Microdipoena thatitou, Zhang & Lin, 2023

Zhang, Qiuqiu & Lin, Yucheng, 2023, Phylogenetic placement of eight poorly known spiders of Microdipoena (Araneae, Mysmenidae), with descriptions of five new species, ZooKeys 1175, pp. 333-373 : 333

Microdipoena thatitou sp. nov.

Fig. 18

Type material.

Holotype ♀ (NHMSU-No.83) Laos: Champasak Province, Muang Bachieng, Ban Lak 35, That Itou (15°11.628'N, 106°06.105'E; 810 m elev.), 26.VI.2009, PW. Jäger and S. Bayer leg.

Etymology.

The specific name is derived from the type locality; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

This new species can be distinguished from other congeners by the thickened, long S-shaped fertilization ducts and the entire membranous scape including distal end (Fig. 18D-F ).

Description.

Female (holotype): Total length 0.82. Carapace 0.24 long, 0.32 wide, 0.24 high. Clypeus 0.06 high. Sternum 0.23 long, 0.18 wide. Abdomen 0.58 long, 0.58 wide, 0.51 high. Length of legs: I 1.13 (0.32, 0.12, 0.23, 0.22, 0.24); II 1.22 (0.24, 0.12, 0.20, 0.18, 0.20); III 0.62 (0.20, 0.08, 0.14, 0.10, 0.10); IV 0.84 (0.24, 0.12, 0.18, 0.14, 0.16).

Somatic characters

(Fig. 18A-C ). Coloration: carapace yellow centrally, yellow-brown marginally. Ocular base black. Chelicera, endites yellow, labium yellow, sternum pale yellow with two symmetrical black stripes. Legs yellow-brown. Abdomen silvery yellow dorsally, black with symmetrical white and yellow spots, silvery brown with two symmetrical silvery yellow stripes ventrally. Prosoma: carapace nearly pear-shaped in dorsal view. Cephalic part unelevated. Sternum scutiform, covered with sparse setae. Legs: covered with setae and bristles. Femurs I and II with sclerotized femoral spot. Abdomen: nearly spherical, covered with sparse pale setae.

Epigyne (Fig. 18D-F ): the structure can be seen through the cuticle. Scape membranous, soft, without weakly sclerotized distal end. Copulatory duct membranous, coiled under the spermathecae. Paired spermathecae oval. Fertilization ducts long, thick, and sclerotized, originated from the lower edge of the spermathecae, the composite structure of fertilization ducts and spermathecae S-shaped.

Male. Unknown.

Distribution.

Laos (Champasak)

Figures

Figure 18. Microdipoena thatitou sp. nov., female from Laos A habitus, dorsal B habitus, ventral C habitus, lateral D epigyne, ventral E vulva, ventral F vulva, dorsal. Abbreviations: CD = copulatory duct, FD = fertilization duct, S = spermathecal, Sp = Scape. Scale bars: 0.50 mm (A-C), 0.10 mm (D-F).