Oedignatha shillongensis, Biswas & Majumder, 1995

Biswas, B. & Majumder, S. C., 1995, Araneae Spider. - Zoological Survey of India, State Fauna Series 4 Fauna of Meghalaya Part 2, Zoological Survey of India, pp. 93-128 : 105

34. Oedignatha shillongensis sp. nov. ( Figs. 1 -3)

General: Cephalothorax and legs redish brown; abdomen darkish. Total length 7.80 mm. Carapace 3.50 mm. long, 2.80 mm. wide; abdomen 4.30 mm. long and 3.20 mm. wide.

Cephalothorax: Longer than wide, broader at the middle, slightly narrower both anterior and posterior. Cephalic shield prominent with central fovea situated just below the median half of the carapace. Median tubercle absent. Eyes in two rows; anterior and posterior. The anterior row usually recurved, median larger than laterals and close to each other than the laterals. The posterior row usually largerthan anterior row, slightly procurved, median smaller than the laterals and also smaller than the anterior medians, not in close to each other. Ocular quadrate wider than long, narrow anteriorly and broad posteriorly. Chelicera not enormous in size like microsculata, inner margin provided with seven small teeth and the outer margin with three big teeth. Maxillae longer than broad, slightly deepressed at the middle. Labium longer than wide not extended beyond the middle of the maxillary lobe like microsculata. Sternum heart shaped, pointed posteriorly. Legs long and slender very strong. Legs formula are 3214. Tibia and metatarsi of I & II provided with five to ten and seven pairs of ventral spines. Tarsi less scopulated provided with two claws.

Abdomen Longer than wide. Dorsum strongly sclerotized. Scutum present just above the median half of the dorsum. Epigyne with copulatory opening.

Remarks This species resembles to O. microsculata Reimoser in similar structure and colouration of the body but differs from it on the following particulars

1). Chelicera not enormous in size provided with seven and two teeth on the inner and outer margin where as in O. microsculata the chelicera enormous in size and the inner and outer margin with nine and three teeth.

2). The labium not extended beyond the middle of the maxilla where as in O. microsculata labium extended beyond the middle of the maxilla. 3) Epigyne and internal genitalia are also structurally different.

Type-locality. Lonkor Reserve Forest, Shillong , Meghalaya, 21.iv.1976, coll. M. S. Jyrwa.

Holotype: Female in spirit, deposited at Zoological Survey of India, Calcutta, Redg. No. 5412/18 .

Figures

Figs. 1 - 3: Oedignatha shillongensis sp. nov.: 1. dorsal view of female, legs omitted. 2. Epigyne. 3. Internal genitalia