Pandava sarasvati, Almeida-Silva, Lina M., Griswold, Charles E. & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2010

Almeida-Silva, Lina M., Griswold, Charles E. & Brescovit, Antonio D., 2010, Revision of the Asian spider genus Pandava Lehtinen (Araneae: Titanoecidae): description of five new species and first record of Titanoecidae from Africa, Zootaxa 2630, pp. 30-56 : 49-50

Pandava sarasvati sp. nov.

Fig. 84–98

Type material. Holotype male, from Yangon, Myanmar (previously Rangoon, Burma), L. Fea, deposited in ZMUC (1335). Paratypes: one female from Yan Hee Dam (elev. 250m), Thailand, 13.VII.1962, E. S.

Ross and D. Q. Cavagnaro, deposited in CAS (CASENT 9025943); one female, from ShweSettaw Wildlife Reservation (20º5'51"N, 94º33'24.5"E, elev. 450m), Magway division, Myanmar, deposited in IBSP (156975).

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition referring to the Hindu Goddess Sarasvati , who is the goddess of learning, music, power and arts.

Diagnosis. Males of Pandava sarasvati resemble P. l a m i n a t a in the shape of the tibial apophysis but differ by the hook-shaped median apophysis ( Figs. 84–87 ) and PLT longer than the RLT and curved. Females of P. sarasvati resemble P. laminata and P. ganesha sp. nov. in the shape of the epigynum, but differ by the straight posterior border of the median field and by having the broadest portion of the epigynum just after the ER ( Figs. 88 , 90 ).

Description. Male (holotype). Coloration: carapace, endites and sternum pale brown, cephalic area brown. Chelicerae reddish brown. Legs pale brown except femur I dorsally brown and ventrally pale brown. Abdomen beige. Total length 7.00. Carapace 3.20 long; 2.40 wide; 1.36 high. Clypeus 0.19 high. Abdomen 3.60 long; 1.9 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.11; ALE 0.18; PME 0.14; PLE 0.18; AME– AME 0.11; AME–ALE 0.15; PME–PME 0.19; PME–PLE 0.26; AME–PME 0.16; ALE–PLE 0.04. Chelicerae 1.49 long. Leg measurements: I: femur 3.52/ patella 1.28/ tibia 3.28/ metatarsus 3.12/ tarsus 2.32/ total 13.52; II: 3.12/ 1.04/ 2.80/ 2.64/ 2.00/ 11.60; III: 2.63/ 0.80/ 2.10/ 2.10/ 1.05/ 8.68; IV: 2.94/ 1.06/ 2.63/ 2.63/ 1.00/ 10.25. Leg formula 1243. Leg spination: femur I and II p1ap; tibia I: v2-2, p1-0-1, r1-1-1; II: v0- 1r-2-0 or 1-1-0-2-0, r1-1-1 or 1-1-0, p0-1-1; III: v0-2, p0-1, r1-0-1; IV: v0-1p, r0-0-1, p0-0-1; metatarsus I: v2 -0-2- 1m, p and r0-1-0-1; II: v2-2 - 1m, p and r0-1-0-1; III: v2-2 - 1m, p1-0-1, r0-1-2; IV: v2-2 - 1m, p0-1-0-1, r0-0-2. Male tibial crack present. Distally curved setae absent. Spermatic duct not visible in the tegulum ( Fig. 87 ); area of the tegular furrow projected distally and well developed ( Fig. 87 ).

