covered with long, sparse, black setae. Spinnerets apically pale grey.

Palp (Fig. 3A and B): large, ~ ½ size of carapace. Femur equal to 1.5 × width of patella, patella short, ca. half of tibial length, tibia flat. Cymbial distal extension with a few long setae. Bulb nearly ovoid, anteriorly flat. Tegulum broad, smooth. Embolus originates retrolaterally, entirely encased in tegulum, coiled into ca. 3 loops. Sperm duct convoluted throughout. Embolic tip looped at apex of bulb.

Female (NHMSU Ar 133). Total length 0.64. Carapace 0.28 long, 0.28 wide, 0.24 high. Clypeus 0.10 high. Sternum 0.20 long, 0.20 wide. Abdomen 0.48 long, 0.48 wide, 0.48 high. Length of legs: I 0.68 (0.16, 0.10, 0.14, 0.12, 0.16); II 0.60 (0.12, 0.10, 0.12, 0.12, 0.14); III 0.50 (0.12, 0.10, 0.08, 0.08, 0.12); IV 0.58 (0.18, 0.10, 0.08, 0.08, 0.14).

Somatic characters (Fig. 2D-F). Colouration: prosoma same as in male, opisthosoma light, ventrally darker than dorsally, post-gaster region and area around spinnerets black. Prosoma: carapace round. Cephalic region lower than in male. PER slightly procurved. Mouthparts and sternum as in male, except longer labium. Legs: as in male. Opisthosoma: dorsally rounded, laterally ovate, covered with sparse, long, black setae. Spinnerets dark grey.

Epigyne (Fig. 3C-F): internal structures faintly visible via cuticle. Parmula knob-shaped, protruded, distally sclerotised. Copulatory opening large, oval. Copulatory duct arising from the ventral base of parmula, its proximal part forming a pair of sclerotised, broad, horn-like structures at both sides of spermathecae. Spermathecae shorter than width of copulatory opening, claviform, nearly touching. Fertilisation ducts start at the anterolateral margin of spermathecae and curve downwards to centre of vulva.

Distribution.

China (Yunnan) (Fig. 23).