Alaria cavernicola, Lin, Yucheng, Li, Shuqiang & Jaeger, Peter, 2014

Lin, Yucheng, Li, Shuqiang & Jaeger, Peter, 2014, Four new spider species of the family Theridiosomatidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from caves in Laos, ZooKeys 391, pp. 75-102 : 77-79

Alaria cavernicola sp. n. Figs 1-4, 19

Material examined.

Laos: Bolikhamsay Province: Holotype: ♂ (SMF), Lak Sao, Tham Man Kone, 18°13.268'N, 104°48.765'E, altitude 501 m, inside cave, leg. 3 December 2012. Paratypes: 1 ♂, 2 ♀ (SMF), same data as holotype; Khammouan Province: 6 ♂ (SMF), 8.3 km NE of Thakek, Tham Noi, 17°26.655'N, 104°51.767'E, altitude 158 m, in foot cave, leg. 26 November 2012; 1 ♂ (IZCAS), 15 km N of Thakek, Ban Phôungam-Mai, 17°31.835'N, 104°46.582'E, altitude 144 m, limestone cave, quarry, leg. 25 November 2012; 1 ♂ (SMF), LAOS, 2.5 km WNW of Ban Tathot, entrance 17°37.897'N, 105°07.502'E, exit 17°37.994'N, 105°07.195'E, altitude 200 m, entrance area and in front of limestone cave, Tham Kamouk, leg. 30 April 2012; 2 ♀ (SMF, IZCAS), Thakek area, Ban Phôungam-Mai, 17°32.954'N, 104°48.754'E, altitude 180 m, limestone cave, Tham Phayat, leg. 29 April 2012; 1 ♀ (SMF), Boualapha District, Tham Nam, Lot Xe Bang Fai, 17°22'24.43"N, 105°50'39.36"E, altitude 190 m, in day, leg. 3-4 May 2012.

Etymology.

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin word “cavernicola” = "living in caves", refers to that this species may mainly live in caves; adjective.

Diagnosis.

This new species is similar to Alaria chengguanensis Zhao & Li, 2012 in the paracymbial shape (Figs 1D, 3C), most part of the long embolus embedded in conductor, the large median apophysis (Figs 1 B–C, 3 A–B), the scape protruding from beneath epigynal plate (Figs 2 B–E, 4 A–B), and the similar configurations of the vulva (Figs 2E, 4B). Males can be distinguished by the absence of tufted setae on the cymbium (Figs 1G, 3F vs. Zhao and Li 2012: figs 1B, 1D, 3D), the different shape of the median apophysis (Figs 1F, 3E vs. Zhao and Li 2012: figs 1A, 3A, 5A), females by the long, narrow and membranous scape as well as by the large and wide spermathecae (Figs 2 B–E, 4 A–B vs. Zhao and Li 2012: figs 2 A–B, 5 C–D).

Description.

Habitus as in Figs 1A, 2A. DS nearly pear-shaped, yellow, with grey pigment, cervical groove distinct, thoracic fovea present. Sternum yellow. Legs proximally pale yellow, distally yellow. Opisthosoma sub-spherical, grey in male, off-white in female, with white patches.

Male palp (Figs 1 B–D, 3 A–C): patella with strong macroseta and trichobothrium (Figs 1C, 1H, 3B, 3G). Tibia with 2 trichobothria and a lamellar process (Figs 1H, 3G). Paracymbium with a hooked basal process and a long distal spicula (Figs 1 C–D, 1G, 3 B–C, 3F). Tegulum smooth. Median apophysis large, surface with tiny grooves and aculei, proximal process short and serrated, distal process long and slightly furcated (Figs 1F, 3E). Most part of embolus embedded in sheath-like conductor (Figs 1 B–D, 3 A–C). Embolus long, bent, filiform (Figs 1E, 3D).

Female copulatory organ (Figs 2 B–E, 4 A–B): epigynal area with long setae. Scape long, membranous, rugose, distally bent, protruding from beneath epigynal posterior margin (Figs 2D, 4A). Spermathecae subovate, juxtaposed (Figs 2C, 2E, 4B). Copulatory ducts wide, starting from lateral corner of spermathecae (Fig. 4B), curl up to form a saccular structure at each side (Figs 2E, 4B). Fertilization ducts deriving from ventral surface of spermathecae, distally hooked (Fig. 4B).

Male: total length 1.52, DS 0.73 long, 0.60 wide, clypeus 0.16, sternum 0.39 long, 0.33 wide, coxae IV separated by their width, opisthosoma 0.82 long, 0.75 wide. PME separated by less than half their diameter. Macrosetae: leg I: femur d1, p1, r1, patella d2, tibia d2, p2, r1, v1, metatarsus d1, p1, r1; leg II: femur d1, r1, patella d2, tibia d2, p1, r1, metatarsus d1, r1; leg III: femur d1, patella d2, tibia r1, metatarsus d1, p1, r1; leg IV: femur d2, patella d2, tibia d2, p1, metatarsus d1, p1, r1. Metatarsal trichobothria: Tm I: 0.29; Tm II: 0.25; Tm III: 0.14. Leg measurements: I 2.02 (0.65, 0.28, 0.40, 0.41, 0.28); II 1.64 (0.51, 0.25, 0.32, 0.32, 0.24); III 1.14 (0.34, 0.19, 0.18, 0.23, 0.20); IV 1.48 (0.45, 0.22, 0.30, 0.29, 0.22).

Female (collected together with holotype, from Tham Man Kone): total length 2.65, DS 1.03 long, 0.99 wide, clypeus 0.18, sternum 0.62 long, 0.53 wide, coxae IV separated by their width, opisthosoma 1.67 long, 1.58 wide. PME separated by less than half their diameter. Macrosetae: leg I: femur d1, p1, r1, patella d2, tibia d2, p2, r1, v2, metatarsus p1, r1, v1; leg II: femur d1, r1, patella d2, tibia d2, p1, r1, v1, metatarsus p1, r1, v1; leg III: femur d1, patella d2, tibia d1, r1, metatarsus d1, p1, r1, v1; leg IV: femur d2, patella d2, tibia d2, p1, r1, v1, metatarsus p1, r1. Metatarsal trichobothria: Tm I: 0.27; Tm II: 0.27; Tm III: 0.16. Leg measurements: I 3.48 (1.18, 0.47, 0.71, 0.71, 0.41); II 2.92 (0.93, 0.42,0.58, 0.60, 0.39); III 1.99 (0.59, 0.31, 0.34, 0.43, 0.32); IV 2.79 (0.93, 0.38, 0.56, 0.55, 0.37).

Variation.

The total length ranges from 1.48 to 1.62 in males (n = 10) and from 2.38 to 2.70 in females (n = 5).

Distribution.

See in Fig. 19.