Paratus kentingensis, Mu & Zhang, 2018

Mu, Yannan & Zhang, Feng, 2018, Description of two new species of Paratus Simon, 1898 from southern China (Araneae: Liocranidae), Zootaxa 4508 (1), pp. 141-150 : 146-148

Paratus kentingensis sp. n.

Figs 5–8

Type material. Holotype ♂, CHINA: Taiwan Province , Pingtung County, Hengchun Township , Kenting National Park (21°57.203'N, 120°49.656'E), 195 m a.s.l., 26 Jun 2013, Luyu Wang leg. Paratype: 1♀, same data as holotype .

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

Diagnosis: This species can be distinguished from P. hamatus sp. n. by the following characters: 1) embolus wide, with an expanded apex (vs thin); 2) the presence of a sclerotized distal margin of the tegular apophysis, and the presence of a semicircular membranous structure between the embolus and triangular apophysis (vs triangular membranous outgrowth); 3) RTA bending retrolaterally (vs bending prolaterally); 4) copulatory ducts broadly archshaped (vs V-shaped); 5) the presence of ridged diverticula between the spermathecae (vs without ridged diverticula).

Description: Male ( Fig. 5 ): total length 2.64, carapace 1.33 long, 1.26 wide, abdomen 1.31 long, 1.01 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.07, PME 0.09, PLE 0.10, AME–AME 0.08, AME–ALE 0.06, PME–PME 0.08, PME–PLE 0.11, ALE–PLE contiguous. Clypeus height 0.04, about half of AME diameter. Several bent setae originating at the base of fang. Chelicerae deep yellow-brown, with black patches, 2 promarginal and 4 retromarginal teeth. Carapace yellow, with two pairs of grey bands laterally. Highest point of carapace at fovea. Fovea red-brown. Sternum white, without patches. Leg measurements: leg I 4.36 (1.28, 0.45, 1.39, 0.90, 0.34), leg II 4.29 (1.27, 0.44, 1.20, 0.93, 0.45), leg III 4.31 (1.23, 0.41, 1.12, 1.04, 0.51), leg IV 4.63 (1.35, 0.41, 1.04, 1.32, 0.51). Legs coloured as carapace, femora III and IV with two distinct black annuli that divide femora into three almost equal parts. Tibiae I and II with 7 pairs of long ventral spines, metatarsi I and II with 3 pairs of long ventral spines.

Palp ( Figs 7 A–C, 8A–C) as illustrated. Femur (0.64) nearly as long as cymbium (0.67). Patella (0.26) nearly as long as tibia (0.24). Tibia with two long ventral hairs and one prolateral spine. RTA broad, bending retrolaterally. Bulb yellowish-grey. Tegulum with triangular tegular apophysis, its distal margin sclerotized. Embolus C-shaped, wide, originating at centre of bulb. Semicircular membranous structure between apex of embolus and triangular tegular apophysis. Subtegulum not visible.

Female ( Fig. 6 ): Paratype total length 3.10, carapace 1.26 long, 1.17 wide, abdomen 1.84 long, 1.55 wide. Eye sizes and interdistances: AME 0.08, ALE 0.06, PME 0.09, PLE 0.09, AME–AME 0.06, AME–ALE 0.05, PME– PME 0.08, PME–PLE 0.10. Clypeus very low, 0.03. Leg measurements: leg I 3.54 (1.05, 0.41, 1.08, 0.66, 0.34), leg II 3.46 (1.04, 0.40, 1.03, 0.58, 0.41), leg III 3.87 (1.14, 0.40, 0.99, 0.87, 0.47), leg IV 4.07 (1.19, 0.37, 0.94, 1.12, 0.45). Other characters same as holotype except colour paler and body size larger.

Epigyne ( Figs 7 D–E, 8D–E) as illustrated. Epigynal plate weakly sclerotized. Copulatory openings hidden under epigynal plate. Copulatory ducts short, broadly arch-shaped. Spermathecae spherical, diverging, separated by about 2 times spermatheca diameter. In dorsal view, fertilization ducts long, curved upward along margin of spermathecae, with ridged diverticula located between spermathecae.

Distribution: Known only from the type locality.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Paratus kentingensis sp. n., male. A habitus, dorsal view; B same, ventral view; C cephalothorax, frontal view; D same, ventral view; E habitus, lateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm (A–B, E); 0.2 mm (C); 0.5 mm (D).

FIGURE 6. Paratus kentingensis sp. n., female. A habitus, dorsal view; B same, ventral view; C cephalothorax, frontal view; D same, ventral view; E habitus, lateral view. Scale bars: 1 mm (A–B, E); 0.2 mm (C); 0.5 mm (D).

FIGURE 7. Paratus kentingensis sp. n. A male left palp, prolateral view; B same, ventral view; C same, retrolateral view; D epigyne, ventral view; E epigyne, dorsal view. Scale bars: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 8. Paratus kentingensis sp. n. A male left palp, prolateral view; B same, ventral view; C same, retrolateral view; D epigyne, ventral view; E epigyne, dorsal view. Abbreviations: CD, copulatory duct; CO, copulatory opening; E, embolus; FD, fertilization duct; RTA, retrolateral tibial apophysis; S, spermatheca; SD, sperm duct; sms, semicircular membranous structure. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.