Gaviphosa kera Sankaran, 2021

Sankaran, Pradeep M. & Caleb, John T. D., 2021, On the taxonomic validity of Indian ground spiders: V. Genera Megamyrmaekion Reuss, 1834, Sosticus Chamberlin, 1922 and Gaviphosa gen. nov. (Araneae: Gnaphosidae), Zootaxa 5040 (4), pp. 539-564 : 543-544

Gaviphosa kera Sankaran, 2021 gen. et sp. nov.

Figs 1–24

Type material. Holotype ♂ without right leg IV ( ADSH411 ), INDIA : Kerala: Pathanamthitta: Gavi , 9°26’09.07’’N, 77°09’56.78’’E, 1192 m alt., litter, by hand, 21.XII.2013, M.S. Pradeep leg. Paratype: 1 ♂ ( ADSH412 ), same data as holotype .

Etymology. ‘ kera ’ in Sanskrit means ‘coconut tree’ referring to the common name, ‘land of coconut trees’ of the Kerala State, where the type locality of the new species is located.

Diagnosis. As for the genus.

Description. Male (holotype, Figs 1–15 ): Carapace, legs, spinnerets, pedipalp straw coloured; eye group pale brownish. Chilum triangular, wider than long ( Fig. 5 ). Opisthosoma grayish. Tarsi with prominent pseudo-segmentation ( Fig. 12 ). Body length 4.90. Carapace 2.09 long, 1.78 wide. Opisthosoma 2.81 long, 1.79 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: ALE 0.13, AME 0.16, PLE 0.11, PME 0.09; AME–ALE 0.04, AME–AME 0.09, AME–PME 0.14, PME–PLE 0.12, PME–PME 0.08. Clypeus height at AMEs 0.20, at ALEs 0.14. Length of chelicerae 0.70. Length of pedipalp and legs: Pedipalp 2.74 [0.82, 0.37, 0.36, 1.19], I 8.14 [2.13, 0.80, 1.75, 1.87, 1.59], II 8.69 [2.27, 0.83, 1.90, 2.03, 1.66], III 7.54 [1.94, 0.81, 1.48, 1.94, 1.37], IV 9.80 [2.50, 0.87, 2.04, 2.71, 1.68]. Leg formula: 4213. Spination of pedipalp: cymbium rlv 1; legs: tibia IV plv 1 rlv 1, metatarsi III–IV plv 1 rlv 4. Pedipalp ( Figs 16–23 ): cymbium with narrow distal half, with cymbial depression along the entire distal half ( Figs 16–23 ; Cy, CyD). Dorsal tibial apophysis short, thorn-like, with a slight median curvature, provided with long setae ( Figs 16, 18–19 , 20, 22–23 ; DTA). Bulb sac-like ( Figs 17 , 21 ). Tegulum long, with a slight baso-retrolateral lobe ( Figs 17 , 21 ; T, arrow). Embolus originating disto-prolaterally, long, sigmoid, with smoothly rounded tip and short embolic base (16–17, 20–21; E, EB). Subtegulum roughly oval, lying baso-prolaterally ( Figs 16–17 , 20–21 ; ST). Sperm duct short, divides tegulum horizontally into two equal parts ( Figs 17 , 21 ; SD).

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 24 ).

Figures

FIGURE 24. Collecting locality of Gaviphosa kera gen. et sp. nov..

FIGURES 1–13. Gaviphosa kera gen. et sp. nov., holotype male. 1 habitus, dorsal view; 2 same, lateral view; 3 same, frontal view; 4 eyes, dorsal view; 5 chilum, frontal view; 6 prosoma showing labium, endites, sternum, ventral view; 7 spinnerets, ventral view; 8 left chelicera, prolateral view; 9 same, retrolateral view; 10 left femur IV showing feathery setae, prolateral view; 11 left metatarsus III showing preening brush, prolateral view; 12 left tarsus I showing pseudo-segmentation, prolateral view; 13 left tarsus IV showing ventral spinules and absence of claw tuft, retrolateral view. Arrows indicate shaggy/bent hair-like setae (1) and preening brush (2). Scale bars: 1, 2 mm; 2, 1 mm; 3–4, 6–7, 11–12, 0.5 mm; 5, 8–10, 13, 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 14–15. Gaviphosa kera gen. et sp. nov., anterior lateral spinnerets of holotype male showing enlarged piriform gland spigots (arrows), oblique lateral views. Scale bars: 14–15, 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 16–19. Gaviphosa kera gen. et sp. nov., left pedipalp of holotype male. 16 prolateral view; 17 ventral view; 18 retrolateral view; 19 dorsal view. Scale bars: 16–19, 0.5 mm.

FIGURES 20–23. Gaviphosa kera gen. et sp. nov., left pedipalp of holotype male. 20 prolateral view; 21 ventral view; 22 dorsal view; 23 retrolateral view.Abbreviations: Cy, cymbium; CyD, cymbial depression; E, embolus; EB, embolic base; DTA, dorsal tibial apophysis; SD, sperm duct; ST subtegulum; T, tegulum. Arrow indicates baso-retrolateral lobe of tegulum. Scale bars: 20–23, 0.5 mm.