Carrhotus lobatus sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: B1F383E0-259C-4888-8227-FEB0F27014D3

Figs 8A–D, 9A–B, 17

Diagnosis

This species is distinguishable by the distinctive double-lobed PLP and short and hook-shaped embolus tip directed in a clockwise path (Figs 8C–D, 9A–B).

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the Latin word ‘ lobatus ’ meaning ‘lobed’, loosely referring to its distinctive proximal lobe of the tegulum.

Material examined

Holotype SRI LANKA • ♂; Central Province, Matale District, Gammaduwa, Knuckles Range; 07°27′57″ N, 80°46′24″ E; 900 m a.s.l.; 18 Nov. 2009; S.P. Benjamin and S. Batuwita leg.; hand collection; NIFS_ SAL_282.

Other material

SRI LANKA – Central Province • 1 ♂; Matale District, Knuckles range, Pitawala Pathana; 07°27′57″ N, 80°46′24″ E; 17 Mar. 2015; N.P. Athukorala leg.; hand collection; NIFS_SAL_403 • 1 ♂; Kandy District, Peradeniya; 07°14′58″ N, 80°36′43″ E; 674 m a.s.l; 22 Dec. 2017; N.P. Athukorala et al. leg.; beating; NIFS_SAL_1114 . – Southern Province • 1 ♂; Galle District, Hiyare, Kombala-Kottawa FR; 06°03′53″ N, 80°18′56″ E; 110 m a.s.l.; 24–26 May 2016; N.P. Athukorala et al. leg.; beating; NIFS_ SAL_1285 .

Description

Male

MEASUREMENTS. TL 5.15, PL 2.13, PW at PLEs 1.71, AL 2.19, AW 1.71. Eye field: diameter of AME 0.46; ALE 0.28; PME 0.08; PLE 0.26; PME–PME 1.46; PLE–PLE 1.34; ALE–PME 0.24; ALE–PLE 0.6. Leg I: Tr 0.82, Fm 1.08, Pt 1.36, Tb 0.86, Mt 0.5; Leg II: Tr 0.7, Fm 0.82, Pt 0.8, Tb 0.6, Mt 0.4; Leg III: Tr 1, Fm 0.9, Pt 0.74, Tb 0.8, Mt 0.44; Leg IV: Tr 0.92, Fm 0.5, Pt 1.08, Tb 0.74, Mt 0.46.

COLOR AND BODY. In ethanol, carapace brown, posterior region blackish-brown. Clypeal region brown; ALEs and PLEs surrounded by blackish orbital setae. Lateral margins of carapace slightly truncated and steep. Chelicerae brownish with curved outer margins and excavated inner margins: two promarginal and one retromarginal teeth. Sternum pentagonal, blackish brown; labium and maxillae brown. Leg I robust; femora I–IV dark brown dorsally; patellae and tibiae dark brown; tarsi and metatarsi of all legs dark brown. Abdomen oblong, sparsely covered with black hairs; anterior margin covered with long black scales with sparse white hairs making an arc; no prominent pattern present on posterior region, beige pairs of transverse lines and pair of beige spots covered with white hairs on mid dorsum; venter blackish brown with a blackish brown median region. Spinnerets blackish brown, covered with a patch of white hairs dorsally (Fig. 8A–B).

PALP. Dark brown; embolus short and hook-shaped and embolus tip directed in the clockwise path; its base separated from the tegulum. The double-lobed PLP is very distinctive compared to that of the other species considered here. RTA long and angle between the RTA and tibia is about 45º (Fig. 9A–B).

Distribution and habitat

This species occurs in the montane and submontane forests of the central highlands of Sri Lanka with limited distribution (Fig. 17). Specimens were collected by beating vegetation up to a height of 1– 2 m.