Spilosynema, Tang & Li, 2010

Tang, Guo & Li, Shuqiang, 2010, Crab spiders from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, China (Araneae, Thomisidae) 2703, Zootaxa 2703, pp. 1-105 : 66

Spilosynema gen. nov.

Type species. Spilosynema ansatum sp. nov.

Etymology. The generic name is a combination of Greek noun spil - (means spots or patterns) and Synema (latinized from Greek), referring to the similarity of this new genus to Synema Simon, 1864 , and its characteristic cover of the dorsal opisthosoma with unique white spots; neuter in gender.

Diagnosis. Species of this genus can be easily distinguished from other genera of Thomisidae by the characteristic markings on dorsal opisthosoma. This genus is easily confused with Synema and Lysiteles in general appearance. It can be separated from Synema Simon, 1864 by: 1) flat opisthosoma (globular opisthosoma in Synema ); 2) metatarsi and tibiae I, II with few hairs (dense hairs in Synema ); 3) PER more recurved than in Synema ; 4) opisthosoma dorsally with characteristic white spots (large yellowish white patterns and grayish brown markings in Synema ). This new genus can be separated from Lysiteles Simon, 1895 by: 1) opisthosoma with characteristic white spots (various style of markings in Lysiteles ); 2) large body size: ♀ 3.10–5.00, ♂ 2.90–4.00 (small in Lysiteles : ♀ 2.00–4.20, ♂ 1.80–3.60); 3) the ratio of width of eye area / prosoma = 0.60 (0.80 in Lysiteles ); 4) prosoma less swollen than in Lysiteles .

Description. Small to median size. Prosoma flat, dorsally with a pair of grayish black stripes, sides grayish black, eye tubercles grayish white, PER strongly curved, ALE>PLE>AME>PME. Legs with long spines, leg formula: 2143. Opisthosoma dorsally with characteristic white spots. Cymbium with tutaculum; palp with VTA, some species with ITA and RTA; bulb flat, embolus slender; epigynum usually with a median sclerotized plate; copulatory ducts long, twisted; spermathecae short, convoluted.

Species included. Spilosynema ansatum sp. nov.; S. comminum sp. nov.; S. mancum sp. nov. and S. ravum sp. nov.

Habitat. Specimens were collected by fogging from tropical forest of Xishuangbanna.

Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Remarks. It is noteworthy that more adult than juvenile specimens of this genus were collected during November–December, 2009 from Xishuangbanna. The species Synaema nangoku Ono, 2002 from Japan could be a member of this genus judging by the illustrations ( Ono 2002).