Cydrela pristina, Jocqué, 2006

Jocqué, Pakawin Dankittipakul Rudy, 2006, Two New Species Of Cydrela Thorell (Araneae: Zodariidae) From Thailand, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 54 (1), pp. 93-101 : 94-97

Cydrela pristina , new species

( Figs. 1–12 , 14–22 )

Type material. – HOLOTYPE: Male (MHNG) THAILAND, Chiang Mai Province, Chomthong District, Doi [northern Thai, Doi = Mt.] Inthanon National Park , Doi Inthanon , Kew Mae Pan , 2,000–2,100 m, pitfall trapping, coll. S. Sonthichai & P. Dankittipakul, 25 Mar. –22 Apr.2000.

PARATYPES: 1 female (MHNG), 2,450 m, near the summit of Doi Inthanon , pitfall trapping, coll. S. Sonthichai & P. Dankittipakul, 25 Dec.1999 – 23 Jan.2000 ; 1 female (MHNG), 2,250 m, leaf litter sifting, coll. S. Sonthichai & P. Dankittipakul, 15 Jan.2000; 5 females (MHNG, PDC ZO–00159/60), 2,540 m, leaf litter sifting, coll. P. Dankittipakul, 4–7 Jul.2002; 1 male (MHNG TH–00/03), 2,500 m, leaf litter sifting, coll. P. J. Schwendinger, 28 Oct.2000; 1 female (KBIN), 1,630 m, coll. P. J. Schwendinger, 25 Feb.1986; 3 females (MHNG), 1,650 –1,680 m, leaf litter sifting, coll. T. Chami-Kranon & A. Hasalem, 12 Jan.2005.

Diagnosis. – The male of C. pristina , new species can be distinguished from other members of the genus Cydrela by the bifid tibial apophysis ( Figs. 9 , 20 ), the lightly sclerotized conductor ( Figs. 17, 20 ) on the retrolateral side of the membranous tegulum ( Fig. 17 ) and the elongate embolus ( Figs. 17, 19 ). Females can be recognized by the presence of a median septum and a hood on the epigyne ( Figs. 10 , 21 ), the small, anteriorly located copulatory orifices ( Figs. 10 , 21 ) and the strongly sclerotized spermathecae ( Fig. 22 ).

Etymology. – The species name is a Latin adjective meaning “of former times” referring to the pristine forests the specimens were found in.

Description. – Male (holotype). Total length 6.97. Carapace 3.61 long, 2.32 wide. Abdomen 3.35 long.

Prosoma ( Fig. 11 ) longly oval, widest between coxae II and III, narrowed in front. Profile with raised cephalic area and slightly dip near fovea ( Fig. 16 ); highest point between PME and deep fovea. Tegument smooth. Carapace light brown, silvery hairs present on cervical groove and ocular area. Legs dark green, posterior legs with numerous strong spines.

Eyes small, in three rows (2–2–4) ( Figs. 11 , 15 ); AER strongly procurved, ALE located in front of AME; PER slightly recurved, much wider than anterior one; all eyes circular; AME dark, remainder pale; AME the smallest, hardly larger than other six, which are subequal; AME their diameter apart, about their diameter from ALE; PME more than their diameter apart, at about 4–5 times that distance from PLE. MOQ longer than wide, about 1.0-1.4 times anterior width, and much wider behind than in front. Clypeus high, 5.2 to 5.8 times diameter of ALE, vertical. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.04, ALE 0.08, PME 0.09, PLE 0.08; AME–AME 0.06, AME– ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.07, PME–PLE 0.20, ALE–PLE 0.30; MOQ 0.34 long, front width 0.14, back width 0.30. Clypeus 0.46 high.

Chilum poorly developed, represented by lightly chitinized area, without hairs; double, poorly delimited. Chelicerae ( Figs. 15, 16 ) strong, rather long; with relatively large lateral condyle; anterior surface densely haired, with pale promesal patch and retromesal gland ( Fig. 7 ); no teeth present; fangs relatively long with thick base. Maxillae ( Fig. 14 ) slightly swollen at base; rather broad, with anteromesal scopulae. Labium ( Fig. 14 ) roughly triangular, with narrowed base. Sternum ( Fig. 14 ) roughly triangular, almost straight anterior margin with small indentation on either side of center; slightly longer than wide. Precoxal sclerite small, lightly sclerotized.

