Plator sinicus Zhu et Wang 1963, revalidated

(Figs 8–13, 46)

Plator sinicus Zhu & Wang 1963: 469 –470, pl. 3, figs 20, 22.

Plator nipponicus: Mao & Zhu 1983: 161, figs 2a–d (MHBU, examined); Hu 1984: 285, fig. 300 (MHBU, examined); Zhang 1987: 189, fig. 162 (MHBU, examined); Song et al. 1999: 431, fig. 258D, E, J. (Misidentification).

Diagnosis

This species closely resembles P. nipponicus in the shape of median apophysis of male and epigynum of female with a pair of eye­like anterior margins, but can be distinguished from the latter by subtegulum of male pedipalpus with a hump near middle, embolus beakshaped and a median fork lacking (Fig. 12), females with spermathecae oval each side with a very small heads (Figs 9–10).

Redescription

Female (holotype). Total length 8.10. Carapace 2.79 long, 4.23 wide; opisthosoma 5.49 long, 4.59 wide. Body appearance as P. nipponicus and P. i n s o l e n s. Carapace wider than long, light orange, with black margins bearing single row of bristles, other areas clothed with short, fine hairs and sparse setae. Anterior eye row slightly recurved, posterior eye row recurved (Fig. 8), posterior median eyes oval. Eye diameters: AME 0.12, ALE 0.15, PME 0.10, PLE 0.20. Distances between eyes: AME–AME 0.10, AME–ALE 0.10, PME–PME 0.23, PME–PLE 0.33. MOA 0.33 long, front width 0.34, back width 0.45. Chelicerae with four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Leg formula 2341.

Leg measurements of Plator sinicus Zhu & Wang 1963, female.

Opisthosoma oval, dorsum grey black, clothed with small paddle hairs and sparse dark setae bearing spinules. Venter pale yellow, clothed with fine small hairs. Colulus absent.

Six spinnerents. Epigynum orange, anteriorly with a pair of eye­like margins, spermathecae oval, each with a very small, laterally directed spermathecal heads (Figs 9–10).

Male total length 5.49. Carapace 2.51 long, 3.51 wide; opisthosoma 3.60 long, 3.51 wide. The Coloration of body and legs lighter than that in female. Eye diameters: AME 0.13, ALE 0.15, PME 0.10, PLE 0.20. Distances between eyes: AME–AME 0.07, AME –ALE 0.05, PME–PME 0.22, PME–PLE 0.25. MOA 0.36 long, front width 0.35, back width 0.45. Legs pale yellow. Subtegulum of pedipalpus with a prolateral hump near middle. Embolus beak­shaped and widened at base. Median apophysis small and really oval, slightly wider than long, with a small projection near median of its anterior edge (Fig. 12). Other characters as in female.

Va r i a t i o n

Body length: females 7.38–8.10, males 5.31–5.49.

Material examined

CHINA: Hebei Province, Chicheng County, N 40°55’, E 115°50’, 1 female, 2 October 2002, Zhi­Sheng Zhang leg; Chicheng County, 5 males and 2 females, 27 August 2003, Zhi­Sheng Zhang leg; Chengde City, N 40°59’, E 117°57’, 1 male, July 1985, Ming­Sheng Zhu leg; 4 females, Mancheng County, N 38°57’, E 115°19’, 20 March 2000, Ming­Sheng Zhu leg; Henan Province, Qinyang County, N 35°05’, E 112°57’, 1 female, 6 October 1981, Jing­Ying Mao leg; Qinyang County, 1 male and 1 female, 27 July 1982, Jing­Ying Mao leg. (all MHBU).

Distribution

North China (Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Henan).

Biology

Found on wall’s crevices of henhouse.