Opopaea vitrispina, Tong, Yanfeng & Li, Shuqiang, 2010

Tong, Yanfeng & Li, Shuqiang, 2010, The Goblin Spiders of the Genus Opopaea (Araneae, Oonopidae) in Hainan Island, China, Zootaxa 2327, pp. 23-43 : 36-42

Opopaea vitrispina sp. nov.

Figs 1A, J , 8 , 12

Type material: Holotype ( IZCAS Ar 19314) male, 18 male and 32 female paratypes, CHINA: Hainan, Bawangling National Natural Reserve, Dongsi Checkpoint, 28 July 2007, C. Wang leg. (WangCX 100); 6 male and 7 female paratypes, CHINA: Hainan, Bawangling National Natural Reserve, Dong’er Checkpoint (19°05.186´N, 109°11.803´E), 1010 m a.s.l., 25 July 2007, S. Li leg. (LiSQ 83); 8 male and 6 female paratypes, CHINA: Hainan, Bawangling National Natural Reserve, Dong’er Checkpoint (19°05.753´N, 109°10.557´E), 825 m a.s.l., 24 July 2007, S. Li leg. (LiSQ 80); 4 male and 2 female paratypes, CHINA: Hainan, Bawangling National Natural Reserve (19°05.94´N, 109°10.520´E), 1004 m a.s.l., 30 July 2007, S. Li leg. (LiSQ 129); 1 male and 1 female paratypes, CHINA: Hainan, Bawangling National Natural Reserve, Yajia Bawangling Convention Center (19°04.871´N, 109°07.395´E), 654 m a.s.l., 27 July 2007, S. Li leg. (LiSQ 103). All specimens deposited in IZCAS.

Etymology: The specific name comes from Latin, vitreus = transparent and spina = spine, referring to the transparent long needle-like parmula of female.

Diagnosis: The new species can be easily separated from all the other species by the long medially bent embolus of male palpal bulb and the presence of a very long needle-like parmula in epigastric area of female.

Description: Male (holotype) (IZCAS Ar 19314). Reddish brown species with yellowish brown legs. Body length 1.97; carapace 0.79 long, 0.68 wide; abdomen 1.24 long, 0.84 wide. Habitus as in Figs 1A, J . Carapace sides densely covered with fine longitudinal streaks; dorsal area smooth with some hairs at lateral edges and pair of small cone-shaped tubercles on posterior corners. Eyes six, well developed, ALE largest, PLE smallest; posterior eye row slightly recurved from above; ALE separated by less than their radius, ALE- PLE separated by less than ALE radius, PME touching throughout most of their length, PLE-PME separated by less than PME radius ( Fig. 8D ). Clypeus margin unmodified; clypeus height approximately equal to ALE diameter. Sternum longer than wide, uniform, fused to carapace; radial furrows present between coxae I-II, II- III, III-IV, with a row of small pits; surface smooth, without pits, microsculpture only in furrows. Anterior end of endites with a small, sharply pointed projection. Legs short, thick and spineless. Measurements of legs: I 1.85 (0.58, 0.32, 0.42, 0.37, 0.16); II 1.68 (0.55, 0.29, 0.34, 0.34, 0.16); III 1.45 (0.47, 0.24, 0.29, 0.29, 0.16); IV 2.11 (0.63, 0.37, 0.51, 0.42, 0.18). Leg formula: 4>1>2>3. Abdominal dorsal scutum strongly sclerotized, punctate, covering full length of abdomen. Book lung covers small, ovoid, without setae. Pedicel tube short, ribbed, with small, dorsolateral, scuto-pedicel region with paired curved scutal ridges ( Fig. 8E ), scutum not extending far dorsal of pedicel. Sperm pore small, clearly discernible, transverse; posteriorly directed apodemes present. Colulus very small, with two short setae; spinneret scutum present, incomplete ring. Supraanal scutum absent. Patella of palp greatly enlarged and swollen, attached to femur medially; cymbium completely fused to bulb without suture line; embolus simple, medially bent ( Figs 8A–C , 12A–H ).

Female. As in male except as noted. Body length 2.24; carapace 0.92 long, 0.71 wide; abdomen 1.42 long, 0.97 wide. Endites without projections. Measurements of legs: I 2.00 (0.63, 0.37, 0.45, 0.39, 0.16); II 1.76 (0.55, 0.29, 0.39, 0.37, 0.16); III 1.45 (0.47, 0.21, 0.32, 0.29, 0.16); IV 2.21 (0.68, 0.37, 0.50, 0.45, 0.21). Postgynal depression of epigastric area shallow; parmula nearly transparent, rather long, needle-like ( Fig. 8G ). Vulva with a short, T-shaped sclerite, situated near epigastric furrow ( Fig. 8F ).

Distribution: Known only from the type locality ( Map 2 ).

Figures

MAP 2. Distribution of six Opopaea species in China.

FIGURES 1 A – U. Opopaea cornuta Yin & Wang, 1984 (B, K); Opopaea deserticola Simon, 1891 (Q, S, T); Opopaea diaoluoshan sp. nov. (C, H, I); Opopaea furcula sp. nov. (E, O); Opopaea gibbifera Tong & Li, 2008 (D, L); Opopaea sanya sp. nov. (F, M); Opopaea sauteri Brignoli, 1974 (G, N, P, R, U) and Opopaea vitrispina sp. nov. (A, J). A – G. Male habitus, dorsal view; H. Male abdomen, ventral view; I – O. Male habitus, lateral view; P, Q. Male left palp, prolateral view; R, S. Female genitalia, ventral view; T, U. Female carapace, dorsal view.

FIGURES 8 A – G. Opopaea vitrispina sp. nov. A. Male left palp, prolateral view; B. Male left palp, retrolateral view; C. Male embolus, frontal view; D. Male carapace, dorsal view; E. Female scutopetiolar apparatus, anteroventral view; F. Vulva, dorsal view; G. Female postgynum, ventral view. Scale lines: A, B, F, G = 0.1 mm; C = 0.05 mm; D, E = 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 12 A – H. Opopaea vitrispina sp. nov., left male palp, SEM. A. Prolateral view; B. Retrolateral view; C. Bulb, prolateral view; D. Bulb, retrolateral view; E. Embolus, prolateral view; F. Embolus, retrolateral view; G. Palpal depression, prolateral view; H. Tip of embolus, retrolateral view.