Simaetha cheni sp. nov.

Figs 18, 19

Type material.

Holotype ♂ (IZCAS-Ar42629), China: Yunnan: Xishuangbanna, Mengla County, Menglun Town, site #1 of garbage dump off G213 roadside (21°54.28'N, 101°16.75'E, ca. 630 m), 25.iv.2019, Z. Chen leg. Paratypes 1♀ (IZCAS-Ar42630), same data as holotype; 1♀ (IZCAS-Ar42631), site #4 of garbage dump off G213 roadside (21°54.34'N, 101°16.79'E, ca. 618 m), 3.v.2019, Y. Tong leg.; 1♀1♂ (IZCAS-Ar42632-42633), site #6 of garbage dump off G213 roadside (21°54.33'N, 101°16.79'E, ca. 620 m), 7.v.2019, Y. Tong leg.

Etymology.

The species name is a patronym in honor of Mr. Zhigang Chen (Beijing, China), one of the collectors of the new species; noun (name) in genitive case.

Diagnosis.

The male of Simaetha cheni sp. nov. resembles that of S. menglun Wang & Li, 2020 by the similar palp, but it can be easily distinguished by the following: 1) the embolus is slightly curved into a blunt tip directed anteriorly in ventral view (Fig. 18B) vs. strongly curved into a pointed tip directed prolaterally in S. menglun (Wang and Li 2020: fig. 11C); 2) the chelicerae have a process mediolaterally on the anterior surface of the paturon (Fig. 19G, H) vs. process absent in S. menglun (Wang and Li 2020: fig. 12G). The female of this species resembles that of S. broomei Żabka, 1994 in having a similar epigyne, but it can be easily distinguished by the epigynal hood, which is less than 2/3 the width of the posterior chamber of the spermathecae (Fig. 19A-C) vs. about 8/6 the width of the posterior chamber of the spermathecae ( Żabka 1994: fig. 18B, C).

Description.

Male (Figs 18, 19D, E, G, H). Total length 2.18. Carapace 1.11 long, 0.82 wide. Abdomen 1.10 long, 0.79 wide. Clypeus 0.01 high. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.24, ALE 0.12, PLE 0.11, AERW 0.71, PERW 0.80, EFL 0.56. Legs: I 1.66 (0.60, 0.63, 0.23, 0.20), II 1.35 (0.45, 0.45, 0.25, 0.20), III 1.25 (0.40, 0.40, 0.25, 0.20), IV 1.63 (0.58, 0.55, 0.30, 0.20). Carapace red-brown, with pair of round, dark spots mediolaterally in eye field, covered with short, brown setae and off-white scales. Chelicerae yellow-red, with a process mediolaterally on anterior surface of paturon, 2 promarginal teeth, 1 pillar-shaped tooth with 2 pointed tips. Endites red-brown. Labium darker than endites. Sternum elongate, 2 times longer than wide. Legs I red-brown to dark brown except tarsi yellow, with inflated femora, and fluorescent-green scales dorsally and laterally on patellae and tibiae; other legs yellow-brown, femora darker prolaterally. Abdomen sub-oval, dorsum dark brown, covered entirely by a large scutum with dense scales; venter brown, mingled with green.

Palp (Fig. 18A-C): femur about 2.5 times longer than wide; tibia wider than long, with a tapered dorsal apophysis slightly shorter than tibial length, directed towards about 1:30 o’clock apically in retrolateral view; cymbium about 1.5 times longer than wide in ventral view, with a sub-triangular baso-retrolateral process; bulb almost round; embolus originating at 10: 30 o’clock position of bulb, slightly curved distally, with a rather blunt tip.

Female (Fig. 19A-C, F). Total length 2.22. Carapace 0.98 long, 0.81 wide. Abdomen 1.32 long, 0.84 wide. Clypeus 0.01 high. Eye sizes and inter-distances: AME 0.24, ALE 0.12, PLE 0.11, AERW 0.72, PERW 0.79, EFL 0.54. Legs: I 1.69 (0.60, 0.66, 0.23, 0.20), II 1.35 (0.45, 0.45, 0.25, 0.20), III 1.33 (0.45, 0.43, 0.25, 0.20), IV 2.04 (0.68, 0.68, 0.45, 0.23). Habitus similar to that of male except with a longer abdomen.

Epigyne (Fig. 19A-C) with central triangular hood almost 1.5 × wider than long; copulatory openings arc shaped; copulatory ducts short; spermathecae divided into two chambers, anterior chamber bigger, almost reniform, posterior chamber almost spherical, separated by less than the width of hood; fertilization ducts originate from the apical portion of the posterior chamber of spermathecae.

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality in Yunnan, China.