Psechrus discoideus, 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 : 189-191

Psechrus discoideus sp. nov.

Figs 9–11

Type material: Holotype ♂ (SJ02), China, Yunnan Province: Nasai village, Mengku Township, Shuangjiang County, Lincang, ca. 1750 m, 23°37′59.5″N, 099°58′42.2″E, 01-V-2012, Z.Z. Yang, P. Feng, Y.Y. Ma & W. Sun leg. Paratypes (10 ♂, 38♀): 1♂ (NK01), Gaoli Gongshan Natural Park, Longling County, Baoshan, ca. 2000 m, 24°49′46.4″N, 098°46′25.3″E, 22-IV-2011, P. Feng leg; 1♂ (SD01) 1♀ (SD03), Daliang Shan, Shidian County, Baoshan, 1769 m, 24°34′46.5″N, 099°11′54.3″E, Z.Z. Yang, H.B. Pu, P. Feng & Y.Y. Ma leg; 10♀ (YD21-30), Yalian Township, Yongde County, Lincang, ca. 1850 m, 24°13′40.3″N, 099°37′44.5″E, 30-IV-2012, Z.Z. Yang, P. Feng, Y.Y. Ma & W. Sun leg; 4♂ (YD10-13) 8♀ (YD07-09, YD14-18), Yongde County, Lincang, ca. 1700 m, 24°05′45.0″N, 099°45′30.9″E, 30-IV-2012, Z.Z. Yang, P. Feng, Y.Y. Ma & W. Sun leg; 2 ♂ (SJ01, SJ15), 12 ♀ (SJ03-05, SJ16-24), collection data the same as for holotype; 2♂ (SJ09-10) 4♀ (SJ11-14), Dalangba Forest Park, Shuangjiang County, Lincang, ca. 2200 m, 23°27′48.4″N, 099°58′15.7″E, 31-V-2011, Z.X. Li leg; 1♀ (LC16), Lancang County, Puer, 1034 m, 22°32′55.5″N, 099°55′55.6″E, 01-V-2012, Z.Z. Yang, P. Feng, Y.Y. Ma & W. Sun leg; 2♀ (MH14-15), Nannuo Shan, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna, ca. 1700 m, 21°56′20.9″N, 100°36′03.0″E, 29-VII-2006, Y.L. Wang leg.

Additional material: 1 subadult ♂ (YD19), 1 subadult ♀ (YD20), Yongde County, Lincang, ca. 1700 m, 24°05′45.0″N, 099°45′30.9″E, 30-IV-2012, Z.Z. Yang, P. Feng, Y.Y. Ma & W. Sun leg.

Etymology. The specific name refers to the discoid extension at prolateral side of conductor. Latin “ discoideus ” means “discoid”.

Diagnosis. Male distinguished from all other species of the sinensis -group, except P. senoculatus Yin, Wang & Zhang 1985 (Yin et al. 1985: 21, fig. 2I) and P. ampullaceus Bayer 2014 (Bayer 2014: 23, figs 12A–C, 13A, 25E, 26E), by the extension at prolateral side of the conductor exhibiting numerous small tubercles (as indicated by arrow in Figs 9a and 10a ). Distinguished from P. senoculatus by: (1) sperm duct without distinct loop in prolateral half of tegulum; (2) dorsal part of embolus base not platform-like. Distinguished from P. ampullaceus by: (1) only 1/2 rather than 2/3 distal section of dorsal palpal cymbium with scopula ( Fig. 9c ); (2) the extension at prolateral side of conductor discoid (as indicated by arrow in Fig. 9a ); (3) embolus not undulated and distal section distinctly longer. Female distinguished from all other species of the sinensis -group by the laterally shouldered epigynal median septum (MS), reminiscent of a strongman’s back ( Figs 9e , 10d , 11a, c, e ), the copulatory ducts (CD) initially diverging, then converging, exhibiting rather indistinct twisted/bulbous section, except for some individuals (SD03, Fig. 11b ). From the similar species P. ampullaceus Bayer 2014 (Bayer 2014: 25, figs 14B, 32A– C) it can additionally be distinguished by the shorter spermathecal heads.

