Anapistula appendix, Tong, Yan-Feng & Li, Shu-Qiang, 2006

Tong, Yan-Feng & Li, Shu-Qiang, 2006, Symphytognathidae (Araneae), a spider family newly recorded from China, Zootaxa 1259, pp. 33-38 : 34-35

Anapistula appendix sp. nov.

( Figs 1–9 )

Type material: Holotype female, CHINA: Hainan Province, Dongfang City, Datian National Natural Reserve, Mihou Cave (18°94´N, 109°06´E), 28 March 2005, Y. J. Song, X. Han, Y. F. Tong and G. Y. Deng leg.

Etymology: The specific name, appendix , a noun in apposition is Latin for "appendage" and was given in reference to the short lobe of the lateral branch in the epigynum.

Diagnosis: This new species resembles Anapistula benoiti Forster & Platnick, 1977 , described from Zaire in the structure of female genitalia. However, the lateral branch directly joins to the spermathecae in Anapistula benoiti , but runs along the ventral surface of the spermathecae and ends in a short lobe in the new species.

Description: Female. Total length, not including chelicerae, 0.65. Carapace 0.28 long, 0.24 wide, 0.23 high. Opisthosoma 0.37 long, 0.32 wide, 0.45 high. Whole body pale yellow, without markings, chelicerae slightly darker, legs pale brown. Carapace with pair of setae at eyes, and at middle, respectively. Anterior margin of clypeus with row of setae. Four eyes present in two diads; anterior eyes larger than posteriors. Clypeus wide, nearly as same as distance between anterior eyes. Chelicerae weakly fused at middle, each with two sharp teeth. Labium much wider than long (length/width 0.27). Sternum slightly wider than long (length/width 0.88), globose. Legs clothed with setae and bristles, each patella with long dorso­apical spine; joint between tarsus and metatarsus inflexible. Leg measurements: I 0.96 (0.28, 0.12, 0.20, 0.13, 0.23); II 0.80 (0.22, 0.11, 0.16, 0.13, 0.18); III 0.71 (0.20, 0.10, 0.13, 0.11, 0.17); IV 0.89 (0.26, 0.12, 0.19, 0.13, 0.19). Leg formula: I­IV­II­III.

Opisthosoma covered with long hairs, globular, slightly longer than wide (length/ width 1.16), distinctly higher than long (height/length 1.22), posteriorly expanded beyond spinnerets. Book lungs not visible. Anterior spinnerets slightly larger than posteriors; median spinnerets very small; colulus absent.

Palp completely absent. Epigynum not sclerotized, with two small globular spermathecae connected by relatively short lateral branches to long median duct. Lateral branch runs along ventral surface of spermathecae and ends in short, blind lobe.

Male. Unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Anapistula appendix sp. nov., photos. 1, Body, dorsal view; 2, Body, lateral view.

FIGURES 3 – 8. Anapistula appendix sp. nov. 3, Prosoma, dorsal view; 4, Prosoma, lateral view; 5, Prosoma, frontal view; 6, Prosoma, ventral view; 7, Epigynum, ventral view; 8, Chelicerae, frontal view. Scale bars: 3 – 6, 8, 0.05 mm; 7, 0.01 mm.

FIGURE 9. Collection locality of Anapistula appendix sp. nov. (solid square) in Hainan, China.