Pinelema tham Zhao & Li sp. nov. Figures 9, 10, 11, 32

Type material.

Holotype: ♂ (IZCAS), Laos, Vien Tiane Province, Vang Vieng District, 1.54 km south of Vieng keo Village, Tham Cave, 18.9092N, 102.4421E, elevation ca. 270 m, XI.2012, S. Li and Z. Yao leg. Paratypes: 4♂ and 4♀ (IZCAS), same data as holotype.

Etymology.

The species name refers to the type locality; noun in apposition.

Diagnosis.

Pinelema tham sp. nov. resembles P. zhenzhuang but can be easily distinguished by the following: the embolus is hawk-beak-shaped (Figs 9, 10B) (vs. needle-shaped), the tip of the embolus is directed ventro-prolaterally (Figs 9, 10B) (vs. ventrally). The terminal part of the receptacle is 3.50 times wider than the neck (Fig. 11A) (vs. six times).

Description.

Male (holotype). Total length 1.23. Carapace 0.48 long, 0.47 wide. Abdomen 0.71 long, 0.59 wide. Carapace pale brown (Fig. 10A). Six vestigial eyes (Fig. 10A). Chelicerae, labium, and endites light brown, legs milky white (Fig. 10A). Sternum brown with sparse setae. Leg measurements: I 3.77 (1.08, 0.18, 1.19, 0.76, 0.56); II 3.20 (0.95, 0.19, 0.95, 0.60, 0.51); III 2.41 (0.75, 0.17, 0.63, 0.45, 0.41); IV 2.84 (0.89, 0.16, 0.79, 0.55, 0.45). Abdomen grey (Fig. 10A).

Palp. Tibia 1.96 times longer than patella, cymbium 1.67 times longer than tibia, 1.45 times longer than femur, cymbial apophysis short, as long as half width of cymbium base (Fig. 10C); bulb bean shaped (Fig. 10C, D); spiral ridge brown; embolus short relative to bulb, tip well sclerotized, hawk-beak-shaped, directed ventro-prolaterally (Fig. 10B-D).

Female. Total length 1.24. Carapace 0.44 long, 0.43 wide. Abdomen 0.74 long, 0.60 wide. Coloration as in male (Fig. 11B, C). Leg measurements: I 3.31 (0.93, 0.18, 1.03, 0.63, 0.55); II 2.79 (0.82, 0.17, 0.82, 0.51, 0.47); III 2.18 (0.67, 0.16, 0.57, 0.40, 0.38); IV 2.55 (0.79, 0.16, 0.71, 0.49, 0.40). Abdomen pale brown. Receptacle with two membranous tubes, swollen distally (Fig. 11A), tip of receptacle four times wider than the neck (Fig. 11A).

Distribution.

Laos (Vien Tiane, site 17 in Fig. 32), known only from the type locality.