Jacaena angoonae sp. nov.

(Figures 2D, 7E, 8E, 14A–C)

Type material

Holotype: ♀, Thailand: Huay Nam Dang NP, joint border between Mae Taeng District of Chiang Mai Province and Pai District of Mae Hong Son Province, Doi Chang, evergreen hill forest, 1930 m, extraction of soil sample, 4 June 1983, P.J. Schwendinger leg. (MHNG, PDC 4650).

Paratypes: Same data as holotype, 3♀ (NHML & THNM, PDC 4651) .

Diagnosis

Females of this new species bear very close resemblance to those of J. schwendingeri comb. nov. in having large, medially situated copulatory orifices, and similar shape of spermathecae. However, in J. angoonae sp. nov. the copulatory orifices are teardrop-shaped (Figure 7E) and the insemination ducts are tubular without any modification (Figure 8E) whereas in J. schwendingeri comb. nov. the orifices are subcircular (Figure 7A) and the median part of the ducts is greatly enlarged (Figure 8F).

Etymology

The specific epithet is an eponymous patronym (genitive form of a noun) dedicated to Dr Angoon Lewvanich, a prolific Thai taxonomist.

Description

Female (holotype). Total length 7.5. Carapace 3.0 long, 2.4 wide. Opisthosoma 4.5 long, 2.6 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.10; ALE 0.13; PME 0.08; PLE 0.11; AME–AME 0.06; AME–ALE 0.05; PME–PME 0.13; PME–PLE 0.16. MOQ 0.36 long; front width 0.28; back width 0.33. Leg formula 4123. Spination. Leg I: femur 1–1pl; tibia 8pl 8rl; metatarsus 4pl 4rl. Leg II: tibia 7pl 6rl; metatarsus 4pl 4rl. Leg III: tibia 1–1–1v 1pl; metatarsus 1–1v 1pl. Leg IV: tibia 1–1–1–1–2v 1–1rl; metatarsus 1–1– 1v 1pl 1rl. Leg measurements: Leg I 8.6 (2.5, 1.0, 2.3, 1.85, 1.0); II 7.7 (2.2, 0.9, 1.9, 1.7, 1.0); III 6.1 (1.7, 0.8, 1.4, 0.85); IV 9.2 (2.5, 1.0, 2.1, 2.4, 1.2).

Colouration and pattern (Figure 2D): Carapace dark chestnut-brown; integument coarsely granulated. Chelicerae, sternum, labium and gnathocoxae dark reddishbrown; coxae, trochanters and femora dark brown; patellae and tibiae brown, tibiae orange distally; metatarsi and tarsi I–II light brown, III–IV orange. Opisthosoma ovoid; dorsum with pattern consisting of paired, oblique patches, followed by three chevrons on dark grey background.

Copulatory organ (Figures 7E, 8E, 14A–C): Copulatory orifices teardrop-shaped (Figure 14A). Insemination ducts elongated, loosely coiled (Figure 14B); proximal duct connected to copulatory orifice semi-transparent (Figure 8E), forming sigmoid arch; secretory ampullae situated on posterior surface of proximal ducts; distal half of duct ascending anteriorly then descending posteriorly to connect with spermathecae. Spermathecae elliptical, anterior part distinctly enlarged, more or less spherical with glandular pore (Figure 14B).

Male. Unknown.

Natural history

Jacaena angoonae sp. nov. inhabits evergreen hill forest of Doi Chang (1930 m). This new species marks the highest altitudinal record among members of the genus Jacaena .

Distribution

Known only from the type locality, Mae Hongson Province, northern Thailand.