Habrocestum kodigalaensis sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:DD31A278-E248-45C4-8871-75DB4F3B9FC9

Figs 1, 7 – 8

Diagnosis

This species can be distinguished from known congeners by the peculiar shape of embolus (Figs 7 D, 8 A), short hook-shaped RTA, shape of proximal lobe of tegulum and small and deep vaginal roof, oval shape accessory glands and triangular shape receptacles (Figs 7 F, 8 C–D). The epigynum of this species is similar to those of H. dubium Wesolowska & van Harten, 2002 and H. ignorabile Wesolowska & van Harten, 2007; it, however, differs by the presence of accessory glands, and the shape of the spermathecae and seminal ducts.

Etymology

The speciFc epithet refers to the type locality.

Material examined

Holotype

SRI LANKA: Ƌ, North Central Province, Anuradhapura District, Ritigala Strict Nature Reserve, Kodigala summit (L40), 08°06′33″ N, 80°39′16″ E, 716 m, hand collection, 28 Jun. 2011, leg. S.P. Benjamin, S. Batuwita et al. (IFS _ SAL 516) .

Paratype

SRI LANKA: 1 ♀, sama data as holotype (IFS _ SAL 467) .

Other material

SRI LANKA: 1 Ƌ, Central Province, Matale District, Riverstone (L9), Knuckles Range, 07°31′17″ N, 80°44′04″ E, 1220 m, hand collection, 2 Feb. 2010, leg. S. Batuwita & P.M.H Sandamali (IFS _ SAL 345) .

Description

Male

MEASUREMENTS. BL 3.80, CL 1.88, PW at PLEs 1.92, AL 1.48, AW 1.20. Diameter of AME 0.43, PLE 0.19, ALE 0.25, PME 0.05, PME-PME 1.18, PLE-PLE 0.96, ALE-PME 0.19, ALE-PLE 0.34. Leg I: Tr 0.32, Fm 1.04, Pt 0.40, Tb 1.16, Mt 0.60, Ta 0.40; Leg II: Tr 0.16, Fm 1.00, Pt 0.40, Tb 0.60, Mt 0.48, Ta 0.36; Leg III: Tr 0.16, Fm 1.20, Pt 0.32, Tb 0.60, Mt 0.60, Ta 0.28; Leg IV: Tr 0.16, Fm 0.8, Pt 0.24, Tb 0.52, Mt 0.72, Ta 0.28.

COLOR AND BODY. Carapace dark brown. Dark brown bristles near front eyes. Anterior median eyes covered with tuft of pale yellow hairs. Dark ocular region. Chelicerae blackish brown. Sternum oval shaped with dispersed black colored spots. White and brown hairs sparsely dispersed on lateral prosoma. Distance between posterior eyes slightly shorter than distance between anterior lateral eyes. Carapace somewhat high in the ocular region. Eye Feld short and wide occupying about one-third length of prosoma. Median ocular quadrangle much broader than long. Round and middle depression around short fovea behind PLEs. Prosoma longer than wide. Lateral and posterior sides of prosoma much steeper. Posterior margin of prosoma truncated (Fig. 7 A–B). Abdomen: Oval shaped, smaller and narrower than prosoma. Dorsum greyish beige color with black stripes and spots. Venter with longitudinal pale yellow dash line from spinnerets to epigastric furrow. Spinnerets blackish yellow. Anterior venter with black blotches.

LEGS. All legs with yellow and black banding pattern. Femora III much longer than femora IV. Front legs slightly darker than other pairs.

PALP. Dark brown palp except for tibia and cymbium. Dorsum of cymbium with large, round spot of pale yellow scales. Palpal tibia with short hook-shaped tibial apophysis (Figs 7 E, 8 B). Elongated bulbus. Tegulum with a long lateral proximal lobe, protruding posterolaterally beyond base of cymbium. Thick embolus with hook-like tip and broader at midlength, arising from under tegular ledge (Figs 7 D, 8 A). Part of sperm duct clearly visible at shoulder of tegulum.

Female

MEASUREMENTS. BL 3.40, CL 1.92, PW 1.24, AL 1.46, AW 0.88. Diameter of AME 0.34, PLE 0.19, ALE 0.25, PME 0.05, PME-PME 1.02, PLE-PLE 0.93, ALE-PME 0.25, ALE-PLE 0.50. Leg I: Tr 0.20, Fm 0.65, Pt 0.48, Tb 0.60, Mt 0.28, Ta 0.20; Leg II: Tr 0.16, Fm 0.80, Pt 0.36, Tb 0.48, Mt 0.36, Ta 0.24; Leg III: Tr 0.20, Fm 1.12, Pt 0.44, Tb 0.48, Mt 0.40, Ta 0.40; Leg IV: Tr 0.20, Fm 0.80, Pt 0.20, Tb 0.56, Mt 0.44, Ta 0.28.

COLOR AND BODY. Most characters are similar to the male except: posterior margin of prosoma slightly more truncated than in the male, dorsal abdomen with black and yellow stripes distributed from anterior portion to spinnerets (Fig. 7 C), venter light grey colour with some transverse light brown markings near spinnerets, anterior venter with pattern similar to dorsum.

EPIGYNUM. Small sclerotized pocket-like vaginal roof with deep notch at posterior edge of epigynum (Figs 7 F, 8 C–D). Large parentheses-like copulatory openings located posterolaterally. Copulatory ducts with narrower anterior part and broader portion entering into spermathecae. Heavily sclerotized spermathecae with thick walls connected by soft channels. Oval accessory glands, fertilization ducts narrow, originating from top of spermathecae (Fig. 8 C–D).