Anahita jianfengensi

Zhang, Feng, Hu, Dong-Sheng & Han, Guang-Xin, 2011, A new species of the genus Anahita Karsch, 1879 (Araneae: Ctenidae) from Hainan Island, China, Zootaxa 2839, pp. 85-88 : 85-88

Anahita jianfengensi s sp. nov.

( Figs 1–10 )

Type material. Male holotype, China: Hainan Island, Ledong County, Jianfengling Mountain (E 108°48', N 18°42'), 25 August 2007, Feng Zhang leg. Paratype: 1Ƥ, same label data as the holotype.

Etymology. The specific name is derived from the type locality; adjective.

Diagnosis. Among the Asian congeneric species, the new species is very similar to Anahita maolan Zhu, Chen & Song, 1999 (Holotype male and paratype female, No: Ar-1999-Ct-075, deposited in the Museum of Hebei University, examined), both with light longitudinal band along the carapace and abdomen centrally, epigynum with trapeziform median septum and a pair of small transverse teeth, and palp without median apophysis; but it can be distinguished from the latter by: (1) median septum of epigynum narrow ( Fig. 5 ), while broader in the latter; (2) embolus broad, spiralshaped ( Figs 7–9 ), while almost C-shaped in the latter.

Description. Male holotype: total length 6.76. Carapace 3.21 long, 2.63 wide; abdomen 3.63 long, 1.84 wide. Carapace ( Fig. 1 ) yellowish-brown, with wide, light yellow longitudinal median band; submarginal bands yellow, and narrower than median band; marginal bands dark yellow, and with some discontinuous brown spots. Median furrow obvious, brown. Eight eyes in three rows, eye formula 2–4–2 ( Figs 1 , 4 ). Eyes measurements: AME 0.17, ALE 0.12, PME 0.23, PLE 0.18; AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.23, PME–PME 0.18, PME–PLE 0.25. MOA length 0.40, with front width 0.38 and back width 0.58. Chelicerae yellow with dark brown band medially, 3 promarginal teeth, middle one largest; 6 retromarginal teeth, basal three teeth large and distal three denticles very small. Endites, labium and sternum yellow. Legs brown. Tibiae I–II with 5 pairs of ventral spines, metatarsi I–II with 3 pairs of ventral spines. Leg measurements: I 15.79 (3.95, 1.58, 4.26, 4.05, 1.95); II 13.17 (3.44, 1.47, 3.31, 3.42, 1.53); III 10.91 (3.10, 1.21, 2.55, 2.95, 1.10); IV 16.27 (4.36, 1.37, 3.99, 5.00, 1.55). Leg formula: 4123. Abdomen ( Fig. 1 ) oval, dorsum yellowish medially, grey laterally, with several clusters of white hairs posteriorly; venter yellowish with small black spots. Spinnerets yellowish, but anterior spinnerets with black laterally.

Palp ( Figs 7–9 ): tibia distally without prolateral, ventral or retrolateral apophyses; tegulum slightly expanded, sperm duct originating from tegulum prolaterally, and almost circling along the tegular margin, then turning to embolus; embolus broad, originating from central area of tegulum, spiral-shaped; hyaline and short apical conductor, and providing depression for tip of embolus.

Female paratype. Total length 10.32. Carapace 3.52 long, 2.63 wide; abdomen 6.22 long, 3.68 wide. Carapace yellowish-brown, with wide, yellow longitudinal median band; submarginal bands dark yellow and narrower than median band; marginal bands brown. Median furrow longitudinal, located in posterior third of carapace ( Fig. 2 ). Eight eyes ( Figs 2 , 3 ) in three rows, eye formula 2–4–2, anterior edge of ALE almost in line with back edge of PLE. Eyes measurements: AME 0.15, ALE 0.12, PME 0.28, PLE 0.25; AME–AME 0.14, AME–ALE 0.23, PME–PME 0.18, PME– PLE 0.26. MOA length 0.31, with front width 0.41 and back width 0.65. Dark brown band medially extending along yellow chelicerae anteriorly. Promargin of fang furrow of chelicera with three teeth, middle one largest; retromargin with six teeth, basal three teeth large and distal three teeth very small. Endites, labium and sternum yellow with gray spots. Legs generally dark brown, except light yellow coxae and trochanters. Tibiae I–II with 5 pairs of ventral spines, metatarsi I–II with 3 pairs of ventral spines. Leg measurements: I 11.96 (3.33, 1.72, 3.22, 2.69, 1.00); II 10.68 (2.89, 1.67, 2.66, 2.44, 1.02); III 9.55 (2.83, 1.22, 2.22, 2.28, 1.00); IV 13.98 (3.55, 1.55, 3.44, 4.11, 1.33). Leg formula: 4123. Characteristics of abdomen and spinnerets resemble those of the male holotype.

Epigynum ( Figs 5–6 ): median septum broad, almost trapeziform; pair of small transverse teeth, positioned under copulatory opening; spermathecae peanut-shaped.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 2. Anahita jianfengensis sp. nov., 1. Male holotype habitus, dorsal view; 2. Female paratype habitus, dorsal view.

FIGURES 3 – 9. Anahita jianfengensis sp. nov., 3. Female cephalic region, dorsal view; 4. Male cephalic region, dorsal view; 5. Epigynum, ventral view; 6, Vulva, dorsal view; 7. Left male palp, prolateral view; 8. Same, ventral view; 9. Same, retrolateral view. Scale bars: 3 – 4, 0.5 mm; 5 – 9, 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 10. Distribution of Anahita jianfengensis sp. nov.