Pelicinus tumpy n. sp.

Ranasinghe, U. G. S. L. & Benjamin, Suresh P., 2018, Taxonomic descriptions of nine new species of the goblin spider genera Cavisternum, Grymeus, Ischnothyreus, Opopaea, Pelicinus and Silhouettella (Araneae, Oonopidae) from Sri Lanka, Evolutionary Systematics 2 (1), pp. 65-80 : 69

Pelicinus tumpy n. sp. Figs 14 A–H, 15 A–D

Type material.

Male holotype from Sri Lanka, North Central Province, Anuradhapura District, Mihinthale FR, 08°21'10.60"N 80°30'14.54"E, 123m, litter; 06 July 2014; leg. N. Athukorala, C. I. Clayton (IFS_Oon_263) (ZFMK).

Paratype.

1 female; same locality data; (IFS_Oon_264). 1 male; same locality data, 14 June 2016, leg. N. Athukorala et al. (IFS_Oon_372) (ZFMK).

Diagnosis.

Males of Pelicinus tumpy n. sp. can be identified by the prolaterally curved embolus, with distally narrowed, bifid accessory structure and a conductor (Fig. 15B). Females can be identified by the short, convoluted posterior genitalic tube in between posterior spiracular groove and epigastric furrow (Fig. 15C).

Etymology.

This species is a noun in apposition named after “Tumpy” a little goblin in the story, The Goblins Looking-Glass by Blyton (1947).

Description.

Male: Total length 1.32 (Carapace, L: 0.60, W: 0.48. Abdomen, L: 0.72, W: 0.46). Coloration: carapace orange-yellow, sternum and mouthparts orange, abdominal scuta orange-yellow, abdominal inter scutal region white and covered with setae, legs pale orange, palps pale orange. Carapace pyriform in dorsal view, straight posteriorly, narrowed anteriorly (Fig. 14A), slightly elevated in lateral view (Fig. 14D), surface and sides finely lined, lateral margin without denticles (Fig. 14D). Clypeus straight in front view, slightly rebordered. Six eyes, well developed (Fig. 14E), PME largest, all oval, ALE separated by more than their diameter, ALE-PLE separated by less than ALE radius, PME touching throughout most of their length. Sternum as long as wide, radial furrows in between coxae absent, surface smooth, pits are evenly scattered (Fig. 14B). Chelicerae fangs straight, anterior face unmodified (Fig. 14E). Abdomen ovoid, with small rounded pits visible through dorsal scutum (Fig. 14H), cover full length of abdomen, no soft tissue visible from above. Postepigastric scutum long, rectangular, fused to epigastric scutum, without posteriorly directed lateral apodemes (Fig. 14G). Posterior spiracles connected by groove (Fig. 14G). booklung covers large, ovoid, pedicel tube short, unmodified, scuto-pedicel region unmodified (Fig. 14F). Spinnerets scutum absent. Legs spines absent. Genitalia: Sperm pore large, situated at level of anterior spiracular groove (Fig. 14G). Palp of normal size, not strongly sclerotized femur two or more times as long as trochanter, patellae shorter than femur, tibia with three trichobothria. Cymbium yellow, narrow in dorsal view, not fused with bulb, bulb yellow, same as long as cymbium, stout, tapering apically, embolus (em) curved prolaterally, flanked by distally narrowed, short skinny, bifid accessory structure (as) and short conductor (co) just below embolus (Figs 15A, B).

Female. Body length: 1.54 (Carapace, L: 0.54, W: 0.40. Abdomen, L: 1.00, W: 0.50). In general similar to males. Sternum longer than wide, postepigastric scutum with posteriorly directed lateral apodemes (lap). Genitalia: Short, convoluted posterior genitalic tube (pgt) in between posterior spiracular groove (psg) and epigastric furrow (ef). Paddle-like sclerite (psc) present on the anterior genital area (Fig. 15D).

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 21).