Patu quadriventris, Lin, Yucheng & Li, Shuqiang, 2009

Lin, Yucheng & Li, Shuqiang, 2009, First described Patu spiders (Araneae, Symphytognathidae) from Asia, Zootaxa 2154, pp. 47-68 : 55-59

Patu quadriventris spec. nov.

Figs. 7–10 ; 18

Type material. Holotype male ( IZCAS), 2 males and 2 females paratypes from Mt. Wuzhishan Nature Reserve (18°54´N, 109°39´E), Wuzhishan City, Hainan Province, 9 August 2007, S. Q. Li and C. X. Wang leg. ( IZCAS); 1 male paratype from Limushan Nature Reserve (19°11´N, 109°44´E; Alt.: 655 m), Qiongzhong County, Hainan Province, 12 August 2007, S. Q. Li and C. X. Wang leg. ( IZCAS).

Etymology. The specific epithet derives from Latin quadrum (square) and venter (abdomen), in reference to the shape of abdomen in both sexes.

Diagnosis. Patu quadriventris is similar to Patu digua Forster & Platnick, 1977 from Colombia, but may be distinguished by the presence of two ventral spurs on tibia II, the short and non-coiled embolus, the presence of a large sclerotized scapus, the convoluted course of copulatory ducts and the widely spaced spermathecae.

Description. Holotype male. Total length 0.68. Carapace 0.37 long, 0.34 wide. Clypeus 0.10 high. Sternum 0.26 long, 0.24 wide. Abdomen 0.43 long, 0.43 wide. Carapace nearly round, margin black, brown yellow in the middle, with modified granules. Cephalic pars elevated, a pair of setae near median of thoracic furrow. Six eyes in three diads, round, ALE, PLE and PME same size, lateral eyes adjacent, ocular base black, PER slightly recurved. Chelicerae fused in middle, covered long setae on anterior surface, with sole teeth, fang with tiny denticles. Sternum brown and plump, fused to labium, surface smooth. Legs yellow, covered setae and bristles, a long distally dorsal spine on patella; two long dorsal spines on tibia I and II respectively, one on tibia III and IV; on distal end of tibia II with two large ventral spurs, three trichobothria on each tibia, one on each metatarsus. Legs measurements: I 1.18 (0.38, 0.12, 0.29, 0.18, 0.21); II 1.00 (0.30, 0.12, 0.23, 0.15, 0.20); III 0.77 (0.23, 0.09 0.15, 0.12, 0.18); IV 0.90 (0.29, 0.10, 0.20, 0.13, 0.18). Leg formula: I-II-IV- III. Abdomen pale yellow on dorsal middle, darkish on bilateral and posterior area, anteriorly round, posteriorly nearly quadrate, covered sparse long setae, posteriorly expanded beyond spinnerets. Spinnerets closed in an annular sclerotized plate, anterior spinnerets larger than posteriors, median spinnerets smallest, hardly visible; colulus absent.

Palp relatively large. Tibia bears two prolaterally distal short setae. Cymbium membranous, with short setae and a large sclerotized spur at apex. Paracymbium absent. Tegulum with a sclerotized apophysis. Embolus short, strongly sclerotized. Conductor membranous. Ejaculatory duct long, a half embedded in the radix haematodocha, other half sclerotized and several turns. Terminal apophysis absent, embolus starting at underside of conductor ( Figs. 8 A, B; 9 A–C).

Female. Total length 0.75. Carapace 0.37 long, 0.33 wide. Clypeus 0.06 high. Sternum 0.25 long, 0.23 wide. Abdomen 0.51 long, 0.48 wide. Somatic coloration and shape same as in male. Palp absent. Clypeus lower than in male. Leg measurements: I 1.23 (0.41, 0.13, 0.29, 0.18, 0.22); II 1.04 (0.32, 0.12, 0.24, 0.15, 0.21); III 0.80 (0.24, 0.10, 0.15, 0.13, 0.18); IV 0.98 (0.32, 0.11, 0.21, 0.15, 0.19). Leg formula: I-II-IV-III. Abdominal dorsum flesh-colored, pigmentation pattern as in male. Posteriorly expanded beyond spinnerets. Spiracles invisible. Colulus absent.

Epigynum large, surface smooth, with a strongly sclerotized scape. Epigynal plate weakly sclerotized. Vulva relatively complex. Spermathecae widely spaced, globose, strongly sclerotized. Copulatory opening large, located at terminal of scape; copulatory ducts long, starting at dorsally center of spermathecae, turning five times before curving down. Fertilization ducts short, deriving at inboard margin of spermathecae ( Fig. 10 A, B).

Distribution. Known only from the type locality (Hainan) ( Fig. 18).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Patu quadriventris spec. nov. A. Male, dorsal view; B. Female, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.10.

FIGURE 8. Patu quadriventris spec. nov. A. Left palp, prolateral view; B. Ditto, retrolateral view. Scale bar: 0.05.

FIGURE 9. Patu quadriventris spec. nov. A. Course of ejaculatory duct in bulb, prolateral view; B. Embolic division, ventral view; C. palpal cymbium, prolateral view; D. Male chelicerae, anterior view; E. Male leg II, prolateral view. Scale bars: 0.05 for A – D; 0.10 for E.

FIGURE 10. Patu quadriventris spec. nov. A. Epigynum, ventral view; B. Ditto, dorsal view. Scale bar: 0.05.