Patu nigeri, Lin, Yucheng & Li, Shuqiang, 2009

Lin, Yucheng & Li, Shuqiang, 2009, First described Patu spiders (Araneae, Symphytognathidae) from Asia, Zootaxa 2154, pp. 47-68 : 50-52

Patu nigeri spec. nov.

Figs. 3–6 ;18

Type material. Holotype male ( IZCAS), 2 males and 6 females paratypes from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (21°55´N, 101°16´E; Alt.: 556 m), Menglun Town, Mengla County, Yunnan Province, China, 19–26 March 2007, G. Zheng leg. ( IZCAS).

Etymology. The specific name derives from Latin niger (black), in reference to the somatic coloration in both sexes.

Diagnosis. Patu nigeri is similar to Patu saladito Forster & Platnick, 1977 from Colombia, but may be easy distinguished by the kidney-shaped spermathecae in contact, the presence of a large copulatory opening and the detailed structure of male palp.

Description. Holotype male. Total length 0.54. Carapace 0.26 long, 0.24 wide. Clypeus 0.09 high. Sternum 0.18 long, 0.17 wide. Abdomen 0.39 long, 0.35 wide. Somatic coloration black. Carapace pearshaped, surface rough. Cephalic pars elevated, with setae anteriorly. Six eyes in three diads, ALE> PME> PLE, lateral eyes in contact, ocular region wider than fore of carapace. Chelicerae with a furcate tooth, fused in middle, covered long setae on anterior surface, cheliceral fang with modified tiny denticles. Sternum plump, fused to labium, surface smooth, with setae. Legs covered with setae and bristles, a dorsal spine on patella; tibia II with a ventral spur; a dorsal spine and three trichobothria on tibia; a trichobothrium on metatarsus. Leg measurements: I 0.69 (0.21, 0.10, 0.13, 0.10, 0.15); II 0.61 (0.17, 0.10, 0.11, 0.08, 0.15); III 0.50 (0.13, 0.09, 0.09, 0.08, 0.11); IV 0.60 (0.18, 0.09, 0.12, 0.08, 0.13). Leg formula: I-II-IV-III. Abdomen nearly globose in dorsal view, bears disperse long setae, posteriorly expanded beyond spinnerets. Spinnerets region without annular sclerotized plate, spinnerets small; colulus absent.

Palp relatively large. Femur swollen, patella and tibia without process. One seta located at tibial end. Cymbium membranous, triangular, with four prolateral distal long setae; paracymbium absent; the structure of bulb strange; tegulum large, sclerotized; terminal apophysis bluntly trigonal; embolus short, membranous fingerlike; conductor larger, membranous, located at apex of bulb; entire ejaculatory duct embedded in the radix haematodocha ( Figs. 4 A, B; 5 A, B).

Female. Total length 0.63. Carapace 0.27 long, 0.25 wide. Clypeus 0.04 high. Sternum 0.20 long, 0.18 wide. Abdomen 0.47 long, 0.44 wide. Somatic coloration darker than in male. Palp absent. Clypeal height equal to half of in male. Legs measurements: I 0.67 (0.21, 0.09, 0.13, 0.10, 0.14); II 0.62 (0.18, 0.09, 0.12, 0.09, 0.14); III 0.52 (0.14, 0.09, 0.09, 0.07, 0.13); IV 0.64 (0.20, 0.09, 0.13, 0.07, 0.15). Leg formula: I-IV-II- III. Abdomen nearly globose, covered long hairs, without sclerotized plate. Posteriorly expanded beyond spinnerets. A pair of spiracles located at posterolateral margin of epigynal plate. Colulus absent.

Epigynal area bears three pair of central setae, another paired long setae apart from epigynum, closed to anterior pedicel. Scapus present. Vulva structure relatively simple. Sclerotized spermathecae in contact, kidney-shaped; copulatory ducts straight, arising from anterior corner of spermathecae; fertilization ducts arising out of spermathecae posterolaterally, straight, slightly shorter and thinner than copulatory ducts; copulatory opening specially large, located at scapus anteriorly. ( Fig. 6 A, B).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Yunnan) ( Fig. 18).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Patu nigeri spec. nov. A. Male, dorsal view; B. Female, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.10.

FIGURE 4. Patu nigeri spec. nov. A. Left palp and endite, prolateral view; B. Ditto, retrolateral view. Scale bar: 0.05.

FIGURE 5. Patu nigeri spec. nov. A. Embolic division, retrolateral-ventral view; B. Course of ejaculatory duct in bulb, prolateral view; C. Male chelicerae, posterior view; D. Ditto, anterior view; E. Male leg I, and F. Leg II, prolateral view. Scale bars: 0.05 for A – D; 0.10 for E and F.

FIGURE 6. Patu nigeri spec. nov. A. Epigynum, ventral view; B. Ditto, dorsal view. Scale bar: 0.05.