Rhaphidophora curvata sp. nov.

弯Ẇẍã

Figure 4

Description. Male. Body medium. Head and pronotum as other species of the genus. Legs. Fore coxae with 1 spine; femora with 1 short spine on internal margin; tibiae with 1 internal and 2 external spines ventrally, apices with 1 pair of spines on ventral surface. Middle femora with 1 pair of apical spines; tibiae dorsally with 1–3 internal and 1–2 external spines, ventral surface with 2 internal spines and 1 external spine, apices with 1 pair of spines on dorsal and ventral surfaces separately. Hind femora with 1 short internal spine; tibiae dorsally with 22–23 internal spines and 25 external spines, apices with 1 pair of dorsal and 2 pairs of ventral spines; basitarsi with 5 small spines and 1 large apical spine on dorsal surface along the midline (Fig. 4F).

Abdomen. Posterior margin of tenth abdominal tergite arched concave in middle.Epiproct prolonged downwards, dorsal surface with raised lateral carinae, between them concave, apical margin with 1 stout spine on each side, curving down and outward (Fig. 4J), its tip curving outwards (Fig. 4H); ventral surface sclerotized, prolonged into a small spine at apical area (Fig. 4J). Lateral margins of subgenital plate convex and after middle area gradually narrowing (Fig. 4L), ventral surface furrowed along the midline (Fig. 4K); apical area projecting, posterior margin faintly concave, the lateral lobes obtuse (Fig. 4L). Styli subcylindrical, inserted on subapical area of subgenital plate on ventral surface (Fig. 4L), apices obtuse.

Female. Unknown.

Coloration. Male body blackish brown, tergites darker.

Measurements (mm). BL: ♂ 14.3; PL: ♂ 2.0; FFL: ♂ 6.0; MFL: ♂ 6.0; HFL: ♂ 14.1; HTL: ♂ 12.1; HBL: ♂ 2.9.

Material examined. Holotype: male, Gandeng, Motuo, Xizang, July 18, 2024, coll. by Siyu Pang and Ting Luo.

Distribution. Xizang (Motuo).

Discussion. The new species differs from Rhaphidophora brevispinula Bian, Zhu & Shi, 2017 by: male epiproct with the lateral margins faintly raised in lateral view, the spines of dorsal surface curving outwards (Fig. 4I).

Etymology. The new species is named for the curved spines of male epiproct.