Thelcticopis zhengi, Liu, Jie, Li, Shuqiang & Jäger, Peter, 2010

Liu, Jie, Li, Shuqiang & Jäger, Peter, 2010, Huntsman spiders (Araneae: Sparassidae) from Xishuangbanna Rainforest, China, Zootaxa 2508, pp. 56-64 : 60-63

Thelcticopis zhengi sp. nov.

Figs 1–4

Type material: Holotype: male, CHINA: Yunnan Province: Xishuangbanna City, Mengla County, Menglun town, secondary tropical seasonal rain forest, N 21º55.428’, E 101º16.441’, Alt: 598 m, 10 June 2007, Guo Zheng leg. ( IZCAS).

Paratypes: 4 males, 9 females, same data as for holotype (3 males, 8 females IZCAS, 1 male, 1 female SMF); 4 males, 18 females, ditto, secondary tropical seasonal moist forest, N 21º54.718’, E 101º16.940’, Alt: 645 m, 8 June 2007, Guo Zheng leg. ( IZCAS); 2 females, ditto, rubber-tea plantation (about 20 years), N 21º55.551’, E 101º16.923’, Alt: 561 m, 24 April 2007, Guo Zheng leg. ( IZCAS).

Etymology. The specific name is dedicated to Dr. Guo Zheng (Beijing) for his great help on collecting the spiders in Xishuangbanna, noun (name) in genitive case.

Diagnosis. Small sized Sparianthinae. Belonging to the same species group as T. folia Jäger & Praxaysombath, 2009 and an undescribed species from Chiang Mai Province, North Thailand, due to their small size, colour pattern, occurrence in the leaf litter and the round median septum of females. Males can be recognised by the embolus covered by a prominent tegular apophysis and the shape of the two branches of the RTA, the dorsal one slightly bent and distally blunt, the retrolateral tapering and pointed in ventral view. Females can be recognised by the straight transversal anterior rim of the medium septum, the short internal ducts, extending only slightly beyond anterior end of medium septum and the blunt lateral hooks at posterior epigyne ( Figs 2–4 ).

Description. Male: Measurements (in mm): Prosoma length 2.45, prosoma width 2.05, anterior width of prosoma 0.95, prosoma height 1.25, opisthosoma length 2.75, opisthosoma width 1.50. Eyes: AME 0.13, ALE 0.10, PME 0.13, PLE 0.15, AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.04, PME–PME 0.13, PME–PLE 0.06, AME– PME 0.04, ALE–PLE 0, CH AME 0.075, CH ALE 0.05. Anterior eye row straight, posterior eye row procurved. Leg and palp measurements: Palp 2.90 (1.00, 0.50, 0.50, -, 0.90), I 6.90 (2.00, 0.90, 2.00, 1.50, 0.50), II 6.95 (2.00, 1.10, 1.85, 1.50, 0.50), III 6.15 (1.90, 0.80, 1.45, 1.50, 0.50), IV 7.15 (2.05, 0.60, 1.90, 1.90, 0.70). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Spination: Palp 0 31, 0 0 0, 0002; Femora I, III–IV 321, II 323; Patellae 000; Tibiae I–II 202(12), III–IV 2226; Metatarsi I–II 2014, III–IV 3134. Chelicerae with 3 large anterior teeth and 4 smaller posterior teeth. Trilobate membrane with median hook shorter than lateral projections.

Palp as in diagnosis. Embolus short and slightly curved, covered by a large apophysis arising from 9- o’clock-position on tegulum. Median tegulum apophysis present and curved distally. Conductor membranous, isolated from tegular projection. RTA developed, originating from the distal part of the tibia. Cymbium significantly longer than tibia ( Figs 2 , 3A–C , 4B–D ).

Colouration. Yellow brown with contrasting dark brown pattern. Dorsal prosoma with two paramedian bands and, continuously, darker margins in posterior half, as well as a pair of submarginal patches in anterior half. Dorsal opisthosoma with irregular patches and indistinct and short median chevrons in posterior half; ventral opisthosoma with patches especially in posterior half. Body covered by short hairs, some stronger setae medially, and tight, partly slightly flattened setae. Legs becoming slightly darker distally, sparsely covered by short hairs.

Female: Measurements (in mm): Prosoma length 2.25, prosoma width 1.95, anterior width of prosoma 1.00, prosoma height 1.40, opisthosoma length 2.50, opisthosoma width 1.65. Eyes: AME 0.11, ALE 0.08, PME 0.10, PLE 0.11, AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 0.13, PME–PLE 0.05, AME–PME 0.03, ALE–PLE 0, CH AME 0.08, CH ALE 0.06. Eye rows as in male. Leg and palp measurements: Palp 1.90 (0.65, 0.30, 0.45, 0.50, -), I 6.15 (1.80, 0.90, 1.75, 1.30, 0.40), II 6.15 (1.85, 0.85, 1.75, 1.25, 0.45), III 5.25 (1.70, 0.75, 1.20, 1.20, 0.40), IV 6.65 (1.95, 0.75, 1.60, 1.75, 0.60). Leg formula: II-I-IV-III. Spination: Palp 0 10, 0 0 0, 1211, 2010; Femora I–III 0 20, IV 121; Patellae 000; Tibiae I 000(14), II 0 0 0 8, III 0 0 0 6, IV 2126; Metatarsi I–II 0 0 0 4, III 2024, IV 3134. Chelicerae and trilobate membrane as in male.

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis. Median septum sub-circular, two lateral hooks present at the posterior margin of the lateral lobes. Copulatory ducts distinct, originating anteriorly. Spermathecae simple and widely separated. ( Figs 3D–E , 4F–G ).

Colouration as in male.

Distribution. China, Yunnan Prov.

Natural history. The present specimens were collected in pitfall traps and by direct search, this species may live on the forest floor or in the leaf litter.

Figures

FIGURE 1. The location of Menglun Natural Reserve of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture.

FIGURES 2 A – B. Thelcticopis zhengi sp. nov. A Left male palp, prolateral view; B Same, retrolateral view. Scale line: 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: Co — conductor; Em — embolus.

FIGURES 3 A – G. Thelcticopis zhengi sp. nov. A Left male palp, ventral view; B Embolus, ventral view (tegular apophysis removed); C Left male palp, dorsal view; D Epigyne, ventral view; E Vulva, dorsal view; F Trilobate membrane of left leg IV, dorsal view; G Male cheliceral dentition, ventral view. Scale lines: 0.2 mm. Abbreviations: CD — copulatory duct; FD — fertilisation duct; MA — median apophysis; MS — median septum; RTA — retrolateral apophysis; S — spermathecae.

FIGURES 4 A – G. Thelcticopis zhengi sp. nov. A Male habitus, dorsal view; B – D Left male palp (B prolateral, C ventral, D retrolateral); E Female habitus, dorsal view; F Epigyne, ventral view; G Vulva, dorsal view. Scale lines: A, E = 1.0 mm; B – D, F – G = 0.25 mm.