Dendrolycosa sahyadriensis, Sudhin & Sen & Jäger, 2023

Sudhin, Puthoor Pattammal, Sen, Souvik & Jäger, Peter, 2023, Taxonomic notes on the nursery-web spider genus Dendrolycosa Doleschall, 1859 (Araneae: Pisauridae) from India, with the description of a new species, Zootaxa 5353 (1), pp. 67-74 : 68-71

Dendrolycosa sahyadriensis spec. nov.

Figs 1–3 , 5

Type material. Holotype J (NZC-ZSI-8212/18) from INDIA: Karnataka: Shimoga District, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary (13°42’18.9”N, 75°03’47.7”E, 605 m a.s.l., 07.12.2022, leg. P.P. Sudhin. Paratype: 1 ♀ (NZC-ZSI-8213/18), same data as for holotype.

Etymology. The species name is derived from ‘Sahyadri’, the vernacular name for Western Ghats, where the type was collected. The name is treated as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. The male copulatory organ of Dendrolycosa sahyadriensis spec. nov. is most similar to that of Dendrolycosa bairdi Jäger, 2011 in having a slender distal apophysis, with pointed tip retrolaterad and situated in 1:30- o’clock-position, triangular median apophysis with wide membranous base, and conductor and embolus in same position and with similar shape. It can be distinguished by the RTA narrower and without bent dorsal tip, conductor pointed apically, and tegular part extending prolaterally beyond cymbial margin situated at widest part of cymbium (cf. Figs 2B–C , 3A–B , with Jäger 2011: figs 84–85). The female genitalia of Dendrolycosa sahyadriensis spec. nov. is most similar to that of Dendrolycosa cruciata (Roewer, 1955) , from which it can be easily distinguished by the long and prominent spermathecal heads, which almost reach the anterior margin of the internal duct system (cf. Figs 2D–E , 3C–D , Jäger 2011: figs 30–31).

Notes. According to available illustrations of other Indian congeners, this new species is not conspecific with either of them. Although illustrations are poor, the large head of spermathecae and the palpal conformation cannot be seen in any of the two other species.

Description. Male (Holotype, NZC-ZSI-8212/18; Figs 1A–B , 2A–C , 3A–B ). Measurements: body length 9.12; prosoma length 3.84, width 3.08; opisthosoma length 5.02, width 2.47. Eye diameters: AME 0.15, ALE 0.18, PME 0.21, PLE 0.19. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.15, ALE–AME 0.61, PME–PME 0.13, PME–PLE 0.20. AME– PME 0.21, ALE–PME 0.33. clypeus at AME 0.13, at ALE 0.19. Chelicerae 1.18 long, with 3 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth. Measurements of palp and legs: Palp 4.18 [1.35, 0.51, 0.70, 1.62], leg I 17.03 [4.92, 1.50, 4.31, 4.30, 2.00], II 16.79 [4.90, 1.53, 4.19, 4.29, 1.88], III 13.55 [4.14, 1.22, 3.24, 3.50, 1.45], IV 17.14 [5.05, 1.36, 4.11, 4.71, 1.91]. Leg formula: 4123. Leg spination: femur I–III pl 4 rl 5 do 3, IV pl 4 rl 3 do 3; patella I–IV pl 1 rl 1 do 2; tibia I–II pl 2 rl 2 do 1 plv 4 rlv 4, III–IV pl 2 rl 2 do 2 plv 3 rlv 3; metatarsus I–II pl 1 rl 1 plv 3 rlv 3 v 1, III–IV pl 3 rl 3 plv 3 rlv 3 v 1; tarsus I–IV spineless. Carapace yellowish-brown, covered with short brown setae, with thin median white line and two thin lateral white lines, the lateral lines slightly undulating and almost reaching to the posterior end ( Fig. 1A ); cephalic region dorsally with a pair of short white longitudinal lines extending from behind PLE; margins with dark brown lines ( Fig. 1A ). Eye field brown, covered with grey setae. Clypeus light yellowish-brown, medially with two pairs of long, curved horn-like setae and laterally with pair of similar setae. Chelicerae light reddish-brown, frontal side densely covered with setae. Endites and labium light reddish-brown covered with dark setae ( Fig. 1B ). Sternum yellow, covered with long black setae ( Fig. 1B ). Dorsum of opisthosoma brown, with numerous pale yellowish speckles, anterior half with a pair of thin longitudinal white lines at the margins of the heart region, and posterior half with distinct median incision ( Fig. 1A ); opisthosoma laterally light yellow with dark brown brick line patterns. Venter dull yellow, sparsely covered with black setae ( Fig. 1B ). Spinnerets light brown, posterior spinnerets pale yellow ( Fig. 1B ). Legs light yellow, yellowish brown towards distal segments.

