Belisana crystallina, Yao, Zhiyuan & Li, Shuqiang, 2013

Yao, Zhiyuan & Li, Shuqiang, 2013, New and little known pholcid spiders (Araneae: Pholcidae) from Laos, Zootaxa 3709 (1), pp. 1-51 : 5-9

Belisana crystallina sp. nov.

Figs 4–6 , 41

Type material. Holotype: Male ( IZCAS), Tham Kamouk [17°37.912′N, 105°07.459′E, alt. 193 m], 30.02 km northeast of Thakhek Town, Ban Kouanphavang Khammouane, Laos, 24 November 2012, leg. Z. Yao (Yao-LA 058–059). Paratype: 1 female ( IZCAS), same data as holotype.

Etymology. The specific name is from Latin crystallinus (of crystal), in reference to the large, membranous apophysis of procursus; adjective.

Diagnosis. The species can be easily distinguished from all known congeners by different distal elements of procursus ( Figs 4 A–D and 6A–B) and presence of two sclerites on epigynum ( Figs 5 A and 6D).

Description. Male (holotype): Total length 1.67 (1.73 with clypeus), prosoma 0.55 long, 0.77 wide, opisthosoma 1.12 long, 0.59 wide. Leg I: 17.24 (4.04 + 0.31 + 4.29 + 7.05 + 1.55), leg II: 10.86 (2.81 + 0.29 + 2.66 + 4.09 + 1.01), leg III: 6.69 (1.87 + 0.25 + 1.56 + 2.38 + 0.63), leg IV: 9.63 (2.72 + 0.28 + 2.38 + 3.56 + 0.69); tibia I L/d: 57. Habitus as in Fig. 5 E. Dorsal shield of prosoma whitish, with black lateral margins; sternum whitish, without marks. Legs yellowish, but dark brown on patellae and tibia-metatarsus joints, without darker rings. Opisthosoma yellowish, without spots. Distance PME-PME 0.14, diameter PME 0.08, distance PME-ALE 0.02, AME absent. Ocular area not elevated. Thoracic furrow absent. Sternum about as wide as long (0.48). Chelicerae as in Figs 5 D and 6C, with a pair of thumb-shaped apophyses proximally and a pair of long, curved apophyses distally (distance between tips: 0.49). Pedipalpi as in Figs 4 A–B and 6A–B; trochanter with a short retrolateroventral apophysis; femur with a dorsal apophysis; procursus simple proximally but complex distally, with a membranous flap retrolaterally and a bent spine; bulb with a hooked apophysis and a simple embolus. Retrolateral trichobothrium of tibia I at 13%; most hairs lost on legs; tarsus I with about 10 distinct pseudosegments.

Variation: Unknown.

Female: Similar to male, habitus as in Figs 5 F–G. Total length 1.62 (1.69 with clypeus), prosoma 0.56 long, 0.65 wide, opisthosoma 1.06 long, 0.72 wide; tibia I: 3.36. Distance PME-PME 0.13, diameter PME 0.07, distance PME-ALE 0.02, AME absent. Epigynum ( Figs 5 A and 6D) simple and flat externally, with dark internal shade, a pair of indistinct sclerites, and a pair of pockets 0.40 apart. Vulva ( Figs 5 B and 6E) with a ridge-shaped arch anteriorly and a pair of nearly triangular pore plates.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 41 ).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Belisana crystallina sp. nov., male holotype. A – B. Pedipalpus (A. Prolateral view; B. Retrolateral view); C – D. Distal part of procursus (C. Prolateral view; D. Retrolateral view).

FIGURE 5. Belisana crystallina sp. nov., male holotype (C – E) and female paratype (A – B, F – G). A. Epigynum, ventral view; B. Vulva, dorsal view; C. Bulb, prolateral view; D. Chelicerae, frontal view; E – G. Habitus (E – F. Dorsal view; G. Ventral view).

FIGURE 6. Belisana crystallina sp. nov., male holotype (A – C) and female paratype (D – E). A – B. Pedipalpus (A. Prolateral view; B. Retrolateral view); C. Chelicerae, frontal view; D. Epigynum, ventral view; E. Vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.10.

FIGURE 41. Known distribution of new species of Pholcidae from Laos. 1. Belisana champasakensis sp. nov.; 2. B. crystallina sp. nov.; 3. B. gigantea sp. nov.; 4. B. khanensis sp. nov.; 5. B. lancea sp. nov.; 6. B. martensi sp. nov.; 7. B. tadetuensis sp. nov.; 8. B. xiangensis sp. nov.; 9. Calapnita longa sp. nov.; 10. Khorata circularis sp. nov.; 11. K. dupla sp. nov.; 12. Pholcus arcuatilis sp. nov.; 13. P. sublaksao sp. nov.; 14. Spermophora falcata sp. nov.