Draconarius exilis, Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, Zhu, Ming-Sheng & Wang, Xin-Ping, 2005

Zhang, Zhi-Sheng, Zhu, Ming-Sheng & Wang, Xin-Ping, 2005, Draconarius exilis, a new species of coelotine spider from China (Araneae, Amaurobiidae), Zootaxa 1057, pp. 45-50 : 46-48

Draconarius exilis sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–7 )

Type material: Holotype male, 5 male and 20 female paratypes, from Jiuzhaigou (33°17’ N, 103°54’ E, 3000m), Sichuan, China, 20 September 2004, Z.S. Zhang leg., deposited in MHBU.

Etymology: The specific name is derived from “ exilis ” (Latin—thin, slender), referring to the thin and long male palp. It is an adjective in apposition.

Diagnosis: The male is similar to D. incertus ( Wang 2003: 535, figs. 35A–B), but can be distinguished by the absence of a patellar apophysis and the short RTA (only 1/3 tibial length). Females can be distinguished from both D. incertus ( Wang 2003: 541, figs. 47A– B) and D. pseudobrunneus ( Wang 2003: 544, figs. 52A–B) by the indistinct wrinkled epigynum and the variable shape of their spermathecae ( Figs. 2–6 ).

Description: Male (holotype): Total length 8.06: carapace 4.08 long, 2.96 wide; abdomen 4.18 long, 2.45 wide. AME 0.20, ALE 0.18, PME 0.15, PLE 0.13. AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.05, PME–PME 0.15, PME–PLE 0.20. ALE–PLE 0.08. MOA 0.45 long, front width 0.33, back width 0.45. Clypeus height 0.23. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 2 retromarginal teeth. Leg formula: 4123.

Leg measurements:

femur patella+ tibia metatarsus tarsus total

I 4.08 5.20 4.28 2.55 16.11 II 3.88 4.28 3.88 2.35 14.39 III 3.37 3.77 3.67 1.94 12.75 IV 4.28 5.00 5.10 2.45 16.83 Male palp ( Figs. 4–6 ) with lateral tibial apophysis small, widely separated from RTA; cymbial furrow shorter than half of cymbial length; conductor short, with bifurcated apex; conductor lamella indistinct; conductor dorsal apophysis present; median apophysis simple, not spoon­shaped; embolus short, originating prolaterally.

Female (one of the paratypes): Total length 8.98: carapace 4.39 long, 2.96 wide; abdomen 4.89 long, 3.26 wide. AME 0.13, ALE 0.20, PME 0.15, PLE 0.20. AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.08, PME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.18. ALE–PLE 0.10. MOA 0.50 long, front width 0.38, back width 0.50. Clypeus height 0.25. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 2 retromarginal teeth.

Leg measurements:

Epigyne ( Figs. 2–3 ) weakly wrinkled, without epigynal teeth; atrium slit­like, indistinct; copulatory ducts short, mesally originating; spermathecae small, rounded, slightly anterior extending and widely separated by approximately their width; spermathecal heads anterior originating.

Habitat: Under the deadwoods or tree barks in humid locality.

Distribution: China (Sichuan) ( Fig. 7 ).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Map of East Asia, showing locality records for species of the Draconarius incertus group.

FIGURES 1 – 6. Draconarius exilis sp. nov. 1. Male body, dorsal view. 2. Female epigynum, ventral view. 3. Female epigynum, dorsal view. 4 – 6. Left male palp (4. prolateral view 5. ventral view 6. retrolateral view). Scale bars: 1, 1.0 mm; 2 – 6, 0.2 mm.