Phintella panda, Huang, Yi, Wang, Cheng & Peng, Xian-Jin, 2015

Huang, Yi, Wang, Cheng & Peng, Xian-Jin, 2015, Five new species of Phintella Strand, 1906 (Araneae, Salticidae) from the Wuling Mountains, China, ZooKeys 514, pp. 25-42 : 29

Taxon classification Animalia Araneae Salticidae

Phintella panda sp. n. Figs 6, 7

Type material.

Holotype: ♀, China, Hunan: Shimen County, Hupingshan Township, Daling Village, (30°02.359'N, 110°37.301'E, 892 m), 19 June 2014, C. Wang, B. Zhou, JH. Gan and YH. Gong leg.

Etymology.

The specific name comes from the Latin panda (panda), referring to the form of markings between the posterior lateral eyes, which is similar to the markings of the pandas’ eyes..

Diagnosis.

This new species is somewhat similar to Phintella arcuata sp. n. in having pyriform spermathecae and a similar basal plate, but can be distinguished from the latter by: 1) atrium margins slit-like, longitudinal (Figs 6B, 7A) versus arc band-shaped, diagonal in Phintella arcuata ; 2) base of spermathecae far from basal plate in dorsal view (Figs 6C, 7B) versus almost at same level in Phintella arcuata ; 3) distance between the two protruding parts of basal plate wider distinctly, and the protruding parts hornlike (Figs 6B, 7A) versus wave-like in Phintella arcuata ; 4) spermathecae touching each other in middle part (Figs 6C, 7B) versus separated distinctly in Phintella arcuata ; 5) dorsum of opisthosoma with only one black spot (Fig. 6A) versus with complicated markings in Phintella arcuata .

Description.

Female: Total length 4.68. Prosoma 1.96 long, 1.36 wide. Opisthosoma 2.54 long, 1.61 wide. Clypeus 0.15 high. Carapace (Fig. 6A) yellowish-brown, color of cephalic region darker, with one pair of black markings between PER bases. Eye bases black, eye field covered with sparse yellowish-brown bristles, denser in vicinity of eyes. Fovea short and thin, reddish-brown, longitudinal, cervical and radial grooves indistinct. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.45, ALE 0.23, PLE 0.25. AERW 1.38, PERW 1.30, EL 1.14. Chelicerae yellow, with 2 promarginal teeth and 1 retromarginal. Endites narrower at base, anterior margin with bristles. Labium broader at base, covered with brown thin hair, denser in anterior part. Sternum pale yellow, anteriorly straight and posteriorly subacute, covered with brown thin hair. Legs pale yellow to yellow. Leg spinnation: tibiae I and II with three pairs, metatarsi I and II with two pairs of long spines. Measurements of legs: I 3.01 (0.93, 1.15, 0.50, 0.43), II 2.88 (0.90, 1.05, 0.50, 0.43), III 3.58 (1.05, 1.20, 0.90, 0.43), IV 3.78 (1.15, 1.30, 0.90, 0.43). Leg formula: 4312. Dorsum of opisthosoma (Fig. 6A) long oval, yellow, with lighter area, covered with sparse thin hair, median area with two pairs of muscle impressions, posterior area with one black spot. Venter pale yellow, without distinct marking.

Epigyne (Figs 6 B–C, 7 A–B) slightly longer than wide. Atrium margins slit-like, longitudinal, situated anteriorly. Basal plate arched, with two protruding parts below epigastric furrow. Copulatory ducts long and thick, originated from the middle part of outer margin of spermathecae, slightly snaky. Spermathecae pyriform, touching each other in the middle section.

Male: unknown.

Distribution.

China (Hunan).