Psechrus conicus, Feng, Ping, Zhao, Yu, Wu, Xiu-Mei, Ma, Yan-Yan, Yang, Ting-Bang, Li, Cheng-Gong & Yang, Zi-Zhong, 2016

Feng, Ping, Zhao, Yu, Wu, Xiu-Mei, Ma, Yan-Yan, Yang, Ting-Bang, Li, Cheng-Gong & Yang, Zi-Zhong, 2016, Four new species of Psechrus from Yunnan Province, China (Araneae, Psechridae), Zootaxa 4088 (2), pp. 177-200 : 185-189

Psechrus conicus sp. nov.

Figs 6–8

Type material: Holotype ♀ (CX03), China, Yunnan Province: Zixi Shan, Chuxiong Prefecture, ca. 2090 m, 24°01′21.2′′N, 101°58′15.7′′E, 06-V-2012, Z.Z. Yang, P. Feng & Y.Y. Ma leg. Paratypes 1 ♂ (CX01) 4 ♀ (CX02, CX04-06), data the same as for holotype.

Additional material: 1 sub-adult ♀ (CX07), data the same as for holotype.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the conical/elongated trapezoid (triangular) median septum of the female epigyne. Latin “ conicus ” means “conical”.

Diagnosis. Male distinguished from all other Psechrus spp. of the sinensis -group, except P. triangulus Yang et al. 2003 (Yang et al. 2003: 45, figs D–F; Bayer 2012: 101, 151, figs 54a–d, 86b), by the absence of a (distinct) prolatero-ventral loop of the spermduct and the narrow tip of conductor pointing apically ( Figs 6a , 7a ). Distinguished from P. triangulus by the (shouldered) narrow distal part of embolus; embolus without tubercles, but with some ridges and folds retrolaterally; embolic basal apophysis vestigial ( Figs 6a–c , 7a–c ). Female distinguished from all other Psechrus spp. of the sinensis -group, except P. triangulus (Yang et al. 2003: 45, figs A– B; Bayer 2012: 101, 154, 157, figs 54e–f, 89b, 92b), by the epigyne with posterior part of median septum (MS) broader than anterior part, the initial copulatory ducts running longitudinally and the spermathecal heads pointing medio-transversally ( Figs 11 h–i, 12d–e). Distinguished from P. triangulus by the anterior section of MS, which is broader and channel-like, initial central section of copulatory duct longer and towards central longitudinal axis ( Figs 6g , 7e ).

Description. Measurements: Male (CX01): Total length 9.09, Prosoma length 3.75, prosoma width 3.05; opisthosoma length 5.34, opisthosoma width 2.26. Eyes diameter: AME 0.19, ALE 0.20, PME 0.23, PLE 0.25; Distance between eyes: AME–AME 0.11, AME–ALE 0.05, ALE–PLE 0.31, PME–PME 0.18, PME–PLE 0.22, AME–PME 0.41. Clypeus height at AME 0.42. Leg formula: 1423. Measurements of palp and legs as shown in table 3. Spination of palp and legs as shown in table 4.

Female (measurements of holotype first, with those of paratype females given as ranges in parentheses): Total length 15.21 (13.60–18.81), Prosoma length 6.35 (5.93–7.29), prosoma width 4.25 (4.25–5.75); opisthosoma length 8.86 (7.67–11.52), opisthosoma width 5.21 (4.28–7.02). Eyes diameter: AME 0.30 (0.25–0.35), ALE 0.34 (0.34–0.41), PME 0.34 (0.34–0.38), PLE 0.36 (0.36–0.46); Distance between eyes: AME–AME 0.19 (0.19–0.24), AME–ALE 0.06 (0.05–0.09), ALE–PLE 0.48 (0.42–0.56), PME–PME 0.27 (0.27–0.33), PME–PLE 0.32 (0.32– 0.43), AME–PME 0.53 (0.53–0.70). Clypeus height at AME 0.79 (0.63–0.79). Leg formula: 1243. Measurements of palp and legs as shown in table 3. Spination of palp and legs as shown in table 4.

Colouration almost the same as for the general colouration of Psechrus , see Bayer (2012). Male chelicerae with 3 promarginal, 3 retromarginal teeth, and 3 small denticles; female chelicerae with 4 retromarginal teeth, 4 retromarginal teeth, and 4 small denticles. Leg I of male with a row of macrosetae at coxae and trochanteri each.

Male palp: distal 1/2 of dorsal palpal cymbium with scopula ( Fig. 6d ). Conductor (C) with a narrow tip, pointing apically; with dense tubercles at prolateral side ( Figs 6a–b , 7a–b ). Embolus (E) proximally to centrally broad sheet-like, without tubercles; retrolateral with some ridges and folds, distalmost section narrow and sharp abruptly basal apophysis ( Figs 6a–c , 7a–c ). In ventral view, main part of sperm duct transversal; Palpal tibia short ( Fig. 6d ). Palpal femur with a cambered bulge ventrally ( Fig. 6e ).

Female copulatory organ: Slit sense organs (SO) outside the epigynal field, but muscle sigilla (SG) inside; shape of median septum (MS) elongated trapezoid, with posterior part broader (at least 2 times) than anterior part ( Figs 6e , 7d ). Copulatory ducts with a big expansion centro-medially; spermathecal base (SB) approximately round; spermathecal heads (SH) arise from ventro-medial part of SB and run medially; central section of copulatory duct towards central longitudinal axis, with clear gap between each other.

Intraspecific variation. CX05 ( Figs 8c ) with anterior part of MS very narrow, not more than 1/4 the width of posterior margin; CX05 with an evident incision at posterior margin of MS. Vulvae show less variation: expansion at centro-medial section of CD with slight variation among different individuals: expansion of CX01 is bulbous ( Fig. 6g ), and CX02 with the expansion large but not bulbous ( Fig. 8b ), while CX05 with the expansion relatively small ( Fig 8d ).

Distribution. CHINA: Yunnan Province (Chuxiong), see Fig. 16.

Figures

FIGURES 6 a – g. Psechrus conicus sp. nov. a – e ♂ holotype (CX 01), f – g ♀ paratype (CX 03). a – d palp (a ventral, b prolateral, c – d retrolateral); e palpal femur, retrolateral; f epigyne, ventral; g vulva, dorsal.

FIGURES 7 a – e. Psechrus conicus sp. nov. a – c ♂ holotype (CX 01), d – f ♀ paratype (CX 03). a – c palp (a ventral, b prolateral, c retrolateral); d epigyne, ventral; e vulva, dorsal.

FIGURES 8 a – d. Psechrus conicus sp. nov. Intraspecific variation of paratype females. a – b (CX 02), c – d (CX 05). a, c epigyne, ventral; b, d vulva, dorsal.

FIGURES 11 a – f. Psechrus discoideus sp. nov. Intraspecific variation of paratype females. a – b (SD 03), c – d (YD 25), e – f (SJ 11). a, c, e epigyne, ventral; b, d, f vulva, dorsal.