Heradion intermedium, Chami-Kranon, Thanaphum & Ono, Hirotsugu, 2007

Chami-Kranon, Thanaphum & Ono, Hirotsugu, 2007, On Vietnamese representatives of the ant spider genus Heradion (Araneae: Zodariidae), Zootaxa 1395, pp. 59-68 : 61-66

Heradion intermedium spec. nov.

Figures 1–4 , 7, 10 , 13–18

Type material. Holotype: ɗ [ MHNG, SV­ 03/20], VIETNAM, Lam–Dong Province, Datanla Waterfall, ca. 5 km south of Da–Lat, 11º 54' 02.2'' N, 108º 26' 54.0'' E, 1300 m, evergreen hill forest, 5./11./12.IX.2003, leg. PJ Schwendinger.

Paratypes: 2 ɗ, 3 Ψ, data as holotype [ MHNG, SV­ 03/20].

Etymology. Latin, intermedius = meaning in between. The specific epithet refers to the length of the distal tegular apophysis of male palpal organ which is obviously shorter than those of H. naiadis and H. peteri but slightly longer than that of H. flammeum (Ono) comb. nov. ( Figs 5–9 ).

Diagnosis. Heradion intermedium spec. nov. can be recognized by: the bifurcate median apophysis of males ( Figs 1 , 7 ); the distal triangular tegular apophysis ( Fig. 1 ), with relatively broad base and blunt apex; female with posterior bilateral epigynal lips ( Fig. 3 ); posteriorly located spermathecae globular ( Fig. 4 ). Heradion intermedium spec. nov. is most similar to H. naiadis particularly in the general shape of the MA and the sharply pointed retrolateral tibial apophysis ( Figs 2 , 12 ). It can be distinguished from H. naiadis by differences in shape of the distal tegular apophysis and elongate internal duct system of female. In H. naiadis , the MA provided with a multi­branching projection, clearly visible in ventral view ( Fig. 6 ). The length of the ascending part of the female internal ducts is shorter in H. naiadis than that in H. intermedium spec. nov. ( Fig. 4 ). The female spermathecae are globular but reniform in the latter species.

Heradion intermedium spec. nov. belongs to the naiadis ­group judging from the structures of the male palpal organ. Although it is related to H. luctator (the pernix ­group) by the strong resemblance of the bifid MA and the comparable orientation of the tibial apophyses, the following differences are obvious: it has a triangular DTA, which is the main character of the species attributed to the naiadis ­group ( Figs 5–9 ); the proximal part of tibiae I of H. intermedium spec. nov. is not modified (modification occurs in males of H. luctator ; see also Dankittipakul & Jocqué 2004: 782; Fig. 84).

Description. ɗ (holotype). Total length 4.38. Carapace 2.45 long, 1.64 wide. Opisthosoma 1.93 long, 1.46 wide.

Colour. Carapace ( Figs 13, 16 ) dark reddish­brown; chelicerae dark brown; sternum ( Fig. 15 ) orangebrown. Legs bicolor: coxae, trochanters, femora and patellae orange­brown; tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi yellow. Dorsum of opisthosoma dark purple with three pairs of pale patches ( Fig. 13 ), followed by a transverse band; venter pale, provided with markings ( Fig. 15 ): a pair of teardrop­shaped patches situated in between a median longitudinal band and a pair of oblique stripes.

Prosoma ( Figs 13, 16 ). Long oval, widest between coxae II and III, smooth and shiny, except for margin above coxae I and II provided with a small patch of strongly granulate tegument ( Fig. 16 ).

Sternum ( Fig. 15 ). Strongly raised, with anterior concavity, accommodating labium and maxillae; lateral margins elevated, provided with pointed intercoxal extensions, fitting coxal concavities.

Opisthosoma ( Fig. 13 ). Pyriform, longer than wide; slightly sclerotised dorsal scutum narrow and short, extending less than half opisthosomal length. Ventral abdominal sclerotised area ( Figs 15, 17 ) yellow, slightly sclerotised, clearly delimited, with a group of thin spines located in front of spinnerets ( Fig. 17 ).

Eyes. AME 0.10, ALE 0.12, PME 0.10, PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.10, PME–PME 0.08, PME–PLE 0.25, ALE–PLE 0.10; MOQ 0.36 long, front width 0.30, back width 0.28. Clypeus 2.03 high. Legs. Relatively long, with elongate tibiae and metatarsi; metatarsal preening bush present on legs II­IV. Measurements: Femora: I: 2.08; II: 1.83; III: 1.18; IV: 2.03. Patellae: I: 0.51; II: 0.42; III 0.34; IV: 0.60. Tibiae: I: 1.76; II: 1.28; III: 0.85; IV: 1.93; Metatarsi: I: 1.35; II: 1.20; III: 1.26; IV: 2.05. Tarsi: I:1.26; II:1.03; III:0.72; IV:1.17. Total: I:6.96; II:5.76; III:4.35; IV:7.78.