Palp as shown in Figs 2A–C , 3A–B : tegulum and cymbium yellowish brown, rest of segments pale yellow ( Figs 2A–C ); tibia with a few long spines and numerous long bristles ( Figs 2A–C , 3A–B ); RTA simple, stick-like, with blunt tip ( Figs 2C , 3B ); cymbium oval, densely covered with setae; distal apophysis slender, with pointed distal portion directed at 3 o’clock position in ventral view ( Figs 2B , 3A ); median apophysis basally broad, distally hook like, and pointed ( Figs 2B , 3A ); conductor long, broad, curved, and apically oriented ( Figs 2B–C , 3A–B ); embolus long, slender, curved and apically directed ( Figs 2B–C , 3A–B ).

Female (paratype; Figs 1C–D , 2D–E , 3C–D ). Measurements: body length 17.03; prosoma length 6.15, width 4.94; opisthosoma length 9.92, width 7.31. Eye diameters: AME 0.24, ALE 0.24, PME 0.27, PLE 0.26. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.25, ALE–AME 0.15, PME–PME 0.29, PME–PLE 0.35. AME–PME 0.38, ALE–PME 0.53. clypeus at AME 0.26, at ALE 0.37. Chelicerae 2.77 long, with 3 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth. Measurement of palp and legs: Palp 6.55 [2.16, 0.89, 1.27, 2.23], leg I 19.92 [5.95, 2.09, 4.89, 4.63, 2.36], II 19.05 [5.81, 1.98, 4.70, 4.71, 1.85], III 16.91 [5.09, 1.65, 4.00, 4.13, 2.04], IV 20.58 [6.13, 1.97, 4.84, 5.45, 2.19]. Leg formula: 4123. Leg spination: femur I–III pl 5 rl 5 do 3, IV pl 4 rl 3 do 3; patella I–IV pl 1 rl 1 do 2; tibia I–II pl 2 rl 2 plv 4 rlv 4, III–IV pl 2 rl 2 do 2 plv 3 rlv 3; metatarsus I–III pl 2 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 3 v 1, IV pl 3 rl 3 plv 3 rlv 3 v 1; tarsus I–IV spineless. Colouration as in male, except for the following: eye field dark-brown to black; chelicerae dark reddish-brown; endites and labium darker ( Fig. 2D ); opisthosoma with anterior white line slightly undulating, laterally greyish without any prominent markings ( Fig. 2C ); spinnerets reddish-brown.

Copulatory organs as shown in Figs 2D–E , 3C–D . Epigyne wider than long, densely covered with long creamcoloured setae, anterior borderline with two humps ( Figs 2D–E , 3C ); fine wrinkles in anterior region of epigyne ( Fig. 2D ); carina broad, separated, middle field with circular central depression, posteriorly broad ( Figs 2D , 3C ); lateral lobes prominent and broad ( Figs 2D , 3C ); internal duct system with large copulatory ducts ( Figs 2E , 3D ); head of spermathecae large, nearly rounded, reaching almost at the anterior region of internal duct system ( Figs 2E , 3D ); fertilization ducts long, anteriorly oriented ( Figs 2E , 3D ).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 5 ).

Habitat: Specimens were collected from shrubs in the riparian habitats of the Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka, India.

Figures

FIGURES 1A–D. Dendrolycosa sahyadriensis spec. nov. A. Male, dorsal view; B. Same, ventral view; C. Female, dorsal view; D. Same ventral view. Scale bars: A–B: 2mm. C–D: 5 mm.

FIGURES 2A–E. Dendrolycosa sahyadriensis spec. nov. A. Left male palp, prolateral view; B. Same, ventral view; C. Same, retrolateral view; D. Female epigyne, ventral view; E. Vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: A–E: 0.5mm.

FIGURES 3A–D. Dendrolycosa sahyadriensis spec. nov. A. Left male palp, ventral view; B. Same, retrolateral view; C. Female epigyne, ventral view; D. Vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: A–D: 0.5mm.

FIGURE 5. Collecting localities of Dendrolycosa species in India. Yellow circle indicating the type locality, yellow stars records identified as that species, but see comments in the text.