Althepus tuqi Li et Li, 2017

Liu, Chang, Li, Fengyuan, Wongprom, Prasit, Zheng, Guo & Li, Shuqiang, 2017, Eleven new species of the spider genus Althepus Thorell, 1898 (Araneae, Ochyroceratidae) from Thailand, Zootaxa 4350 (3), pp. 469-499 : 491-494

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4350.3.3
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C5A2FCC7-904B-456B-BD8F-5C9FD3D5FB9F
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6049539
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/5326CD46-FFE8-FFEA-A096-A1BFFF74FED1
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Althepus tuqi Li et Li
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Althepus tuqi Li et Li sp. nov.

Figs 17–18 View FIGURE 17 View FIGURE 18 , 21–22 View FIGURE 21 View FIGURE 22

Type material. Holotype: Male ( IZCAS), Thailand, Krabi Province, Muang District, Tap Prink Subdistrict , Thep Pratan Cave ( Payanak Cave ), 08°10.095'N, 98°52.870'E, altitude 81m, 13 October 2015 GoogleMaps . Paratypes: 2 females and 2 males, same data as holotype ( IZCAS) GoogleMaps .

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the Chinese pinyin 'tū qǐ', which means 'protrusion', referring to the large lateral protrusion on the tarsus of male palp; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. The species resembles A. kuan sp. nov. ( Figs 8–9 View FIGURE 8 View FIGURE 9 ) with the male palp, but can be distinguished by the large lateral protrusion on the tarsus ( Figs 17A–D View FIGURE 17 ), by the needle-like embolus as well as by the long spermathecae ( Fig. 18E View FIGURE 18 ).

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 3.19; carapace 1.09 length, 1.28 width; abdomen 1.97 length, 0.78 width. Carapace oval ( Fig. 18G View FIGURE 18 ), yellow, with three longitudinal brown bands of different width, among them, the middle one three times wider than the lateral ones. Anterior margin of thoracic region distinctly elevated. Clypeus brown. Cheliceral promargin with two teeth, followed by a lamina, retromargin with two small teeth ( Fig. 21J View FIGURE 21 ). Labium brown, with two light rounded areas basally. Sternum brown. Abdomen elongate, brown, with a yellow herringbone pattern on the dorsal surface and two narrow white bands on the ventral surface. Legs brown, femur and tibia annulated with white. Leg measurements: I missing, II 28.16 (6.09, 0.48, 7.05, 10.89, 3.65), III 19.32 (5.89, 0.48, 4.94 6.15, 1.86), IV 24.71 (7.37, 0.48, 7.05, 8.27, 1.54). Male palp ( Figs 17A–D View FIGURE 17 ): tarsus with three slightly curved and serrated bristles at the top of cymbial protrusion ( Fig. 17A View FIGURE 17 ), one twisty spine with tip directed towards proximally ( Figs 17C–D View FIGURE 17 ), one strong spine arising from a small tubercle; bulb yellow, ovate; embolus arising retrolatero-distally from bulb, needle-like and slightly oblique distally; conductor arising distally from bulb, slightly curved distally; conductor and embolus widely separated (the distance is almost equal to diameter of bulb).

Female (paratype). Similar to male in coloration and general features ( Figs 18H–I View FIGURE 18 ), but with a smaller body size. Internal genitalia with a pair of transparent spermathecae ( Fig. 18E View FIGURE 18 ). Measurements: total length 3.08; carapace 1.03 length, 1.28 width; abdomen 1.92 length, 1.28 width. Legs I missing, II 22.13 (6.09, 0.40, 5.90, 7.69, 2.05), III 14.96 (4.49, 0.40, 3.85, 4.81, 1.41), IV 14.57 (4.42, 0.40, 3.85, 4.87, 1.03).

Variation. Carapace: males 1.09–1.50 length, 1.28–1.70 width; females 1.03–1.28 length, 1.27–1.28 width. Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 22 View FIGURE 22 ).