Alaria navicularis, Lin, Yucheng, Li, Shuqiang & Jaeger, Peter, 2014

Lin, Yucheng, Li, Shuqiang & Jaeger, Peter, 2014, Four new spider species of the family Theridiosomatidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from caves in Laos, ZooKeys 391, pp. 75-102 : 80-83

Alaria navicularis sp. n. Figs 5-10, 19

Material examined.

Laos: Khammouan Province: Holotype: ♂ (SMF), 2.5 km WNW of Ban Tathot, entrance 17°37.897'N, 105°07.502'E, exit 17°37.994'N, 105°07.195'E, altitude 200 m, entrance area and in front of limestone cave, Tham Kamouk, leg. 30 April 2012. Paratypes: 2 ♀ (SMF), same data as holotype; 1 ♀ (SMF), 8.3 km NE of Thakek, Tham Noi, 17°26.655'N, 104°51.767'E, altitude 158 m, in foot cave, leg. 26 November 2012; 1 ♀ (IZCAS), 2.5 km WNW of Ban Tathot, entrance 17°37.897'N, 105°07.502'E, exit 17°37.994'N, 105°07.195'E, altitude 200 m, entrance area and inner parts of limestone cave, Tham Kamouk, leg. 26 April 2012.

Etymology.

This specific name is derived from the Latin word “navicularis” = "shaped like a boat", and refers to the shape of the median apophysis in the male palp; adjective.

Diagnosis.

The most significant difference of this new species to Alaria chengguanensis ( Zhao and Li 2012: figs 1 A–D, 2 A–B, 3 A–D, 4 A–B, 5 A–B) and Alaria cavernicola sp. n. (Figs 1-4) is the navicular median apophysis in the male (Figs 5B, 6D, 8A, 9D), the triangular, weakly sclerotized scape and the nearly circular, juxtaposed spermathecae in the female (Figs 7 B–D, 10 A–C).

Description.

Habitus see in Figs 5A, 7A. DS pear-shaped, yellow, eyes with black base, cervical groove distinct, sternum yellow. Legs yellow. Opisthosoma oval in male, pale yellow, dorsum with small slcerotized spots and a pair of black speckles; sub-spherical in female, pale, dorsum with white patches.

Male palp (Figs 5 B–D, 8 A–B, 9A): patella with strong macroseta (Figs 5C, 8B, 8E). Tibia with 3 trichobothria and lamellar process (Figs 5F, 8E). Paracymbium with basal hooked process and distal short spicula (Figs 5 D–E, 8D, 9A). Tegulum medially smooth, marginally rugose (Figs 6A, 8C). Median apophysis especially large, navicular, surface with tiny aculei, proximal process short, distal process long and rugose (Figs 6D, 9D). Conductor chisel-shaped, distally slightly bent, longer than embolus, (Figs 6 B–C, 9 B–C). Embolus long, needle-shaped, sclerotized, distal part embedded in conductor, embolic tip not beyond distal end of conductor (Figs 6 A–C, 8C, 9 A–C).

Female copulatory organ (Figs 7 B–D, 10 A–C): epigynal area covered with long setae (Figs 7B, 10A, 10C). Scape large, triangular, basally rugose and contracted, apically weakly sclerotized, with small distal pocket, protruding from beneath epigynal posterior margin (Figs 7 B–D, 10 A–C). Spermathecae sub-circular, juxtaposed; lateral copulatory ducts coils oval, bent (Figs 7D, 10B). Copulatory ducts narrow, ending laterally margin in spermathecae (Figs 7D, 10B). Fertilization ducts short, triangular, arising ventro-laterally from spermathecae (Figs 7D, 10B).

Male: total length 2.31, DS 1.10 long, 0.93 wide, clypeus 0.17, sternum 0.55 long, 0.45 wide, coxae IV separated by their width, opisthosoma 1.31 long, 1.20 wide. PME separated by less than half their diameter. Macrosetae: leg I: femur d2, p1, r1, patella d2, tibia d2, p3, r1, v2, metatarsus d1, p1, r1, v1; leg II: femur d2, r1, patella d2, tibia d 2, p1, r1, v1, metatarsus d2, r1, v1; leg III: femur d2, patella d2, tibia d2, p1, v1, metatarsus d1, p1, r1, v1; leg IV: femur d2, p1, patella d2, tibia d2, p1, r1, v1, metatarsus d1, p1, r1, v1. Metatarsal trichobothria: Tm I: 0.22; Tm II: 0.24; Tm III: 0.14. Leg measurements: I 3.34 (1.09, 0.45, 0.67, 0.69, 0.44); II 2.90 (0.93, 0.42, 0.57, 0.58, 0.40); III 2.16 (0.72, 0.32, 0.36, 0.43, 0.33); IV 2.65 (0.85, 0.37, 0.53, 0.55, 0.35).

Female (collected together with holotype): Total length 3.62, DS 1.24 long, 1.45 wide, clypeus 0.15, sternum 0.78 long, 0.68 wide, coxae IV separated by their width, opisthosoma 2.45 long, 2.35 wide. PME separated by less than half their diameter. Macrosetae: Leg I: femur d1, p1, r1, patella d2, tibia d2, p2, r1, v1, metatarsus p1, r1, v1; leg II: femur d2, r1, patella d2, tibia d2, p1, r1, v1, metatarsus p1, r1, v1; leg III: femur d1, v1, patella d2, tibia d2, p1, v1, metatarsus d1, p1, r1, v1; leg IV: femur d2, p1, patella d2, tibia d2, p1, r1, v1, metatarsus d1, p1, r1, v1. Metatarsal trichobothria: Tm I: 0.30; Tm II: 0.25; Tm III: 0.15. Leg measurements: I 4.46 (1.45, 0.61, 0.93, 0.88, 0.59); II 3.85 (1.20, 0.56, 0.78, 0.77, 0.54); III 2.83 (0.92, 0.42, 0.49, 0.54, 0.46); IV 3.54 (1.16, 0.52, 0.70, 0.69, 0.47).

Variation.

The total length ranges from 3.42 to 3.70 in females (n = 4).

Distribution.

See in Fig. 19.