Sinoderces phathaoensis Li & Li sp. nov. Figs 5, 6, 21, 22

Types.

Holotype: ♂, Pha Thao Cave, Vang Vieng District, 11.95 km north of Viengkieo Village, Vientiane Province, Laos, 19°01.749'N, 102°25.954'E, 290 m, 03.XII.2012, Yao Z. leg. Paratypes: 3♀, same data as holotype

Etymology.

The specific name refers to the name of cave; adjective.

Diagnosis.

Sinoderces phathaoensis sp. nov. resembles S. kieoensis sp. nov. in having a similar shaped bulb in males. Males can be distinguished by the curved embolus, almost half as long as the bulb (Fig. 5B, C), in contrast to the straight embolus, less than half the bulb length in S. kieoensis sp. nov. (Fig. 18 B–D). The bulb of S. phathaoensis sp. nov. tapers and narrows more sharply (Fig. 5) than that of S. kieoensis sp. nov. (Fig. 18). The male clypeus has two crotched apophyses.

Description.

Male (holotype). Total length 1.84; carapace 0.64 long, 0.70 wide; abdomen 1.20 long, 0.60 wide. Carapace round, light yellow, with brown lateral margins and a trifurcate mark in the center of the carapace (Fig. 6E). Clypeus slanting and darker brown, medially with one pair of bifurcate apophyses. Labium light yellow. Sternum yellow. The opisthosoma darkens anteriorly to posteriorly (Fig. 6E). Cheliceral promargin with one tooth, connected to a lamina, retromargin with one small tooth (Fig. 21C). Leg measurements: I missing, II missing, III missing, IV missing. Abdomen elongated, wrinkles posteriorly; the color darkens towards the posterior end (Fig. 6E). Spinnerets yellow.

Male palp (Fig. 5 A–D): The whole structure is relatively simple. Bulb yellow, conical. Embolus arising distally from the bulb, no conductor. Tibia projected distally. Tibia dark yellow, femur and trochanter light yellow.

Female (one of the paratypes). Size and color similar to male (Fig. 6 C–E). Total length 1.90; carapace 0.64 long, 0.70 wide; abdomen 1.26 long, 0.60 wide. Carapace brown, with brown lateral margins and a trifurcate mark in the center of carapace (Fig. 6C). Clypeus brown. Endites and labium dark brown. Sternum brown. Legs brownish yellow, with dark brown joints. Leg measurements: I missing, II missing, III 5.58 (1.60, 0.20, 1.70, 1.44, 0.64), IV - (2.20, 0.25, -, -, -). Abdomen wrinkled posterodorsally; the color darkens from anterior to posterior. Ventrum with white rings (Fig. 6E). Spinnerets dark yellow.

Epigyne (Fig. 6A, B): The epigyne is wide and extends to the edge of the abdomen (Fig. 6B). Two pairs of curved spermathecae, the anterior pair of spermathecae resemble a germinating seedling, and the other pair is like a twisted hook (Fig. 6A).

Distribution.

Known only from the type locality (Fig. 22).

Natural history.

Collected in a cave entrance at an elevation of 290 m.