Pristidia ramosa, Yu, Hao, Sun, Zixuan & Zhang, Guren, 2012

Yu, Hao, Sun, Zixuan & Zhang, Guren, 2012, New taxonomic data on the sac spiders (Arachnida: Araneae: Clubionidae) from China, with description of a new species, Zootaxa 3299, pp. 44-60 : 45-51

Pristidia ramosa sp. nov.

Figs 1–16 , 47

Type material. Holotype male, CHINA: Jiangxi Province, Mt. Jinggang, Xiangzhou County (26°35'30.23"N, 114°15'59.93"E, 380m), 26 April 2011, Hao Yu and Zhenyu Jin leg; Paratypes: 3 male and 1 female, same data as holotype; 3 male and 1 female, Jiangxi Province, Mt. Jinggang, Hexilong County (26°31'51.54"N, 114° 8'46.02"E, 680m), 30 April 2011, Hao Yu and Zhenyu Jin leg.

Etymology. The species epithet is taken from the Latin adjective “ramus” and refers to the branch-shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis.

Diagnosis. This new species resembles Pristidia prima Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 in having basal teeth on the retrolateral tibial apophysis in male, the similar epigynal plate and the parallel insemination ducts in female, but differs by: (1) the embolus distinctly longer ( Figs 2–4 ); (2) the presence of a SF in ventral and retrolateral view ( Figs 2 , 4 , 6–7 , 13–14 ), but not in P. p r i m a; (3) an atrium present ( Figs 9–10 , 15–16 ), but absence in P. p r i m a; (4) the bursae are larger ( Figs 10, 11 , 16 ).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 5.21. prosoma 2.29 long, 1.59 wide; opisthosoma 2.80 long, 1.19 wide.

Prosoma ( Fig. 1 ). Elongate-oval, widest between coxae II and III, in profile slightly higher between ocular area and longitudinal fovea, gradually sloping posteriorly; integument smooth, clothed with short fine hairs. Carapace yellowish, without distinctive color pattern. Chelicerae protruding and light brown, with three promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Labium and endites light brown. Sternum yellowish.

Eyes. AER slightly recurved, PER slightly wider than AER and procurved when seen from above. AME dark, other eyes light; with black rings. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.09, ALE 0.15, PME 0.14, PLE 0.10, AME– AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.10, PME–PME 0.21, PME–PLE 0.15, MOQL 0.35, MOQA 0.27, MOQP 0.47.

Legs. Yellowish, without distinct color markings. Leg formula: IV, II, III, I; leg measurements: I 5.60 (1.60, 2.04, 1.31, 0.65), II 5.68 (1.62, 2.07, 1.35, 0.64), III 5.62 (1.72, 1.90, 1.46, 0.54), IV 8.38 (2.46, 2.81, 2.41, 0.70).

Opisthosoma ( Fig. 1 ). Cylindrical, yellowish, with conspicuous anterior tufts of hairs, dorsum without color marking; venter yellowish white.

Palp ( Figs 2–7 , 12–14 ). RTA well-developed, flanges visible in both ventral and retrolateral view ( Figs 6–7 , 13–14 ), with two teeth when seen from dorsal view; cymbium longer than wide, genital bulb elongated, sperm duct sinuate; embolus distinctly long, filiform, slender, originating from prolateral side of tegulum, curved behind bulb, its tip extending to apex of cymbium.

Female (paratype): Total length 4.83. prosoma 1.88 long, 1.43 wide; opisthosoma 2.88 long, 1.30 wide. Not strikingly different from males but slightly smaller in size and lighter in color ( Fig. 8 ).

Eyes. Eyes with black rings. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.07, ALE 0.12, PME 0.11, PLE 0.10, AME– AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.19, PME–PLE 0.13, MOQL 0.30, MOQP 0.41, MOQA 0.23.

Legs. Leg formula: IV, I, II, III. Leg measurements: I 5.45 (1.51, 2.30, 1.06, 0.58), II 4.39 (1.33, 1.46, 1.10, 0.50), III 4.12 (1.28, 1.47, 1.00, 0.37), IV 6.90 (1.92, 2.33, 1.92, 0.73).

Genitalia ( Figs 9–11 , 15–16 ). Epigynal plate longer than wide, posterior margin not rebordered; concaved posterior medially; atrium bell-shaped; copulatory openings small, located on the anterior margin of the cleft which situated posterior margin of epigynal plate. The dark insemination ducts ascend anteriorly and then connect with more or less reniform (or globular) bursae; spermathecae situated anteriorly, connecting to posterior bursae; bursae translucent, wrinkled and ribbed appearance.

Remark. Spermathecae connect to bursae via short duct ( Fig.11 ). The connecting ducts located beside the connecting point of bursae and insemination ducts. This is in accordance with description of the genus Pristidia provided by Deeleman-Reinhold (2001).

Natural History. The holotype of P. ramosa spec. nov. was obtained from foliage in bush close to a small stream in the core zone of Jinggang mountain range.

Distribution. Presently known only from the type locality, Mt. Jinggang, Jiangxi, China ( Fig. 47 ).

Figures

FIGURE 47. Localities of Clubionidae species treated in this paper. CHINA: Jiangxi Province, Mt. Jinggang (Pristidia ramosa sp. nov.) CHINA: Tibet, Mt. Sejila (Clubiona linzhiensis and Clubiona altissimoides) CHINA: Tibet, Mt. Gaoligong (Clubiona altissimoides)

FIGURES 1 – 2. Pristidia ramosa sp. nov., holotype male. 1 male habitus, dorsal view; 2 left male palp, ventral view. Scales bars = 1 mm (1); 0.5 mm (2).

FIGURES 3 – 4. Pristidia ramosa sp. nov., holotype male. 3 left male palp, prolateral view; 4 ditto, retrolateral view. Scales bar = 0.5 mm (3 – 4).

FIGURES 5 – 7. Pristidia ramosa sp. nov., holotype male. 5 retrolateral tibial apophysis, dorsal view; 6 ditto, retrolateral view; 7 ditto, ventral view. Scales bar = 0.1 mm (5 – 7).

FIGURES 8 – 11. Pristidia ramosa sp. nov., paratype female. 8 female habitus, dorsal view; 9 epigyne, ventral view; 10 vulva, dorsal view; 11 structure of vulva, dorsal view, showing details of spermathecae and bursae. Scales bars = 1 mm (8); 0.2 mm (9 – 11).

FIGURES 12 – 16. Pristidia ramosa sp. nov., male holotype (12 – 14) and female paratype (15 – 16). 12 retrolateral tibial apophysis, dorsal view; 13 ditto, retrolateral view; 14 ditto, ventral view; 15 epigyne, ventral view; 16 vulva, dorsal view. Scales bars = 0.1 mm (12 – 14); 0.2 mm (15 – 16).