Mimetus spinatus Sudhin, Sankaran & Sen, 2024 n. sp.

Figs 3–6

Etymology. The species epithet is an adjective, derived from the Latin word for spined ( spinatus) and refers to the long, flattened spine-like setae on the dorsal opisthosoma of the new species (Figs 3A–B, 4C).

Type material. Holotype ♂ (NZC-ZSI-8780/18), INDIA: Karnataka: Shimoga, Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary (13°42’18.9’’N, 75°03’47.7’’E; 605 m), 07 December 2022, leg. P.P. Sudhin, by beating vegetation . Paratypes: 1 ♂, 2 ♀ (NZC-ZSI-8781/18), same data as holotype .

Diagnosis. Males of M. spinatus n. sp. differ from the males of all the known congeners by a mediodorsally long black flattened spine-like setae on the dorsal opisthosoma, cymbium with two short horn-like spines, ovalshaped paracymbium, and male palp with boxing-glove-shaped bulb in ventral view (Figs 3A–B, 5A, C–D, 6A–B). Females of M. spinatus n. sp. are most similar to the females of M. contrarius (Zeng, Irfan & Peng, 2019) from China in having the similar epigynal morphology, but can be distinguished by the oval opisthosoma mediodorsally with long black flattened spine-like setae (vs. globular without modified setae in M. contrarius), epigyne without transverse rim (vs. present in M. contrarius), epigyne with triangular basal/posterior plate (vs. shovel-shaped in M. contrarius), oval spermathecae (vs. globular in M. contrarius), and curved fertilization ducts (vs. twisted in M. contrarius) (e.g., Figs 4A–B, 5E–F, 6C–D; Zeng et al. 2019: figs 1F–G, 2D–E). Females of M. spinatus n. sp. can be separated from the females of M. indicus by triangular posterior plate of epigyne (vs. shovel-shaped in M. indicus) (e.g., Figs 5E, 6C; Brignoli 1972: figs 25, 27).

Description. Male in alcohol (holotype; Fig. 3): carapace, clypeus, chelicerae, endites, labium, sternum, and legs pale yellow; carapace dorsally with scattered light green mottling, thoracic region laterally light green (Fig. 3A); leg segments with dark green patches and spots; opisthosoma dull gray-white, covered with irregular chalk-white spots particularly on sides, sparsely covered with dark green patches, venter gray-white, medially with broad light green patches (Figs 3A–B). Cephalic region with two longitudinal rows of long erect setae (Fig. 3A). Anterior median and lateral eyes on raised humps (Fig. 3D). Chelicerae elongate, distally with three macrosetae cross forming an ‘X’ (Fig. 3E; arrow 1); promargin with nine peg teeth, retromargin with two small true teeth (Fig. 3F; arrow 2). Sternum longer than wide, distally narrow, fused with labium, sparsely covered with black erect setae (Fig. 3G). Opisthosoma nearly elongate-triangular, without tubercles, mediodorsally with three transverse rows (4–4–2) of long black flattened spine-like setae (Figs 3A–B). Spinnerets dark green. Tibiae and metatarsi I–II lack raptorial spines/modified setae in between normal spines. Body length 3.90. Carapace 1.73 long, 1.39 wide. Opisthosoma 2.17 long, 1.21 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.09, AME 0.14, PLE 0.11, PME 0.11; AME–ALE 0.12, AME–AME 0.10, AME–PME 0.18, PME–PLE 0.17, PME–PME 0.08. Clypeus height at AMEs 0.07, at ALEs 0.12. Chelicerae 0.81 long. Length of palp and legs: palp 2.86 [1.25, 0.24, 0.79, 0.58], I 20.47 [5.39, 0.66, 6.02, 6.43, 1.97], II 14.51 [4.32, 0.71, 4.04, 3.95, 1.49], III 8.42 [2.82, 0.48, 2.19, 1.87, 1.06], IV 10.09 [3.33, 0.46, 2.80, 2.39, 1.11]. Leg formula: 1243. Spination of palp: tarsus rl 2; legs: femur I pl 4 do 6, II pl 1 do 5 rl 1, III do 5 rl 3, IV do 6 rld 1; patellae I–IV do 1; tibia I pl 6 do 3 rl 6 v 2, II pl 6 do 3 rl 6, III–IV pl 3 do 2 rl 2; metatarsus I pl 11 rl 11, II pl 6 rl 6, III pl 4 rl 3 v 1, IV pl 2 do 1 rl 2; tarsi I–IV spineless. Palp (Figs 5A–D, 6A–B): bulb yellow-brown (Figs 5A–D), remaining segments pale yellow; patella and tibia covered with scattered long macrosetae (Figs 5A, C, 6A–B). Cymbium nearly dome-shaped, dorsally with two short, horn-like spines, with several long setae (Figs 5A–D, 6A–B). Paracymbium nearly oval (Figs 5A, C, 6B). Conductor complex with membranous, and sclerotized regions having apophyses (Figs 5B–D, 6B). Embolus long, tubular, strongly curved, with posteriorly directed distal region (Figs 5B–C, 6A–B).

Female in alcohol (paratype; Figs 4A–B, D–H). In all details like male, except the following: overall slightly elongated and robust (Figs 4A–B); opisthosoma nearly oval, dorsal side green-brown, venter without prominent patches/markings (Figs 4A–B). Body length 4.80. Carapace 1.88 long, 1.33 wide. Opisthosoma 2.92 long, 2.48 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.10, AME 0.16, PLE 0.12, PME 0.12; AME–ALE 0.12, AME–AME 0.10, AME–PME 0.20, PME–PLE 0.13, PME–PME 0.20. Clypeus height at AMEs 0.08, at ALEs 0.13. Chelicerae 0.82 long. Length of palp and legs: palp 2.56 [0.66, 0.25, 0.67, 0.98], I 18.06 [4.87, 0.69, 5.27, 5.42, 1.81], II 13.42 [4.14, 0.45, 3.90, 3.51, 1.42], III 7.83 [2.68, 0.56, 1.94, 1.68, 0.97], IV 9.77 [3.20, 0.52, 2.74, 2.23, 1.08]. Leg formula: 1243. Spination of palp: patella do 2, tibia pl 1 do 1 rl 2, tarsus pl 2 do 1 rl 1; legs: femur I pl 4 do 5 rl 1, II do 8 rl 1, III do 6 rl 1, IV pl 1 plv 1 do 7; patellae I–IV do 1; tibia I pl 7 do 2 rl 5, II pl 6 do 2 rl 2, III pl 3 do 1 rl 3 v 1, IV pl 2 do 2 rl 1 v 1; metatarsus I pl 8 rl 5, II pl 6 do 2 rl 2, III pl 4 plv 1 rl 4, IV pl 3 rl 3 rlv 1; tarsi I–IV spineless. Genitalia (Figs 4I, 5E–F, 6C–D): epigyne longer than wide, with transverse atrium having a thick, M-shaped anterior margin, with nearly triangular posterior plate (Figs 4I, 5E, 6C). Scape absent. Copulatory openings indistinct, covered by a posterior plate. Copulatory ducts short (Figs 5F, 6D). Spermathecae oval, anterolaterally fused (Figs 5F, 6D). Fertilization ducts short, inwardly curved (Figs 5F, 6D).

Variations. Dorsal opisthosoma of one female paratypes with no prominent green-brown markings (Fig. 4C). Male (n=2): body length 4.24–4.80. Female (n=2): body length 3.36–3.90.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Fig. 8).