Protopalpus kurku, Tanasevitch, 2021

Tanasevitch, A. V., 2021, New taxa and faunistic data on linyphiid spiders (Araneae: Linyphiidae) from Southeast Asia, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 69, pp. 212-218 : 214

Protopalpus kurku , new species

( Figs. 1A–C , 2A–D )

Holotype. Male ( MHNG), THAILAND, Chiang Mai Province, Chomthong District , Doi Inthanon N.P., 2,530 m a.s.l., coll. P. Schwendinger, 23 February 1987.

Etymology. The species epithet is a noun in apposition, taken from the shape of the embolic division, which looks like the Nepalese knife “kurku”, see Fig. 2C .

Diagnosis. The new species is characterised by a large, flat, and wide embolic division, a peculiar shape of the embolus, and enlarged eyes.

Description. Male holotype. Total length 1.35. Carapace unmodified, 0.63 long, 0.47 wide, greyish brown, eyes enlarged as shown in Fig. 1A–C . Chelicerae unmodified, 0.26 long. Legs pale brown, each femur darkened from its base to middle. Leg I 1.56 long (0.45 + 0.15 + 0.36 + 0.30 + 0.30), IV 1.68 long (0.47 + 0.17 + 0.39 + 0.36 + 0.29). Chaetotaxy 1.1.1.1, spines 1–1.5 times as long as diameter of corresponding leg segment. TmI 0.35. Metatarsus IV without trichobothrium. Palp ( Fig. 2A–D ): Tibia with a thin, relatively long, dorso-retrolateral process slightly broadening distally. Paracymbium large, flat, poorly sclerotised, almost transparent. Its proximal and distal parts not separated by a notch. Embolic division large, radix flat, slightly bent at middle, continuous with embolus. Abdomen 0.78 long, 0.48 wide, grey (as shown in Fig. 1B, C ).

Taxonomic remarks. See above, under the generic diagnosis.

Distribution. Known only from Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, at 2,530 m a.s.l.

Figures

Fig. 1. Photographs of Protopalpus kurku, new species, male holotype (A–C); Cyphonetria flagellata, new species, male holotype (D, F, I) and female paratype (E, G, H, J). B–E, H, body; C–E, dorsal view; B, lateral view; H, ventral view; A, F, I, prosoma; A, G, I, frontal view; F, posterolateral view; J, epigyne, ventral view. Scale = 0.5 mm.

Fig. 2. Details of male palp structure of Protopalpus kurku, new species, male holotype. A–C, right palp, retrolateral, prolateral, and ventro-prolateral view, respectively; D, palpal tibia, dorsal view. Em = embolus; P = paracymbium; R = radix. Scale = 0.1 mm.