Solenysa reflexilis, Tu, Lihong, Ono, Hirotsugu & Li, Shuqiang, 2007

Tu, Lihong, Ono, Hirotsugu & Li, Shuqiang, 2007, Two new species of Solenysa Simon, 1894 (Araneae: Linyphiidae) from Japan, Zootaxa 1426, pp. 57-62 : 58-60

Solenysa reflexilis sp. nov.

( Fig. 1 )

Type material. Male holotype (NSMT-Ar. 3905), with label: Shimo-kajiwara (32.20o N, 130.50o E), Itsukimura, Kuma-gun, Kumamato Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan, coll. Teruo Irie, 27. X. 1981. 1 male and 2 females paratypes, same data as holotype.

Etymology. The specific name comes from the Latin reflexilis (fold back) in reference to the folded second branch of lamella characteristica of male palp.

Diagnosis. The male palp of Solenysa reflexilis sp. nov. is similar to that of S. melloteei , both of them have a long, slender ribbon-like second branch of lamella characteristica with a forked apex (see Tu & Li 2006b: figs 24–27), but it can be distinguished by the bending spike-shaped third branch and the large triangular-shaped apophysis of embolic membrane ( Fig. 1 D). The female is diagnosed by the short and wide epigynum with a rectangular epigynal collar ( Figs 1 E, H).

Description of male holotype. Both sexes have typical Solenysa appearance ( Tu & Li, 2006b: figs 21– 22). Total length: 1.20. Carapace: 0.75 long, 0.45 wide. Abdomen: 0.58 long, 0.38 wide. Chelicera with four promarginal and two retromarginal teeth. Length of legs: I 2.39 (0.66 + 0.76 + 0.54 + 0.43); II 2.10 (0.59 + 0.65 + 0.45 + 0.41); III 1.73 (0.50 + 0.53 + 0.38 + 0.32); IV 1.95 (0.65 + 0.66 + 0.38 + 0.26). Tm I: 0.18, Tm IV absent. For additional somatic characters see the description of the genus Solenysa ( Tu & Li, 2006b).

Male palp ( Figs 1 A–C). Tibia palm-shaped in retrolateral view, twice as long as patella. Tibial proximal process furnished with two long bristles. Cymbium proximal apophysis hook like, pointing forward. Paracymbium with additional proximal curve oriented mesally. Solenysa tegular triangle almost half rounded. Embolic division ( Fig. 1 D): Basal parts of lamella characteristica and terminal apophysis connected together by membranous area in which embedded reduced radix. Embolus spiral plate-shaped, totally sclerotized, without typical embolus proper, connected with radix by embolic membrane. Embolic membrane with large triangular apophysis protruding forwards. Lamella characteristica anterior branch (LC1) stout and well-sclerotized, extending forward just behind embolus; second one (LC2) ribbon-like, extremely long and slender, dragging backwards, then folded back, extending forwards with forked apex; third one (LC3) bending spike-shaped, well-sclerotized. Three free ends of terminal apophysis in triangular arrangement: curved anterior terminal apophysis foregoing; terminal sclerite dragged posteriorly, even behind triangular shaped posterior terminal apophysis.

Description of female. Total length: 1.30. Carapace: 0.80 long, 0.45 wide. Abdomen: 0.60 long, 0.40 wide. Chelicera with four promarginal and three retromarginal teeth. Length of legs: I 2.89 (0.77 + 0.95 + 0.67 + 0.50); II 2.45 (0.70 + 0.73 + 0.57 + 0.45); III 2.05 (0.57 + 0.55 + 0.43 + 0.50); IV 2.43 (0.70 + 0.73 + 0.57 + 0.43). Tm I: 0.19, Tm IV absent. Other somatic characters as in male.

Epigynum ( Figs 1 E–F). More than twice as wide as long. Epigynal collar rectangular-shaped, wider than half width of epigynum. Solenoid connected from ventral side of it, folded dorsally and lifts epigynum up in nonfunctional stage. Posterior median plate wide and short, about three times wider than long, furnished with a pair of lateral wings. Large ball-shaped spermathecae make epigynum almost dumbbell-shaped with triangular septum between them. Copulatory openings located at each side of septum ( Fig. 1 H), covered by translucent sclerite extended from ventral wall of epigynum ( Fig. 1 G). Copulatory ducts extending divergently, tracing half circle and enter spermathecae from outside. Fertilization ducts mesally directed.

Variation. Male carapace length is 0.75–0.77, total length 1.20–1.23 (n = 2). Female carapace length is 0.72–0.80, total length 1.15 to 1.30 (n = 2).

Distribution. Japan (Kyushu).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Solenysa reflexilis sp. nov. A, left male palp, retrolateral view; B, left male palp, prolateral view; C, left male palp, ventral view; D, embolic division of left male palp, dorsal view; E, epigynum, ventral view (before dissected from the spider’s abdomen); F, epigynum, dorsal view; G, vulva, ventral view; H, vulva, dorsal view. [Scale bars: 0.05 mm].