Female (paratype, Thailand) Coloration: carapace yellowish brown, ocular area slightly darker and chelicerae brown. Legs brown. Abdomen beige. Total length 6.64. Carapace 3.44 long; 2.35 wide; 1.00 high; Clypeus 0.21 high. Abdomen 3.20 long; 2.00 wide. Eye diameters and interdistances: AME 0.11; ALE 0.17; PME 0.13; PLE 0.16; AME–AME 0.12; AME–ALE 0.19; PME–PME 0.24; PME–PLE 0.30; AME–PME 0.17; ALE–PLE 0.05. Chelicerae 1.51 long. Leg measurements: I: femur 2.84/ patella 1.08/ tibia 2.32/ metatarsus 2.32/ tarsus 1.16/ total 9.72; II: 2.19/ 1.06/ 2.05/ 1.76/ 0.96/ 8.02; III: 2.44/ 0.84/ 3.20/ 1.55/ 0.73/ 8.76; IV: 2.50/ 1.10/ 2.25/ 2.00/ 1.00/ 8.85. Leg formula 1432. Leg spination: femur I and II p1ap; tibia I v1 r- 2-2, p0-1-1; II: v1 r-2; III: d1rb, p1ap, r1ap; IV: p1ap, r1ap; metatarsus I v2-2 - 1m or 2-1r-1- 1m, p0-1-0-1, r1ap; II: v2-2 - 1m, p0-1-0-1, r1ap; III: v1 p-2- 1m, r0-1-0-2, p1-1-0-1; IV: v1-1 - 1m, p1ap, r1ap. Distally curved setae absent. Epigynum broad just behind the rims and becoming narrow posteriorly, and with the lateral part of the median field replaced by membranous tissue ( Figs. 88 , 90 ); posterior border of the median field subrectangular ( Figs. 88 , 90 ). Spermathecae horizontally diverging ( Fig. 91 ) and shorter ( Figs. 92–93 ). Giant pore and a pair of primary pores present ( Figs. 91–93 ).

Variation. Length (10 females): total: 6.8–7.35; carapace: 3.00–3.19; femur 2.34–3.04.

Geographical distribution. Asia: Myanmar and Thailand.

Additional material examined. MYANMAR. Magway Division. ShweSettaw Wildlife Reservation (20o5'51"N, 94o 33'24.5"E, elev. 450m), 28-29.IX.2003, C. E. Griswold (CASENT 9019353, 1Ψ; 9019398, 2Ψ; 9019537, 1Ψ; 9019538, 1Ψ; 9019123, 1Ψ; IBSP 156976, 1Ψ). Yangon division. Hlawga Park, 23Km NNW Yangon (17o2'37"N, 96o6'5"E), 16-20.IX.2003, C. E. Griswold (CASENT 9019280, 1 Ψ; 9019418, 2Ψ; 9011351, 1Ψ; 9019158, 3Ψ). THAILAND. Mae Chiang Hai (elev. 200m), 18.VII.1962, E. S. Ross and D. Q. Cavagnaro (CASENT 9032204, 2Ψ).

Figures

FIGURES 84 – 89. Pandava sarasvati sp. nov. ♂, from Myanmar (ZMUC 1335) and Ψ from Thailand (CAS 9019537). 84. Male left palp dorsal view; 85. Median apophysis, anterior view, detail; 86. Male left palp, retrolateral view; 87. Ditto, ventral view; 88. Epigynum, ventral view; 89. Vulva, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CB—Cymbium; CD— Copulatory duct; CF—Cymbial furrow; CO—Copulatory opening; E—Embolus; ER—Epigynal rim; FD—Fertilization duct; MA—Median apophysis; MF—Median field; MLT—Median lobe of tibial apophysis; PLT—Prolateral lobe of tibial apophysis; RLT—Retrolateral lobe of tibial apophysis; S—Spermathecae; SD—Sinuous depression; ST— Subtegulum; T—Tegulum; TF—Tegular furrow; TP—Tegular process.

FIGURES 90 – 96. Pandava sarasvati sp. nov. Ψ from Thailand (CAS 9019353). 90. Epigynum ventral view; 91. Vulva, dorsal view; 92. Ditto, left spermathecae; 93. Ditto, right spermathecae; 94. Left palpal claw; 95. Left leg I, claws; 96. Left leg IV, claws. Abbreviations: CD—Copulatory duct; CO—Copulatory opening; ER—Epigynal rim; GP—Giant pore; MF—Median field; PP—Primary pore; S—Spermathecae; SD—Sinuous depression.

FIGURES 97 – 98. Pandava sarasvati sp. nov. Ψ from Thailand (CAS 9019353). 97. Cheliceral teeth; 98. Chelicera retrolateral view showing stridulatory setae.