Amauropelma ekeftys, Jager, 2012

Jäger, Peter, 2012, Asian species of the genera Anahita Karsch 1879, Ctenus Walckenaer 1805 and Amauropelma Raven, Stumkat & Gray 2001 (Arachnida: Araneae: Ctenidae), Zootaxa 3429 (1), pp. 1-63 : 47-51

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.3429.1.1
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/C8488786-1135-FFAF-FF71-FB5C5565FF10
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Amauropelma ekeftys
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Amauropelma ekeftys View in CoL spec. nov.

Figs 179 View FIGURE 179 , 193–209 View FIGURES 193–198 View FIGURES 199–209

Amauropelma sp. ,— Harries et al. 2008: 166, table 2.

Type material. Holotype male ( SMF), India, Meghalaya, West Khasi Hills, Makeskhola / Rongdanggai , Rongdanggai Rong Kol [N 25°12'36", E 91°00'37.1”, ca. 178 m altitude], “10”, Meghalayan Adventurers Association leg. 26.II.2005. GoogleMaps

Additional material examined: 1 female ( SMF), India, Meghalaya, Jaintia Hills, Nongkhlieh elaka: Litang ( Leteiñ , Litien ): Shnongrim Ridge area : Tongseng village : Wah Umtyngier basin, Krem Umthloo , near N25°19'33.1”, E092°30'45.5” [partly explored and mapped pothole and stream cave, in Miocene Kopili, Eocene Umlatdoh (Middle Sylhet) and/or Lakadong (Lower Sylhet) Limestone. Length: 13413 m. Vertical range: 191 m deep], location within cave: main stream route, ~ 50m upstream from junction with boulder entrance. Banks of damp, loose coarse sand, gravel and pebbles with occasional small patches of rotting vegetation. Next to large pools of slowly moving water, “9”, Meghalayan Adventurers Association leg. 16.II.2005 GoogleMaps .

Note. Although male and female have been recorded ca. 1000 altitudinal m and 160 km directly apart from each other (C.W. Fischer, in litt.), they are considered conspecific due to their size and the similar cave adaptations especially the degree of eye reduction.

Etymology. The specific epitheton is an acronym and derived from the Sotho term “emisang keketseho e fetang tekanyo ya sechaba”, meaning “stop overpopulation” and refers to the threats posed to habitats and biodiversity on the planet earth due to human overpopulation. The Sotho language from Southern Africa was chosen for an Indian species to show the global aspect and importance of this problem; term in apposition.

Diagnosis. Small Ctenidae (total length male 8.9, female 9.4). Distinguished from other known Asian Amauropelma spp. by the strongly reduced eyes and other troglobitic adaptations, i.e. longer appendages, absence of colour pattern ( Figs 199–205 View FIGURES 199–209 ). Moreover, males may be distinguished from other Asian representatives by their distinct prolateral tegular extension ( Fig. 194 View FIGURES 193–198 ). The female (assumed conspecific with holotype) exhibit an epigynal plate strongly bulging anteriorly, and lateral teeth extending laterally beyond the epigynal plate ( Figs 196– 197 View FIGURES 193–198 , 208 View FIGURES 199–209 ). Internal folds almost touch each other anteriorly, forming a triangle ( Fig. 198 View FIGURES 193–198 ).

Description. Male (holotype). PL 4.8, PW 3.9, AW 1.9, OL 4.1, OW 2.6. Eyes strongly reduced in size, pigments absent. Palp and leg measurements [distal parts of leg IV lacking]: palp 6.7 (2.3, 1.1, 1.2, -, 2.1), I 21.4 III–IV p012, d111, r012; patellae I–IV 000; tibiae I p010, r010, v22222, II p110, r010, v22222, III p010, r010, v222; metatarsi I p111, r110, v222, II p111, r111, v222, III p110(1), r111, v212. Chelicerae with 3 promarginal, 4 (5) retromarginal teeth, without denticles. Retromargin of chelicerae close to fang base with 1 bristle. Tarsi with very sparse scopula, metatarsi without scopula. Claw tufts reduced. Leg claws I with 7, II with 5, and III with 2 indistinct secondary teeth, II–III strongly bent.

Palp as in diagnosis ( Figs 193–195 View FIGURES 193–198 ). Embolus arising in a 9-o’clock-position from tegulum, with small membranous seam at its base. Conductor arising in 1-o’clock-position from tegulum, extending beyond alveolus. Tegular apophysis arising centrally on tegulum, compact and with somewhat irregular shape. RTA with two similarly long, distad projections.

Colour ( Figs 199–201 View FIGURES 199–209 ). Yellowish-brown without pattern. Some parts darker through stronger sclerotization.

Female (assumed conspecific with holotype). PL 4.7, PW 3.5, AW 2.4, OL 4.7, OW 2.9. Palp measurements: palp 6.1 (2.0, 1.0, 1.4, -, 1.7). Spination of palp: palp 131, 100, 11(2)11, 1013. Chelicerae with 3(3 + 1) promarginal, 4 + 1 retromarginal teeth, without denticles ( Fig. 207 View FIGURES 199–209 ). Retromargin of chelicerae close to fang base with 1(2) bristle(s). Palpal claw with 5 secondary teeth. Primary tooth of leg claws long and curved ( Fig. 206 View FIGURES 199–209 ). Tarsal organ as in Fig. 209 View FIGURES 199–209 .

Copulatory organ as in diagnosis ( Figs 196–198 View FIGURES 193–198 , 208 View FIGURES 199–209 ). Epigynal plate width/length: 7/5; anterior width/ posterior width: 7/4.3. Proximal part of epigynal teeth laterad, their tips medio-posteriorad. Internal duct system with round spermathecae almost fully visible, separated from each other by less than their diameter; fertilisation ducts laminar, mediad.

Colour ( Figs 202–205 View FIGURES 199–209 ). As in male, except for the darker cephalic part in contrast to the lighter thoracic part and the reddish brown chelicerae.

Distribution. Known from two different localities in the Meghalaya in Northeast India (West Khasi Hills [type locality], Jaintia Hills) ( Fig. 179 View FIGURE 179 : 3).