Leg formula 4123 (8.77, 7.70, 6.87, 6.71). Leg measurements: femora: I 2.05, II 1.95, III 1.88, IV 2.30; patellae: I 0.91, II 0.94, III 0.90, IV 1.06; tibiae: I 1.80, II 1.40, III 1.20, IV 1.60; metatarsi: I 1.56, II 1.48, III 1.74, IV 2.40; tarsi: I 1.38, II 1.10, III 0.99, IV 1.41. Spination: spines usually few and short on legs I and II, more numerous long, slender spines on legs III and IV. Hinged hairs present. Metatarsal preening bush present on leg III. Trichobothria in 2 rows on tibiae, in 1 row on metatarsi and tarsi. Scopulae rarely present, mostly absent or spiniform. Pair tarsal claws with 8 teeth.

Spination: femora I d1–1–1 pl1 II d1–1–1 pl1 rl1 III d1–1– 1 pl2 rl2 IV d1–1–1 rl1; patellae II pl1 III d1 pl2 rl1 IV d1 pl1 rl1; tibiae I pl1–1–1 v2–1–2 II pl1–1–1 v2–2–1 III d1–1– 1 pl1–1–1 rl1–1 v2–2–2 IV d1–1–1 pl1–1–1 rl1–1 v2–1–1– 2; metatarsi I v3–2–2 II pl1 v3–2–2 III d1 pl1–1 rl1–1 v3–2– 2 IV d2–1 pl1–1–1 rl1–1 v2–1–1–1–1–3 tarsi II v1–1–1 III v1–1–1–1–1–1 IV v2–1–1–1–1.

Abdomen ( Fig. 11 ) oval, with two dorsal sigilla; sparsely clothed with white hairs. Dorsum gray, provided with simple pattern consisting of two longitudinal bands, followed by pairs of pale patches, fused just in front of the spinnerets. Tracheal spiracle narrowed, lightly sclerotized. Six spinnerets ( Figs. 1, 3-5 ): Anterior pair relatively long, cylindrical or slightly conical, clearly bisegmented; PLS slightly longer than half length of ALS, cylindrical, faintly bifurcated; PMS conical, tiny, provided with few spigots. Colulus represented by two groups of hairs. Epiandrum well developed, provided with two sclerotized depressions.

Male palp ( Figs. 9 , 17–20 ): Tibia with a large and protruding retrolateral tibial apophysis ( Fig. 17 ), slightly bifid as seen from in front ( Figs. 9 , 20 ), dorsally with small triangular appendage curved inward ( Fig. 18 ). Cymbium with few spines on distal part; retrolateral side protruding ( Fig. 20 ), accommodating the conductor; cymbial fold absent. Subtegulum well-developed. Tegulum ( Fig. 17 ) simple, widened at extremity, posterior portion lightly sclerotized; anterior part forming a groove, accommodating elongate embolus, originating on lateral base of tegulum.

Female (paratype). Total length 8.61. Carapace 4.0 long, 2.50 wide. Abdomen 4.61 long.

Coloration and pattern similar to male but usually with darker ( Fig. 12 ), smaller females usually pale, mostly orange; legs of normal length; carapace slightly wider in front; carapace and opisthosoma without silvery hairs; a row of hairs running from fovea to PME; chelicerae densely clothed with strong hairs. Spinnerets as in Fig. 2 . Female palp ( Fig. 6 ) swollen; triangular tarsi ventrally flattened; provided with large terminal claw and pairs of spines on prolateral side ( Fig. 6 ).

Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.10, PME 0.10, PLE 0.10; AME–AME 0.07, AME–ALE 0.06, PME– PME 0.10, PME–PLE 0.28, ALE–PLE 0.44; MOQ 0.26 long, front width 0.18, back width 0.30. Clypeus 0.61 high.

