Passiena bayi, Omelko & Yu & Marusik, 2020

Omelko, M. M., Yu & Marusik, M., 2020, A new species and new records of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae) from Laos, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 68, pp. 479-487 : 480-482

Passiena bayi , new species

( Figs. 1, 3, 4, 7 –12, 16, 19–28, 30–32, 42)

Material examined. Holotype male ( ZMMU), LAOS, Champasak Prov., Bolaven plateau, environs of Tad E-Tu resort, 910 m, 15°11′35.56″N 106°6′8.11″E, coll. M.M. Omelko, 1–6 December 2013.

Paratypes: 11 males 8 females ( ZMMU), same data as the holotype ; 6 males 2 females ( FEFU), environs of Tad Fane resort, 950 m, dry meadow, 15°11′0.19″N 106°7′37.37″E, coll. M.M. Omelko, 8–12 December 2013 .

Etymology. The specific name is a patronym in honour of Nicky Bay, the well-known Singaporean macro-photographer and co-author of Borneo Spiders: A Photographic Field Guide (Sabah Forestry Department).

Diagnosis. The new species is closely related to both P. spinicrus and P. torbjoerni occurring at Pinang Island ( Malaysia) and in Thailand, respectively. Males of P. bayi , new species, can be distinguished from P. torbjoerni by the larger tegular apophysis, the tip of the embolus being slightly curved vs. strongly curved (cf. Figs. 23, 25 and Fig. 29 ); posterior apophysis (Pp) of palea (Pl) with tip (Pt) directed anteriorly vs. posterior apophysis with tip directed prolaterally (cf. Figs. 24, 25 and Fig. 29 ); cymbium of new species is straight while in P. torbjoerni it is distally screwed (cf. Fig. 27 and Fig. 36 ). Female chelicerae of P. bayi , new species, are yellow, with thin brown stripes vs. brown with yellow lateral sides in P. spinicrus . Endogynes of P. spinicrus as well as P. torbjoerni are not illustrated by Lehtinen (2005) but it is notable that the receptacles in P. spinicrus are located more anteriorly than in the new species (cf. Fig. 35 and Figs. 31, 32 ). The new species can be easily distinguished from P. torbjoerni by a shorter epigyne (septal stem length/septal base width ratio 1.0 in new species vs. 1.2 in P. torbjoerni ), significantly narrower median band on the carapace, darker dorsal sides of carapace, and darker dorsal side of abdomen. Females of the new species can be easily distinguished from females of P. torbjoerni and P. spinicrus by a higher “septum’s base height/septum’s height” ratio of 0.19 (vs. 0.11 and 0.13, respectively).

Description. Male. Total length 4.54–4.86. Carapace 2.20–2.40 long, 1.60–1.80 wide. Carapace dark brown with a yellow median band and narrow yellowish submarginal stripes. Eye area black. Chelicerae dark brown with thin longitudinal stripes, maxillae and labium brown. Sternum yellow, with an indistinct gray spot in the middle. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal and 3 retromarginal teeth. Abdomen dorsally brown with wide light median band and darker cardiac mark; venter light brownish with a pair of brown lateral stripes, covered with sparse modified spines ( Fig. 9 ). Segments of legs uniformly yellow except for femur I (black with yellow tip [Fig. 10]) and femora II–IV having dark semi-rings.

Spination of legs: I – fe 3d 2p 1r, pa 1p 1r, ti 2p 2r 5-5v (ventral spines form 2 oblique rows extending to lateral sides of leg), me 3p 2r 2-2v; II – fe 3d 2p 3r, pa 2d 1p 1r, ti 2d 2p 2r 5-5v, me 3p 3r 2-2v.

