Psechrus inflatus sp. nov.

Figs 35a–d, 36a–f, 85i, 88g, 91g

Type material: Holotype ♂ (SB 952), CHINA: Yunnan Province: Gongshan Co., Dulongjiang Township, trail to Makucun (Maku Yakou), 0.5 air km WSW of Makucun village, N 27°40'59'', E 98°18'01.4'', 1845 m; J.A. Miller & D.H. Kavanaugh leg. by night 30.VIII.2006; field-no. JM 06083004; CAS 9039432 ; Paratypes (4 ♀♀): 1 ♀ (SB 951), with same data as for holotype; CAS 9039432; 2 ♀♀ (SB 950, CAS 9022346 and SB 960, CAS 9022404), CHINA: Yunnan Province: Lushui Co., Pianma Township, Xuetang, 0–4 km E Ganfang, Sancha Lukou, N 26°07'19.85'' – 26°07'15.78'', E 98°34'32'' – 98°34'40'', 1640–1785 m, along roadcut with embankments and rocky cliffs; C. Griswold & D. Kavanaugh leg. 16.V.2005; field-no. CGY108; CAS (Coll.-numbers, see above) ; 1 ♀ (SB 961), CHINA: Yunnan Province: Nujiang Prefecture, Gangfang, Sancha Lukou, N 26°07', E 98°35', 1500 m, weedy vegetation and road cuts; C. Griswold, D. Kavanaugh & C.L. Long leg. 14.X.1998; CAS 9023975 .

Additional material examined (1 p. s.a. ♀, 7 juvs). CHINA: Yunnan Province: Nujiang Prefecture, Gangfang, Sancha Lukou, N 26°07', E 98°35', 1500 m, weedy vegetation and road cuts; C. Griswold, D. Kavanaugh & C.L. Long leg. 14.X.1998; 1 p.s.a. ♀ (SB 968), 6 juvs (SB 962–967), CAS 9023975. Lushui Co., Pianma Township, Xuetang, 0–4 km E Ganfang, Sancha Lukou, N 26°07'19.85'' – 26°07'15.78'', E 98°34'32'' – 98°34'40'', 1640–1785 m, along roadcut with embankments and rocky cliffs; C. Griswold & D. Kavanaugh leg. 16.V.2005; field-no. CGY108; 1 juv. (SB 959), CAS 9022404 .

Etymology. The specific name refers to the strongly swollen opisthosoma females may exhibit before egg deposition (Latin “inflatus” means “swollen, puffed up”); adjective.

Diagnosis (see also diagnosis for himalayanus -group above). Male similar to P. himalayanus and P. marsyandi in having the straight embolus (E) completely associated with conductor (C). Distinguished from himalayanus by the more complex curved sperm duct (Fig. 35b). Distinguished from marsyandi by the inhomogeneous ventroretrolateral loops of sperm duct (Fig. 35b). Distinguished from both by the more inhomogeneous tegulum (T) with tranversal edges (Fig. 35b,c), the broader C (Fig. 35b) and the macrosetae ventro-proximally on palpal femur (Fig. 35d). Females similar to P. ghecuanus Thorell, 1897 in having a simple median septum (MS) and a simple, compact vulva. Distinguished by the small notches at lateral margins of MS (Figs 36a,d) and the broader and flatter spermathecal heads (SH) (Fig. 36b). Moreover, initial section of copulatory duct (CD) with tranversal (Fig. 36f) instead of ventro-dorsal direction like in P. ghecuanus (Fig. 37g).

