Flexicrurum yangjiao Li & Li

Chang, Wan-Jin, Li, Fengyuan & Li, Shuqiang, 2019, On the genus Flexicrurum Tong & Li, 2007 (Araneae, Psilodercidae) from Hainan Island, China, ZooKeys 855, pp. 15-30 : 18-20

Flexicrurum yangjiao Li & Li sp. nov. Figs 3, 4, 8B, 9

Types.

Holotype: ♂ (IZCAS), China, Hainan Island, Changjiang City, Bawangling, Yajia Conference Centre, 19°5.1042'N, 109°7.4343'E, 433 m, 10.IV.2012, Chen Z. leg.; Paratypes: 1♂1♀ (IZCAS), same data as holotype.

Etymology.

The species name is a noun in apposition derived from the word for "goat horn" in Chinese pinyin “yángjiǎo”. It refers to the shape of the conductor which curves strongly inwards, like a goat horn.

Diagnosis.

Flexicrurum yangjiao sp. nov. can be distinguished from F. wuzhishanense sp. nov. and F. qishi sp. nov. by a posterolateral cymbial apophysis with a single tip or bulge (Fig. 4D) (vs a posterolateral cymbial apophysis with two bulges or protuberances (i.e., a divided tip) in F. wuzhishanense sp. nov. and F. qishi sp. nov.), a pointed embolic end (vs hook-liked embolic end in F. wuzhishanense sp. nov. and F. qishi sp. nov.), a shorter laminar apophysis (vs longer in F. wuzhishanense sp. nov. and F. qishi sp. nov.), and the position of the entire bulb is opposite that of the other two species—the laminar apophysis is parallel to the tip of cymbial protrusion (vs laminar apophysis and tip of cymbial protrusion not parallel in F. wuzhishanense sp. nov. and F. qishi sp. nov.).

Description.

Male (Holotype). Total length 2.08; carapace 0.80 long, 0.96 wide; abdomen 1.28 long, 0.64 wide. Carapace round and brown, with three longitudinal dark brown bands, the middle band 2 times wider than the lateral bands (Fig. 3C). Fovea shallow and dark brown. Anterior part of thoracic region distinctly elevated. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.08, ME 0.08, PLE 0.09; ALE–ALE 0.30, ME–ME 0.13, PLE–PLE 0.32, ALE–ME 0.16, PLE–ME 0.19, ALE–PLE 0.16. Chelicerae brown. Cheliceral promargin with lamina of three triangular extensions and no teeth, retromargin with two small teeth (Fig. 8B). Clypeus slanting 0.20 high, medially dark brown and two pale areas laterally. Endites dark brown. Labium slanting and dark brown. Sternum circular with brown complex pattern delimiting a 1/3 medial pale spot anteriorly. Abdomen elongated, dorsum anterior 2/3 with random dark brown spots, posterior 1/3 with horizontal dark brown striated pattern medially, ventrum anterior half with pair of lobed pale areas and a dome-shaped epigastric area, posterior half with random, irregular dark brown spots. Legs uniformly brown; measurements: I 9.50 (2.56, 0.32, 2.88, 2.65, 1.09), II 6.64 (2.00, 0.25, 1.75, 1.71, 0.93), III 5.05 (1.20, 0.23, 1.37, 1.50, 0.75), IV missing. Palp (Fig. 4 A–D): femur slender, swollen at the base, patella swollen and angled ventrally (Figs 3C, 4C), tibia swollen and dark distally, cymbium pale, darker distally, with strong lateral protrusion darker distally, bearing a posterolateral cymbial apophysis with a single bulge (Fig. 4D); bulb pale brown and pyriform, bearing a pointed laminar apophysis, a slender bulbal apophysis; conductor strongly spiralled forming a ring resembling a goat horn; embolus short and pointed, located below all other structures, further away from conductor (Fig. 4B).

Female (Paratype). General features and coloration similar to male (Fig. 3 D–E). Measurements: total length 2.18; carapace 0.80 long, 0.80 wide; abdomen 1.38 long, 0.80 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.08, ME 0.08, PLE 0.05; ALE–ALE 0.32, ME–ME 0.16, PLE–PLE 0.33, ALE–ME 0.13, PLE–ME 0.19, ALE–PLE 0.13. Clypeus 0.35 high. Leg measurements: I 7.34 (2.00, 0.25, 2.25, 1.75, 1.09), II missing, III 5.10 (1.28, 0.25, 1.75, 1.20, 0.62), IV 6.82 (1.71, 0.31, 2.00, 2.00, 0.80). Internal genitalia: a pair of ovoid ring-shaped spermathecae connected to bow-tie-shaped ducts divided by a pair of distinct vertical ducts, bearing a pair of droplet-shaped ducts laterally (Fig. 3A).

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 9).