Description. Measurements: Male (measurements of holotype first, those of the male paratypes given as ranges in parentheses): Total length 16.62 (11.53–18.19), Prosoma length 7.05 (4.81–7.80), prosoma width 5.44 (3.69–5.71); opisthosoma length 9.57 (6.72–10.39), opisthosoma width 3.89 (3.04–4.69). Eyes diameter: AME 0.35 (0.25–0.37), ALE 0.36 (0.30–0.36), PME 0.38 (0.29–0.38), PLE 0.40 (0.31–0.43); Distance between eyes: AME–AME 0.15 (0.14–0.15), AME–ALE 0.06 (0.07–0.09), ALE–PLE 0.40 (0.37–0.45), PME–PME 0.22 (0.19– 0.29), PME–PLE 0.31 (0.30–0.36), AME–PME 0.57 (0.45–0.58). Clypeus height at AME 0.71 (0.43–0.71). Measurements of palp and legs as shown in table 5. Leg formula: 1243. Spination of palp and legs as shown in table 6.

Female (measurements of paratype SJ05 first, those of other female paratypes given as ranges in parentheses): Total length 20.04 (18.01–21.26), Prosoma length 7.60 (6.82–8.64), prosoma width 5.95 (4.83–6.60); opisthosoma length 12.44 (11.19–12.62), opisthosoma width 6.99 (5.42–6.99). Eyes diameter: AME 0.33 (0.33–0.39), ALE 0.45 (0.37–0.46), PME 0.41 (0.41–0.46), PLE 0.45 (0.45–0.49); Distance between eyes: AME–AME 0.22 (0.17–0.22), AME–ALE 0.07 (0.07–1.00), ALE–PLE 0.50 (0.50–0.61), PME–PME 0.27 (0.27–0.33), PME–PLE 0.51 (0.34– 0.51), AME–PME 0.67 (0.58–0.70). Clypeus height at AME 0.83 (0.83–1.11). Leg formula: 1243. Measurements of palp and legs as shown in table 5. Spination of palp and legs as shown in table 6.

Colouration almost the same as for the general colouration of Psechrus , see Bayer (2012). Male chelicerae with 3 to 5 promarginal, 4 to 6 retromarginal teeth, 5 central denticles; female with 3 promarginal, 4 retromarginal teeth, 6 central denticles. Leg I of male with macrosetae at coxae and trochanteri.

Male palp: distal 1/2 section of dorsal palpal cymbium with scopula ( Fig. 9c ). Conductor (C) with dense tubercles (almost 2/3 section of C is covered with tubercles), and with discoid platform-shaped extension prolaterally (as indicated by arrow in Fig. 9a ). Embolus slender; embolic base broad, without apophyses ( Figs 9a– c , 10a–c ). Palpal tibia with a cluster of long hairs at retrolateral side ( Fig. 9a ). Palpal femur with a cambered bulge ( Fig. 9d ).

Female copulatory organ: Slit sense organs (SO) and muscle sigilla (SG) outside the epigynal field; median septum (MS) longer than wide, with anterio-central section shouldered and thus broader than posterior section; copulatory openings small ( Figs 9e , 10d ). Slits (channels) later turning into completely closed copulatory ducts (CD) (by fusion of the slit/channel); CD initially running posterio-laterally, then converging towards receptacula; CD long, with small and indistinct bulbous section postinitially; spermathecal heads (SH) longer than the diameter of spermathecal base (SB); SH arise at posterior part of SB, then run anteriorly; SB round ( Figs 9f , 10e ).

Intraspecific variation. Male copulatory organs of all type material without significant variation. Female copulatory organs show high level variation ( Figs 9e–f , 10d–e , Fig.11 ): In SD03 ( Figs 11a–b ) posterior part of median septum clearly broader than half the width of broadest section, in the other specimens less broad or barely broader. SD03 and YD25 ( Figs 11b, d ) with long SH straight anteriorly, while in SJ05 and SJ11 SH is shorter, with minimal lateral direction, thus not straight anteriorly ( Figs 9f , 11f ).

Distribution. CHINA: Yunnan Province (Baoshan, Lincang, Puer, Xishuangbanna), see Fig. 16.

Figures

FIGURES 9 a – f. Psechrus discoideus sp. nov. a – d ♂ holotype (SJ 02), e – f ♀ paratype (SJ 05). a – c palp (a ventral, b prolateral, c retrolateral); e epigyne, ventral; f vulva, dorsal. Arrow indicates the discoid extension at prolateral side of conductor.

FIGURES 10 a – e. Psechrus discoideus sp. nov. a – c ♂ holotype (SJ 02), d – e ♀ paratype (SJ 05). a – c palp (a ventral, b prolateral, c retrolateral); d epigyne, ventral; e vulva, dorsal. Arrow indicates the discoid extension at prolateral side of conductor.

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.