Hamus cornutus, Lin, Yucheng, Ballarin, Francesco & Li, Shuqiang, 2016

Lin, Yucheng, Ballarin, Francesco & Li, Shuqiang, 2016, A survey of the spider family Nesticidae (Arachnida, Araneae) in Asia and Madagascar, with the description of forty-three new species, ZooKeys 627, pp. 1-168 : 6

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Nesticidae

Hamus cornutus sp. n. Figs 1, 2, 81

Type material.

Holotype ♂ and paratypes 3♂3♀ (IZCAS), CHINA: Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region: Chongzuo City, Pingxiang, Sanzhishan Cave (22.07567°N, 106.73773°E, 257 m), 7.V.2015, Z. Chen & Y. Li leg. Paratype 1♂ (IZCAS), LAOS: Bolikhamxay Province, Khamkeut District, 17.11 km west of Ban Laksao Town, Tham Mankone (18.22156°N, 104.81268°E, 495 m), 27.IX.2012, S. Li leg.

Etymology.

The specific name derives from the Latin word " cornutus " = horned, and refers to the horn-like distal process of the paracymbium; adjective.

Diagnosis.

Males can be distinguished from those of Hamus bowoensis , Hamus mangunensis sp. n. and Hamus kangdingensis sp. n. by the absence of the terminal apophysis process I (Ta-I) (Fig. 1A), the sharp, hooked terminal apophysis process II (Ta-II) (Fig. 1A, D) and the horn-like distal process of the paracymbium (Dp) (Fig. 1 A–B), as opposed to a long Ta-I and a needle-like, very short or caniniform Dp in Hamus bowoensis (see Ballarin and Li 2015: 180, fig. 1 A–D) and Hamus mangunensis sp. n. (Fig. 5 A–B, D) and as opposed to a blunt Ta-I and a pointed Dp in Hamus kangdingensis sp. n. (Fig. 3D, E, G). Females can be separated from those of the similar species Hamus bowoensis and Hamus luzon sp. n. by the more pear-shaped spermathecae (Fig. 2 E–F) and the relatively straight copulatory ducts (Cd) (Fig. 2G), as opposed to the almost round spermathecae and the strongly twisted Cd in Hamus bowoensis (see Ballarin and Li 2015: 180, fig. 2 A–C with Cd reported as Fd) and Hamus luzon sp. n. (Fig. 4 D–F).

Description.

Habitus as in Fig. 2 A–D. Carapace yellowish. Mouthparts yellow in the male, light brown in the female. Sternum pale yellow in males, yellow in females. Legs uniformly pale yellow. Opisthosoma yellowish, slightly dark in males.

Male palp (Fig. 1 A–D): paracymbium with a flat, semi-transparent dorsal apophysis and a strongly sclerotized, horn-like distal process (Fig. 1A). Ventral apophysis nearly semi-circular (Fig. 1C). Terminal apophysis almost round and strongly sclerotized (Fig. 1A). Short, sclerotized horned process (Cp-I) at the subapical part of the bulb together with a laminar, elongate process (Cp-II) forming a curved groove (Fig. 1A, D).

Epigyne (Fig. 2 E–G): square, fertilization ducts long and twisted, originating at the ventro-lateral base of the spermathecae (Fig. 2F). (Fig. 2G). Spermathecae wide, pear-shaped, and close to each other.

Male (holotype). Total length 1.56. Carapace 0.80 long, 0.73 wide. Opisthosoma 0.77 long, 0.69 wide. Clypeus height 0.15. Sternum 0.47 long, 0.47 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Female (one of the paratypes). Total length 2.02. Carapace 0.90 long, 0.78 wide. Opisthosoma 1.22 long, 0.87 wide. Clypeus height 0.18. Sternum 0.56 long, 0.49 wide. Leg measurements: see Appendix A.

Habitat.

Forest leaf litter, cave.

Distribution.

China (Guangxi), Laos (Fig. 81).