Clubiona suthepica Dankittipakul

Dankittipakul, Pakawin & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2008, Five new species of the spider genus Clubiona Latreille (Araneae: Clubionidae) from Thailand, Zootaxa 1747, pp. 34-60 : 42-44

Clubiona suthepica Dankittipakul sp. n.

( Figs 22–27 , 55–60 )

Type material. Holotype: ɗ, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park [Chiang Mai Province and District, Northern Thailand], Doi Suthep, Monthatarn Waterfalls, gallery evergreen forest in mixed deciduous forest, 650 m, 14.xii.2005, P. Dankittipakul ( MHNG).

Paratypes: 1ɗ, same data as holotype ( TNHM); 2Ψ, Chiang Mai University Campus, 350 m, from twig of trees ( MHNG, TNHM).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a noun in apposition formed from Thai Suthep, and refers to the type locality, Doi Suthep.

Diagnosis. Clubiona suthepica sp. n. appears to be closely related to C. melanosticta and C. scandens but is easily distinguished from these species and congeners by the distinctly larger beak-shaped conductor with sharply pointed retrolateral apex ( Figs 22–23 , 56, 57 ), by the thinner, filiform embolus, and by the more elongated bulb. Clubiona suthepica sp. n. can be recognized by its hook-shaped retrolateral tibial apophysis strongly excavated on the ventral side and by the presence of basolateral extension of the cymbium ( Figs 23 , 58 ). The female genitalia closely resemble that of C. octoginta sp. n. but are distinguishable from the latter species in possessing bases of spermathecal heads arising anteriorly on spermathecal stalks ( Figs 25–26 , 60 ) and by the different shape of dilated terminal apparatus ( Figs 27 , 60 ).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 6.2; prosoma 3.0 long, 1.8 wide; opisthosoma 3.2 long, 1.5 wide.

Prosoma ( Fig. 55 ). Ovoid, with relatively broad pars cephalica, in profile highest just behind fovea; integument smooth, covered with numerous fine hairs. Dorsal shield of prosoma yellow, distinctly dark brown in ocular area, with a distinctive pattern on pars cephalica consisting of a pair of dark lateral bands and Ψ-shaped markings behind posterior eyes. Chelicerae dark brown. Labium and endites yellowish brown. Sternum yellow.

Eyes. Eyes with black rings and surrounded by purplish markings. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.12, ALE 0.122, PME 0.12, PLE 0.12, AME–AME 0.12, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.25, PME–PLE 0.18; MOQ: 0.28 long, 0.36 anterior width, 0.52 posterior width.

Legs. Yellow; femora with a broad distal band occupying almost half length; tibiae with broad distal and proximal annuli; metatarsi with dark, thin distal annulus; tarsi pale yellow. Leg formula 4213.

Leg measurements:

I II III IV

Femora 1.95 2.40 1.85 2.75

Patellae + tibiae 2.90 3.15 2.45 3.65

Metatarsi 1.45 1.75 1.40 2.90

Tarsi 0.68 0.85 0.55 0.75

Total 6.98 8.15 6.25 10.05

Opisthosoma ( Fig. 55 ). Elongate-oval; dorsum with pale anterior portion, anterior laterally with disconnected longitudinal bands, posteriorly with dark purple markings; venter pale. Spinnerets purple.

Male palp ( Figs 22–23 , 56–58 ). Palpal tibia relatively short. Heavily sclerotized retrolateral tibial apophysis hook-shaped, profoundly excavated on its ventral side. Cymbium with basolateral extension. Bulb spherical, proapically with membranous part; sinuate sperm duct forming a double loop. Conductor beak-shaped, its apex sharply pointed, pointing in retrolateral direction. Embolus thin, filiform; embolic base originating meso-prolaterally.

Female (paratype): Total length 6.7; prosoma 3.2 long, 1.9 wide; opisthosoma 3.5 long, 1.6 wide. Not strikingly different from males but slightly smaller in size; ocular area distinctly dark brown, without distinctive color pattern; chelicerae brown; dorsum of opisthosoma with markings less defined.

Eyes. Eyes with black rings and surrounded by purplish markings. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10, ALE 0.10, PME 0.12, PLE 0.10, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 0.24, PME–PLE 0.12; MOQ: 0.28 long, 0.31 anterior width, 0.46 posterior width.

Legs. Leg measurements:

I II III IV

Femora 2.00 2.40 1.85 2.78

Patellae + tibiae 2.95 3.15 2.40 3.68

Metatarsi 1.50 1.70 1.45 3.04

Tarsi 0.65 0.85 0.55 0.76

Total 7.10 8.10 6.25 10.26

Epigyne and vulva ( Figs 24–27 , 59–60 ). Atrium with shallow depression. Atrial margin rebordered. Spermathecal stalks short, anteriorly rounded; spermathecal heads with terminally dilated apparatus more or less triangular at base, carrying minute, anterior apical tubercles.

Natural history. The holotype was collected by sweeping vegetations and shrubs in gallery evergreen forest at about 650 m elevation. The female paratypes were collected by beating twigs and branches of Terminaria catappa in Chiang Mai University campus which locates at the lower slope of Doi Suthep.

Distribution. Known only from Doi Suthep and surrounding areas, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand ( Fig. 69 ).

Figures

FIGURE 69. Records of Clubiona species treated in the present study: * C. filicata; C. suthepica sp. n.; C. melanosticta; C. octoginta sp. n.; C. campylacantha sp. n.; Ο C. filifera sp. n.; C. abnormis sp. n.

FIGURES 20 – 23. Clubiona filifera sp. n., male holotype (20, 21). 20 male palp, dorsal; 21 ditto, retrolateral. Clubiona suthepica sp. n., male holotype (22, 23). 22 male palp, dorsal; 23 ditto, retrolateral. Scale bars = 0.1 mm (20 – 23).

FIGURES 24 – 29. Clubiona suthepica sp. n., female paratype (24 – 27). 24 epigyne, ventral; 25 vulva, dorsal; 26 spermathecal base; 27 dilated terminal apparatus of spermathecal head. Clubiona abnormis sp. n., male holotype (28, 29). 28 male palp, dorsal; 29 ditto, retrolateral. Scale bars = 0.1 mm (24 – 25, 28 – 29).

FIGURES 55 – 60. Clubiona suthepica sp. n., male holotype (55 – 58) and female paratype (59, 60). 55 habitus, dorsal; 56 male palp, ventral; 57 ditto, prolateral; 58 ditto, retrolateral; 59 right part of epigyne in lactic acid, ventral; 60 left part of vulva, dorsal. Scale bars = 1.0 mm (55); 0.1 mm (56 – 60).