Palp as in Figs. 19–28 . Femur, patella, tibia, and base of cymbium brown, distal part of cymbium yellow with large claw on the tip. Femur relatively short, about the length of cymbium; tibia very long, longer than bulb. Subtegulum large, located medially, its width about ½ of bulb width. Tip of the retrolateral part of tegulum (Rt) stands more anteriorly than anterior edge of the prolateral part (Tp) and tegular apophysis, terminates at about 1.5 o’clock position; sperm duct wide, makes a right angle turn (in ventral view) and an U-shaped loop in retrolateral view ( Fig. 21 ). Tegular apophysis (Tg) transversal, lacking an anterior arm, directed antero-retrolaterally. Embolic division large, not hidden by tegular apophysis, embolus originating on the dorsal side of the bulb, long, prolaterally accompanied with a membrane, embolus filamentous, terminating at about 2 o’clock position; palea (Pl) with 2 apophyses, anterior (Ap) and posterior (Pp). Anterior apophysis sharply pointed (in ventral view, Fig. 24 ), and the posterior claw-like (in lateral view, Fig. 26 ); dorsoanterior part of palea with membranous teeth (Mh).

Female. Total length 5.46‒5.73. Carapace 2.13–2.47, 1.71– 1.80 wide. Colouration as in males but ventral side of prosoma and abdomen lighter, while, in contrast, leg segments are darker. Femora of all legs with up to 4 dark semi-circular rings. Chelicerae as in male. Venter of abdomen without modified setae. Book-lung covers yellowish.

Spination of legs: I – fe 3d 2p 2r, ti 1p 1r 5-5v (ventral spines form 2 oblique rows extending to lateral sides of leg), me 3p 3r 2-2v; II – fe 3d 2p 2r, pa 2d 1p 1r, ti 2d 2p 2r 5-5v, me 3p 3r 2-2v.

Epigyne as in Figs. 30–32 . Anterior pocket with 2 hoods (Ph). Septum reversed T-shaped with distinct stem (Ss) becoming very thin in its anterior part and widened posteriorly; stem as long as base (Bs) wide; anterior hood as wide as septal base height; large receptacles and bases of copulatory ducts visible through integument. Receptacle with a large head (Rh), head suboval (transversal) with the antero-lateral part angled, head 1.5 longer than septal base height; heads separated by ⅓ of their length; base of copulatory ducts (Bc) heavily sclerotised, oval, tube-shaped part of copulatory duct very short, shorter than wide.

Distribution. Type locality only.

Figures

Figs. 1–9. Passiena bayi, new species (1, 3, 4, 7–9), P. torbjoerni (2, 5), and P. spinicrus (6). 1, 2, general appearance of male, dorsal; 3, female carapace, lateral; 4–6, general appearance of female, dorsal; 7, 8, general appearance of female, ventral; 9, male abdomen, ventral. Scale = 1 mm (unless otherwise specified).

Figs. 19–29. Passiena bayi, new species (19–28), and P. torbjoerni (29). 19, bulb, prolateral; 20, bulb, ventral; 21, bulb, retrolateral; 22, bulb, anterior; 23, embolic division, posterior; 24, embolic division, ventral; 25, embolic part, anterior; 26, embolic division, prolateral; 27, palp, ventral; 28, whole palp, prolateral; 29, SEM photograph of bulb. Scale = 0.25 mm (unless otherwise specified). Abbreviations:Ap–anterior apophysis, Em–embolus, Mh–membranous teeth, Pl–palea, Pp–posterior apophysis, Pt–tip of posterior apophysis, Rt–retrolateral part of tegulum, Tg–tegular apophysis, Tp–prolateral part of tegulum.

Figs. 36–41. Copulatory organs of Passiena torbjoerni (36), Pardosa pseudoannulata (37–39); epigyne and habitus of P. pusiola (40–41). 36, cymbium with bulb removed, ventral; 37, palp, ventral; 38, macerated epigyne; 39, endogyne, 40, drawing of epigyne (syntype); 41, living specimen from Singapore (photo taken by David Court). Scale = 0.25 mm (unless otherwise specified).

Figs. 30–35. Passiena bayi, new species (30–32), P. torbjoerni (33, 34), and P. spinicrus (35). 30, 34, 35, intact epigyne; 31, macerated epigyne; 32, endogyne; 33, SEM photograph of epigyne. Scale = 0.25 mm. Abbreviations: Bs–base of septum, Bc–base of copulatory ducts, Ph–pocket hood, Rh–receptacles head, Ss–septum stem.