Merizocera ratnapura Li, 2020

Chang, Wan-Jin, Yao, Zhiyuan & Li, Shuqiang, 2020, Twenty-eight new species of the spider genus Merizocera Fage, 1912 (Araneae, Psilodercidae) from South and Southeast Asia, ZooKeys 961, pp. 41-118 : 41

publication ID

https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.961.53058

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B5627BFE-56A2-42B3-B3A5-96BAE07724F4

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/4F52770D-6E94-42C0-A1EE-CC0B32CEB28C

taxon LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:act:4F52770D-6E94-42C0-A1EE-CC0B32CEB28C

treatment provided by

ZooKeys by Pensoft

scientific name

Merizocera ratnapura Li
status

sp. nov.

Merizocera ratnapura Li sp. nov. Figures 33 View Figure 33 , 34 View Figure 34 , 52 View Figure 52

Type material.

Holotype: male (IZCAS), Isthripura Cave (6°49.90'N, 80°22.46'E, elevation 268 m), Batatota Village, Adam’s Peak Area, Ekneligoda Town, Kuruwita, Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa, Sri Lanka, 28 September 2014, S. Kosala leg. Paratype: 1 female (IZCAS), same data as holotype.

Etymology.

The specific name refers to the type locality; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

Diagnosis features of males and females are discussed in M. phuket sp. nov. Males with a thick and short conductor and a gradually tapering embolus (Fig. 33B View Figure 33 ). Females with a pair of tubular spermathecae laterally and stalked spermathecae medially (Fig. 34A View Figure 34 ).

Description.

Male (holotype). Total length 1.48; carapace 0.66 long, 0.59 wide; abdomen 0.80 long, 0.55 wide. Carapace circular, brownish, with dark brown marks laterally and brown median line on anterior half (Fig. 34C View Figure 34 ). Fovea shallow. Thoracic region distinctly elevated medially. Clypeus and labium brown. Sternum dark brown. Abdomen slightly elongated, dark brown. Legs light brown; measurements: I, III and IV missing, II 5.74 (1.66, 0.24, 1.76, 1.41, 0.67). Palp (Fig. 33A-D View Figure 33 ): femur slender, five times longer than patella; patella not swollen; tibia not swollen; tibia not swollen, 1/2 femur length; cymbium with distal protrusion, 1/3 femur length, length ratio of dorsal elongation and cymbium: 0.91; bulb pale yellow, pyriform with embolus and conductor arising distally; embolus elongated and bent, 2.5 times longer than bulb, gradually tapering and darkened at the tip; conductor basally connected with embolus.

Female (paratype). Similar to male in colouration and general features but slightly larger (Fig. 34D, E View Figure 34 ). Measurements: total length 1.48; carapace 0.70 long, 0.62 wide; abdomen 0.76 long, 0.51 wide. Leg measurements: I 9.38 (2.59, 0.24, 2.97, 2.45, 1.13), II 6.75 (1.92, 0.24, 2.10, 1.66, 0.83), III 5.10 (1.47, 0.23, 1.53, 1.24, 0.63), IV 7.36 (2.08, 0.23, 2.35, 1.82, 0.88). Epigastric area (Fig. 34B View Figure 34 ): dark brown elliptical patch. Endogyne (Fig. 34A View Figure 34 ) with a pair of widely tubular spermathecae, medially with stalked spermathecae bearing globose end.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Sri Lanka; Fig. 52 View Figure 52 ).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Araneae

Family

Psilodercidae

Genus

Merizocera