Description. Male:

Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 8.1, carapace width 5.9, anterior width of carapace 3.1, opisthosoma length 10.3, opisthosoma width 3.8. Eyes: AME 0.46, ALE 0.45, PME 0.46, PLE 0.46, AME–AME 0.18, AME–ALE 0.03, PME–PME 0.25, PME–PLE 0.37, AME–PME 0.54, ALE–PLE 0.42, clypeus height at AME 0.78, clypeus height at ALE 0.78.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1423. Palp: 11.8 [4.7, 2.1, 2.0, 3.0]; Legs: I 75.8 [19.2, 4.1, 20.0, 22.7, 9.8], II 59.8 [15.9, 3.7, 15.7, 17.0, 7.5], III 39.6 [11.0, 3.0, 9.8, 10.7, 5.1], IV 60.1 [15.9, 3.4, 15.1, 17.4, 8.3]. Spination. Palp: 131, 110 (prolateral one very small), 0000; legs: femur I 536, II 546, III 545{555}, IV 555; patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3038, III–IV 3036; metatarsus I–IV 3035.

Palpal femur without modification, but ventro-proximally with macrosetae (as mentioned above) (Fig. 35d).

Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description for himalayanus -group). Conductor at apical section narrow and hyaline (Fig. 35b). In ventral view subtegulum barely recognisable underneath tegulum. Palpal tibia in lateral view medium sized (Figs 35a,c). Cymbium dorsally with very dense scopula, covering ½ of the former.

Female: Body and eye measurements. Carapace length 9.8–12.1, carapace width 6.4–8.3, anterior width of carapace 4.2–4.9, opisthosoma length 15.4–19.0, opisthosoma width 8.2–14.4. Eyes: AME 0.51–0.55, ALE 0.50–0.55, PME 0.52–0.54, PLE 0.51–0.55, AME–AME 0.27–0.33, AME–ALE 0.04–0.08, PME–PME 0.33–0.47, PME–PLE 0.50–0.55, AME–PME 0.66–0.79, ALE–PLE 0.57–0.62, clypeus height at AME 1.39–1.73, clypeus height at ALE 1.46–1.68.

Cheliceral furrow with three promarginal and four retromarginal teeth.

Measurements of palp and legs. Leg formula: 1243/1423. Palp: 12.1–13.6 [4.2–4.8, 1.8–2.2, 2.2–2.4, 3.9–4.2]; Legs: I 53.7–60.4 [14.6–16.7, 4.2–5.1, 14.8–16.5, 13.9–15.4, 6.2–6.7], II 43.1–49.2 [12.6–14.3, 3.7–4.6, 11.6–12.9, 10.5–12.1, 4.7–5.3], III 30.2–35.1 [9.1–10.6, 2.9–3.6, 7.3–8.5, 7.4–8.4, 3.5–4.0], IV 43.5–48.6 [12.8–14.5, 3.5–4.1, 10.9–12.2, 11.0–12.1, 5.3–5.7]. Thus, legs in females, in relation to other Psechrus species, short: FEM-I+MTT-I/ CL: 2.6–2.9.

Palpal claw with 14–15 teeth.

Spination. Palp: 131 (142,141), 110, 1101, 1014; legs: femur I 546 (536), II 546 (536), III 545 (555), IV 545 (555,544); patella I–IV 000; tibia I–II 3038, III 3034 (3036), IV 3036; metatarsus I–II 3035 (2035), III–IV 3035.

Copulatory organ (see also diagnosis and general description of himalayanus -group). Slit sense organs and epigynal muscle sigilla outside epigynal field. Anterior to epigyne just a few and rather fine wrinkles (Figs 36a,d).

Colouration of male and female (see also description for himalayanus -group and Psechrus). Median bands on carapace serrated, but not distinctly, and quite broad. Lateral bands medium sized to narrow (slightly more than diameter of PME) and may be serrated or not. Light longitudinal line ventrally on opisthosoma continuous or subdistally constricted (most distal section may be broader than main section) and quiet broad. If measured centrally on opisthosoma, its width is ca. 1.0–1.2 times the width of one half of the cribellum.

Variation of copulatory organs. Females: Posterior part of MS may be narrower (Fig. 36d). Structure of compact receptaculum may differing slightly (Figs 36b,e).

Distribution. China (Fig. 96).