Asceua forcipiformis, Li & Liu & Peng, 2022

Li, Song-Lin, Liu, Ping & Peng, Xian-Jin, 2022, Three new species of the genus Asceua Thorell, 1887 (Araneae: Zodariidae) from Yunnan Province, China, Zootaxa 5190 (1), pp. 56-68 : 63

Asceua forcipiformis sp. nov.

Figures 6–9

Type material. Holotype ♂: CHINA, Yunnan Province: Tengchong County, Jietou Township, Longtang River , 25.74622ºN, 98.69612ºE, 2030 m, 15 May 2006, D. H. Kavanaugh and D. Z. Dong leg. (DHK-2006-024-01) . Paratypes: 16♂ 5♀, same data as holotype (DHK-2006-024-02) ; 12♂ 4♀, Longling County, Longjiang Township , Xiaoheishan Nature Reserve, 24.82888°N, 98.76001°E, 2020 m, 26 May 2005, Charles Griswold and D. H. Kavanaugh leg. (CGY127) ; 6♂ 1♀, Lonyang County, Bawan Township , Nankang Col, 24.83178°N, 98.76472°E, 2180 m, 22 May 2005, Charles Griswold and D. H. Kavanaugh leg. (CGY114) .

Etymology. The specific epithet is the combination of the Latin “ forceps ” (forceps) and “ formis ” (form), referring to the forcipate distal end of RTA, adjective.

Diagnosis. The males of this new species resembles that of A. maculosa Logunov, 2010 (see Logunov, 2010, figs 1–3, 6) in having a strong median apophysis and a bifurcate VTA, but can be distinguished by: (1) tibia with DTA in A. forcipiformis sp. nov. ( Fig. 7B ) (vs. without DTA); (2) RTA with two rami in A. forcipiformis sp. nov. ( Fig. 7F ) (vs. uniramous); (3) median apophysis without the spur in A. forcipiformis sp. nov. ( Fig. 7C ) (vs. with spur); (4) distal portion of embolus far away from the margin of genital bulb in ventral view in A. forcipiformis sp. nov. ( Fig. 7C ) (vs. covers the genital bulb). The females of this new species resembles that of A. maculosa Logunov, 2010 (see Logunov, 2010, figs 4, 5, 7) in having similar course of copulatory ducts and two pockets, but can be easily distinguished by: (1) the top of copulatory ducts located medially in A. forcipiformis sp. nov. ( Fig. 8B ) (vs. located laterally); (2) epigyne with two atria in A. forcipiformis sp. nov. ( Fig. 8A ) (vs. with one atrium).

Description. Male (holotype) ( Fig. 6A, B ). Total length 3.85; carapace 1.96 long, 1.52 wide; abdomen 2.90 long, 1.32 wide. Carapace brown, with a V-shaped dark patch medianly; fovea and radial grooves distinct, cervical grooves indistinct. Clypeus 0.46 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.06, ALE 0.07, PME 0.09, PLE 0.10; AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.13, PME–PLE 0.15, MOA 0.34 long, anterior width 0.18, posterior width 0.31. Chelicerae yellowish brown, with two promarginal teeth and without retromarginal tooth. Endites yellow. Labium brown, triangular. Sternum yellowish brown, edge slightly darker. Legs yellow. Measurements of legs: I, 5.23 (1.44, 1.75, 1.30, 0.74); II, 4.48 (1.33, 1.52, 1.03, 0.60); III, 4.47 (1.31, 1.41, 1.23, 0.52); IV, 6.28 (1.73, 1.90, 1.85, 0.80). Leg formula: 4123. Abdomen oval, dorsum black, anterior portion with three pairs of light patches medianly, posterior portion with three transversal light bands medianly; venter yellow, with dense field of short setae anteriorly, with a dark chevron posteriorly and one pair of dark patches laterally. Spinnerets pale yellow.

Palp ( Fig. 7 ). Tibia with three apophyses and a membranous lamella medially; VTA bifurcate, ventral ramus thicker with truncated tip, lateral ramus thinner with blunt tip in ventral view; RTA stronger and forcipate; DTA taper. Median apophysis leaf-shaped, distal end slightly curved. Conductor membranous, far away from distal portion of embolus in ventral view, with expanded tip and a tubercule basally. Embolus slender and whip-shaped, extending clockwise.

Female (one paratype of DHK-2006-024-02) ( Fig. 6C, D ). Total length 4.12; carapace 1.77 long, 1.41 wide; abdomen 2.21 long, 1.71 wide. Clypeus 0.07 high. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.09, ALE 0.09, PME 0.11, PLE 0.12; AME–AME 0.04, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.11, PME–PLE 0.12. MOA 0.40 long, anterior width 0.20, posterior width 0.30. Measurements of legs: I, 4.66 (1.31, 1.66, 1.09, 0.60); II, 3.89 (1.10, 1.39, 0.96, 0.44); III, 4.06 (1.06, 1.35, 1.14, 0.51); IV, 5.82 (1.51, 1.84, 1.77, 0.70). Leg formula: 4132. Other color and pattern same as in male.

Epigyne ( Fig. 8 ). Epigynal plate about two times wider than long, with two triangular pockets anteriorly. Atria subcircular, located anteriorly. Copulatory openings located on the inner sides of atria. Copulatory ducts intertwined, original portion thicker. Spermathecae invisible, covered by copulatory ducts.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 9 ).

Figures

FIGURE 6. Asceua forcipiformis sp. nov. A. Male holotype, habitus, dorsal view; B. Ditto, ventral view; C. Female paratype, habitus, dorsal view; D. Ditto, ventral view.

FIGURE 7. Asceua forcipiformis sp. nov. A. Male holotype, left palp, prolateral view; B. Ditto, retrolateral view; C. Ditto, ventral view, the black arrow points to the tubercule at the base of conductor; D. Median apophysis; E. Tibia, ventral view; F. Ditto, retrolateral view, the black arrow points to the membranous lamella. Abbreviations: C, conductor; DTA, dorsal tibial apophysis; E, embolus; MA, median apophysis; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; VTA, ventral tibial apophysis.

FIGURE 8. Asceua forcipiformis sp. nov. A. Female paratype, epigyne, ventral view, the black arrow points to the ridge of atrium; B. Vulva, dorsal view.Abbreviations:A, atrium; CD, copulatory duct; CO, copulatory opening; EP, epigynal pocket; FD, fertilization ducts. Arrows and numbers indicate the course of copulatory ducts.

FIGURE 9. Collection localities of Asceua calciformis sp. nov., Asceua digitata sp. nov. and Asceua forcipiformis sp. nov..