Epidius mahavira, Benjamin, 2017

Benjamin, Suresh P., 2017, Distributional and taxonomic notes on the crab spider genus Epidius with descriptions of five new species (Araneae: Thomisidae), Journal of Natural History 51 (9 - 10), pp. 469-485 : 481-484

Epidius mahavira sp. nov.

( Figures 5 (e), 7(a–e), 8(a, b, d, e,), and 9(a–e))

Type material

Holotype, male, India, Tamil Nadu State, Trichanophilai (also known as Tiruchirappalli; 10° 48 ʹ 18 ″ N 78° 41 ʹ 08 ″ E), E. Simon collection, (MNHN14,996; separated from an original vial that contained 1 male, 3 females and 2 juveniles; rest listed below.).

Other material examined

1 female, 4 juveniles, India, Tamil Nadu state, Kodaikanal, E . Simon collection, MNHN 9822. 3 females, 2 juveniles, same data has the haplotype, MNHN 14996 .

Etymology

Mahavira is widely regarded as the founder of Jainism. Used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis

Distinguished from known congeners by the distinctive shape of E (filiform, reaches up to the tip of C), C (cylindrical, enlarged at the centre, tapered towards tip, tip blunted; Figures 8 (a, b) and 9(a–d)) and RTA (stout, tooth-shaped; Figure 9 (e)). Females may be distinguished by the oval S, and short CD ( Figure 8 (d, e)).

Description

Male. Total length: 3.6; prosoma length: 2.1, width: 1.8. Leg I: femur 3.6, patella 0.8, tibia 3.3, metatarsus 3.2. tarsus 1.6. Prosoma brown/yellow, mid and eye regions darker, without prominent markings or conspicuous setae. Opisthosoma with white spots, dorsally with a dark brown folium. ALE = PLE> PME> AME. AER, PER recurved, eyes on brown-coloured mounds, but not touching. Chelicerae with 3 and 2 teeth on pro- and retromargin of fang furrow, respectively. Leg formula 1243. Palps as in Figures 7 (c), 8(a, b), and 9(a–e), femur and tibia characteristically elongated, femur as long as tibia, furnished with around 6 thick long spines and MTr. RTA present, stout, not well developed. Bulbus ovoid, conductor with a stout tip, not serrated, MA absent. Embolus stout, tapering.

Female. Total length: 5.7–4.5; prosoma length: 2.1, width: 1.8. Leg I: femur 2.4, patella 0.9, tibia 2.4, metatarsus 1.7, tarsus 1.0. In general similar to male. Epigynum without hood, anterior margins not clearer, lateral margins sclerotised. Dual-chambered S connected by a short, thick-walled CD), second chamber enlarged, positioned posterior to first chamber ( Figures 7 (d, e) and 8(d, e)).

Distribution

Known only from Kodaikanal and Trichanophilai in India.

Figures

Figure 5. Epidius longimanus sp. nov. MNHN 9783 (a–d) and Epidius mahavira sp. nov. MNHN 14,996 (e). (a, e) Male dorsal view. (b) Female, dorsal view. (c) Male palp, proloateral/ventral view. (d) Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: c, d = 0.2 mm; a, e = 1.0 mm; b = 2.0 mm.

Figure 7. Epidius mahavira sp. nov. MNHN 14,996. (a, b) Female habitus, dorsal view. (c) Male palp, prolateral view. (d, e) Epigynum, ventral view. Scale bars: c–e = 0.2 mm; a, b = 1.0 mm.

Figure 8. Epidius mahavira sp. nov. MNHN 14,996 (a, b, d, e) and Epidius longimanus sp. nov. MNHN 9783 (c). (a) Male palp, ventral view. (b) Tip of embolus/conductor complex, Epidius mahavira sp. nov. (c) Tip of embolus/conductor complex, Epidius longimanus sp. nov. (d) Epigynum, ventral view. (e) Vulva, ventral view. Scale bars: b, c = 0.1 mm; a, d, e = 0.2 mm.

Figure 9. Scanning electron micrographs of Epidius mahavira sp. nov. MNHN 14,996. (a) Male palp with bulb and tibia, ventral view. (b) Same, prolateral view. (c) Bulb, ventral view. (d) Conductor, ventral view. (e) RTA and palpal macrosetae, ventral view. Scale bars: d, e = 50 µm; c = 90 µm; a, b = 200 µm.