Althepus christae, Wang, Chunxia & Li, Shuqiang, 2013

Wang, Chunxia & Li, Shuqiang, 2013, Four new species of the subfamily Psilodercinae (Araneae: Ochyroceratidae) from Southwest China, Zootaxa 3718 (1), pp. 39-57 : 40

Althepus christae sp. nov.

Figs 1–4 , 15

Type material. Holotype: male (IZCAS), Menglun Natural reserve [21º50.225'N, 101º18.007'E, altitude 854 meters], Mengla Town, Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China, 27 December 2006, S. Li leg. Paratype: 1 female, same data as holotype.

Etymology. This species is dedicated to Christa L. Deeleman-Reinhold, in recognition of her important work and contribution on the family Ochyroceratidae ; noun.

Diagnosis. This new species is similar to Althepus stonei Deeleman-Reinhold, 1995 in the shape of male genital organs, but can be distinguished by the different shape of the distal part of conductor (with one indentation in A. stonei ) ( Figs 1 A, 3A); the short and straight spine on the retrolateral part of male palpal tarsus (the spine twisty in A. stonei ) ( Fig. 3 C); and the presence of one pair of sperm ducts and spermathecae (two pairs of in A. stonei ) ( Figs 2 D, 4D).

Description. Male (holotype). Carapace suborbicular, pale yellow, with three longitudinal brown bands of different width ( Fig. 2 A). Anterior margin of thoracic region distinctly elevated. Eyes six. Chelicerae yellow, promargin with lamina, but without tooth, retromargin with two small teeth, the posterior surface of fang with 24 small denticles ( Fig. 4 C). Labium brown with two light rounded areas basally. Sternum yellow, with two brown wide lines each side ( Fig. 2 C). Legs brown, femur and tibia with white rings. Opisothoma elongate, with a series of transverse brown bars dorsally, getting closer together toward posterior part ( Fig. 2 A). Male palp ( Figs 1 A–C, 3A– C, 4A): tibia with one long macroseta retrolaterally; tarsus with one short, straight spine retrolaterally; bulb pale yellow, ovate, embolus and conductor widely separated. Measurements: total length 3.00 ( Fig. 2 A); prosoma 1.20 long, 1.50 wide, clypeus 0.27 high, opisthosoma 2.00 long, 1.25 wide; palp 1.74 (0.63, 0.25, 0.38, -, 0.48), bulb 0.32 long; legs I missing, II 16.66 (4.74, 0.38, 4.49, 5.77, 1.28), III missing, IV 18.80 (5.13, 0.51, 4.87, 6.03, 1.54).

Female (paratype). Similar to male in coloration and general features, but with a larger body size. Genital area simple, only with numerous setae on epigynal plate ( Fig. 4 B). Internal genitalia with a pair of transparent sperm ducts and spermathecae ( Figs 2 D, 4D). Measurements: total length 3.40 ( Figs 2 B–C); prosoma 1.10 long, 1.25 wide, opisthosoma 2.50 long, 1.75 wide; palp 1.05 (0.37, 0.06, 0.25, -, 0.37); legs I 12.80 (3.46, 0.38, 3.59, 4.23, 1.15), II - (3.20, -, -, -, -), III - (2.56, -, -, -, -), IV totally missing.

Habitat. The spiders were found hanging upside down in fine sheet webs among heap of stones.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 15 ).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Althepus christae sp. nov., holotype male. A. Palpal bulb, distal view; B. Palp, prolateral view; C. Palp, retrolateral view.

FIGURE 2. Althepus christae sp. nov., holotype male and paratype female. A. Male habitus, dorsal view; B. Female habitus, dorsal view; C. Female habitus, ventral view; D. Spermathecae, dorsal view.

FIGURE 3. Althepus christae sp. nov., holotype male. A. Palpal bulb, distal view; B. Palp, retrolateral view; C. Palpal bulb, ventral view. Scale bars: 0.10 mm.

FIGURE 4. Althepus christae sp. nov., holotype male and paratype female. A. Palp, prolateral view; B. Female genital area, ventral view; C. Male right chelicera, posterior view; D. Female genitalia, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.10 mm.

FIGURE 15. Locality records for four new species of the subfamily Psilodercinae from Southwest China.