Leg formula 4132 (8.95, 7.15, 6.90, 5.28). Leg measurements: femora: I 2.13, II 1.95, III 2.18, IV 2.37; patellae: I 1.00, II 1.00, III 1.02, IV 1.08; tibiae: I 1.68, II 1.40, III 1.24, IV 1.72; metatarsi: I 1.32, II 1.40, III 1.60, IV 2.50; tarsi: I 1.02, II 0.93, III 0.86, IV1.28.

Spination: femora I d1–1–1 pl1 II d1–1–1 pl1 III d1–1–1 pl1 rl1 IV d1–1–1 rl1; patellae III d1–1 pl1–1 rl1 IV d1–1 pl1– 1 rl1; tibiae I pl1 v1–1 II pl1 v1–1 III d1–1–1 pl1–1–1 rl1– 1 v2–1–1–1–1 IV d1–1 pl1–1–1 rl1–1 v2–1–1–1–1; metatarsi I v2–1 II v2–2–3 III d1 pl1–1–1 rl1–1–1 v2–2–3 IV d1 pl1– 1–1–1 rl1–1–1 v1–1–1–1–3 tarsi III v2–2–2 IV v2–2.

Epigyne ( Figs. 10 , 21, 22 ): Simple, strongly sclerotized plate, provided with median septum and hood ( Figs. 10 , 21 ). Small, copulatory orifices anteriorly situated ( Fig. 21 ). Copulatory ducts short, strongly sclerotized, leading to round, posteriorly located spermathecae ( Fig. 22 ). Fertilization ducts simple.

Natural history.- Most of the specimens of C. pristina , new species examined were collected from primary tropical montane cloud forests (2,000–2,540 m) near the summit of Doi Inthanon. The forest floor was covered with a thick layer (9–22 cm depth) of decomposing organic matter. The annual mean temperature of these forests is 9 and 12 ºC at the summit and Kew Mae Pan , respectively. The constantly low temperature is responsible for the formation of the daily cloud cover above 1,800 m of the mountain. The annual rainfall is over 2,300 mm where the spiders were collected. During the rainy season (July to late October) relative humidity of the air reaches 100 % and the soil becomes saturated with water. Additional physical factors of the type and other localities were also reported by Dankittipakul & Sonthichai (2002) .

It is interesting to note that only four specimens examined were collected from evergreen hill forest at about 1,630–1,680 m asl. These specimens were obtained by leaf litter sifting in a damp swamp between steep ridges in evergreen hill forest. At this altitude forest litter of only three square metres collected near the swamp contained three females and two juveniles whilst the remaining 47 square metres of decomposing leaf litter layer nearby were inhabited by other zodariid genera, i.e. Asceua , Euryeidon and Mallinella .

Distribution.- Known only from the type locality and surroundings.

Figures

Figs. 1-6. Cydrela pristina, new species: 1, spinnerets of male; 2, spinnerets of female; 3, anterior lateral spinnerets; 4, anterior lateral spinnerets, different view; 5, posterior lateral spinneret with minor ampullate gland spigot; 6, female palpal tarsi.Abbreviations: Pir, piriform gland spigot; MAp, Major ampullate gland spigot.

Figs 7-10. Cydrela pristina, new species: 7, cheliceral gland; 8, tarsal trichobothrium; 9, right male palp, retrolateral view; 10, female epigyne, ventral view.

Figs. 11-13. Cydrela pristina, new species: 11, male holotype, habitus, dorsal view; 12, female paratype, dorsal view of abdomen.Cydrela deciduas, new species. 13, female holotype, habitus, dorsal view. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

Figs. 14-16. Cydrela pristina, new species. Sternum (14); carapace, lateral (15) and frontal (16) views. Scale bar = 1.0 mm.

Figs.17-22. Cydrela pristina, new species. Male holotype (17-20) and female paratype (21, 22). Male palp: ventral (17), dorsal (18), prolateral (19) and retrolateral (20) views. Female epigyne (21) and its internal structure (22). Scale bars = 0.5 mm.