Male palp ( Figs 1, 2 , 7, 12 ). Palpal tibia with two apophyses; ventrolateral tibial apophysis (VTA) blunt, rectangular when seen from ventral side, narrowed at base in retrolateral view, provided with two macrosetae; retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) sharp and pointed, gradually narrowing toward its apex. Cymbial furrow broad and shallow, about half cymbium length, with basolateral fold. Tegulum elongate. Subtegulum strongly sclerotised. Median apophysis (MA) bifid, basal branch partially sclerotised, directed outward; upper branch sickle­shaped, slightly curved inward. Distal tegular apophysis (DTA) a simple, sclerotised plate with broad base, gradually raised, forming a triangular structure. Embolic base connected to tegulum, without clear separation; embolus filiform; embolic tip concealed between DTA and MA.

Ψ (one of the paratypes). Total length 4.87. Carapace 2.21 long, 1.48 wide. Abdomen 2.55 long, 1.64 wide.

Colour. As in male but generally larger in size ( Fig. 14 ); legs orange­brown, femora darker; dorsum of opisthosoma with four pairs of small, pale patches; venter with three dark purple bands running longitudinally between epigastric furrow and spinnerets. Ventral abdominal sclerotised area ( Fig. 18 ) yellow, strongly sclerotised, clearly delimited, with a short row of spines located on its margin ( Fig. 18 ).

Eyes. AME 0.10, ALE 0.11, PME 0.11, PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.05, AME–ALE 0.09, PME–PME 0.08, PME–PLE 0.27, ALE–PLE 0.09; MOQ 0.39 long, front width 0.31, back width 0.30. Clypeus 2.51 high.

Legs. Measurements: Femora: I:1.60; II:1.45; III: 1.34; IV:1.89. Patellae: I:0.57; II:0.58; III:0.54; IV:0.59. Tibiae: I:1.58; II:1.16; III:0.98; IV:1.70; Metatarsi: I:1.15; II:1.18; III:1.30; IV:1.98. Tarsi: I:0.92; II:0.83; III:0.75; IV:1.04. Total: I:5.87; II:5.20; III:

4.91; IV:7.20.

Epigyne ( Figs 3, 4 ). With large but shallow atrium; median septum (S) broad; posterior margin strongly sclerotised, forming lip­like structure (EL); copulatory orifices (CO) situated in the middle of epigyne. Internal duct system elongate, ascending (CDa) then descending (CDd) to the strongly sclerotised posterior globular spermathecae (SP); fertilization ducts simple (FD), originating underneath the spermathecae.

Natural history. Heradion intermedium spec. nov. was collected by sifting leaf and organic litter in evergreen hill forest about 1300 m asl.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 4. Heradion intermedium spec. nov., ♂ holotype (1, 2) and Ψ paratypes (3, 4). 1, left palp, ventral view; 2, ditto, retrolateral view; 3, epigyne, ventral view; 4, internal structures of epigyne, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CDa, ascending part of copulatory duct; CDd, descending part of copulatory duct; CF, cymbium furrow; CO, copulatory orifice; DTA: distal tegular apophysis; E, embolus; EL, epigynal lip; FD, fertilization duct; MA: median apophysis; RTA: retrolateral tibial apophysis; S, epigynal septum; SP, spermatheca; ST, subtegulum; VTA, ventrolateral tibial apophysis. Scale lines = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 5 – 12. Apices of tegulum, showing median apophyses and distal tegular apophyses (5 – 9): Heradion peteri (5); H. naiadis (6); H. intermedium spec. nov. (7); H. flammeum comb. nov. (8); H. paradiseum comb. nov. (9). Retrolateral view of tibiae, showing VTA and RTA: H. paradiseum comb. nov. (10); H. flammeum comb. nov. (11); H. intermedium spec. nov. Abbreviations: DTA: distal tegular apophysis; m, membranous area; MA: median apophysis; RTA: retrolateral tibial apophysis; T, tegulum; VTA, ventrolateral tibial apophysis.

FIGURES 13 – 18. Heradion intermedium spec. nov., ♂ holotype (13, 15 – 17) and Ψ paratypes (14, 18): body, dorsal view (13, 14); body, ventral view (15); carapace (16); posterior part of opisthosama (17, 18), showing ventral abdominal sclerotised area in front of spinnerets.