Bucliona kirilli Yu & Li, 2021

Zhang, Jianshuang, Marusik, Yuri M., Oketch, Ambata D., Kioko, Esther N., Yu, Hao & Li, Shuqiang, 2021, Resurrection of the spider genus Bucliona Benoit, 1977, with a description of a new species from Kenya (Araneae, Clubionidae), Zootaxa 5006 (1), pp. 195-207 : 203-206

Bucliona kirilli Yu & Li sp. n.

Figs 2E, F , 5 , 6 , 7A, C

Type material. Holotype ♂ ( NMK), KENYA: Nyeri County, Naro Moru Town, Mount Kenya National Park, Metrological Station (S0.1702º, E37.2140º, 3000 m), 16.VIII.2018, Kioko G. leg.

Other material examined. KENYA: Laikipia County, Nanyuki Town, Mount Kenya National Park, Sirimon Gate , Bamboo Forest (S0.2675º, E37.28276º, 3176 m), 1♂ ( MGEU), 17.VIII.2018, Kioko G. leg.

Etymology. The species is named in honour of Kirill G. Mikhailov from Moscow State University for his contributions to the systematics of clubionid spiders and on the occasion of his 60 th birthday; noun (name) in genitive case.

Diagnosis. Males of B. kirilli sp. n. resemble those of B. dubia but differ by the parallel sides and a triangular tip of the RTA (vs. wide base and claw-like tip), as well as by the tip of the embolus which is directed antero-mesally (vs. anteriorly).

Description. Male. Total length 7.66; carapace 3.65 long, 2.54 wide; abdomen 4.01 long, 2.14 wide. Carapace ( Figs 6A–C ) uniformly yellow-brown. Labium and endites dark reddish brown. Sternum coloured as carapace. Eyes: AER slightly recurved, PER wider than AER and straight in dorsal view. AME dark, other eyes light; with black rings. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.17, ALE 0.20, PME 0.17, PLE 0.18, AME–AME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.15, PME–PME 0.39, PME–PLE 0.28, MOQL 0.47, MOQA 0.44, MOQP 0.71. Legs yellowish, without distinct pattern. Leg measurements: I and II missing, III (2.50, —, —, —), IV 11.45 (3.20, 3.95, 3.33, 0.97). Abdomen ( Figs 6A–C ) with wide dorsal scutum covering almost entire abdomen; dorsum anteriorly with triangular, dark, median stripe, reaching 1/3 of abdomen length, centrally without distinct patterns (faded in the preserved holotype but with 2 transverse chevrons in the second female), posteriorly with 3 transverse chevrons; venter anteriorly without any markings, posteriorly with 2 broken longitudinal stripes.

Palp ( Figs 5A–E , 7A, C ): Tibia relatively long, over 1/2 cymbium length, ca. 1.9 times longer than wide, retrolateral tibial apophysis (RTA) about 1/2 of tibia length, about 5 times longer than wide, slightly wider at base, gradually tapering towards apex, tip triangular, sharply pointed. Embolus Ƨ-shaped in ventral view, bent at almost a right angle, tip directed antero-mesally, base (EB) slightly longer than free part (E), embolus 6.6 times longer than wide. Tegular apophysis (TA) heavily sclerotized, arising retrolatero-distally from tegulum, finger shaped, directed proximally, distally curved retrolaterally.

Female. Unknown.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Somatic characters of Bucliona jucunda (A, B, D, E) and B. kirilli sp. n. (C, F): A, C male prosoma, frontal; B female prosoma, frontal; D male leg I, prolateral; E–F female leg I, prolateral. Arrows (A, C) point at mesal ridge of male chelicera; Arrows (D–F) point at scopula on the distal part of the tibia. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURE 5. Male palp of Bucliona kirilli sp. n. holotype: A–B prolateral and retrolateral; C–E bulb, prolateral, ventral, and retrolateral. Abbreviations: E, embolus; EB, embolic base; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; ST, subtegulum; TA, tegular apophysis. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 6. Habitus of the holotype of Bucliona kirilli sp. n. A dorsal; B ventral; C lateral.Arrows indicate the dorsal abdominal scutum. Scale bar: 2 mm.

FIGURE 7. Comparison of the male palp of Bucliona kirilli sp. n. (A, C) and B. jucunda (B, D). A–B ventral; C–D RTA, dorsoretrolateral. Abbreviations: E, embolus; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; ST, subtegulum; TA, tegular apophysis. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.