Kelawakaju pomo Yu, Li & Zhang, sp. nov.

Figs 1C–F, 7–9, 10I–L, 11B, D, F, 12G–H, Q–R

Type material. Holotype ♂ (MHBU-ARA-00027530), Guangxi Prov., Daxin Co., Shuolong Township, Longwai, 22.7994°N, 106.8460°E, 316 m elev., 12 May 2024, leg. K. Yu, Y. Ni, Y. Li., Z. Yang & Y. Li, HBUARA#2024-101 . Paratypes: 1♂ 2♀ (MHBU-ARA-00027531~00027533), same data as holotype .

Other material examined. 1♀ (CWHW; photos examined), Daxin Co., Longdian Village, 22.6890°N, 107.0376°E, 27 April 2024, leg. W. Wang.

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from “pomo ” (= splash-ink), a traditional Chinese landscape painting technique. The new species inhabits karst mountainous environments, which are common themes in splash-ink landscape paintings; its appearance with black and white patterns also resembles the splash-ink landscape painting. Noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. The male palpal morphology is like that of K. frenata, the differences as described in the previous section on K. frenata . The longitudinal bands of white scales on both sides of the dorsal surface of body in both sexes of K. pomo sp. nov. are conspicuous with clear boundary (Figs 7, 8A–D), which can be used to distinguish it from all other K. frenata -group members, except K. leucomelas . For the male palp, K. pomo sp. nov. can be distinguished from K. leucomelas by the following: (1) from the ventral view, the embolus is inclined towards the retrolateral side, forming an angle of approximately 60° with the basal plate of the embolus (Fig. 9A); (2) the terminal edge of the retro-ventral keel of the embolus (RV) extends to terminal 3/4 to 4/5 position of embolus (Fig. 11B); (3) the long white setae on the palpal tibia are well-developed and conspicuous (Fig. 10f; vs. in K. leucomelas, the embolus is almost perpendicular to the basal plate of the embolus, the RV is close to the tip of the embolus, and there are no conspicuous long white setae on the palpal tibia, see Maddison et al. 2022: figs 57–59, 79).

Description. Male (Holotype). Measurements of CL / OL / OW for different individuals: MHBU-ARA-00027530 (3.43 / 1.50 / 2.00), MHBU-ARA-00027533 (3.09 / 1.37 / 1.83). Legs of holotype. I 9.27 (2.57, 1.79, 2.25, 1.69, 0.97), II 6.34 (1.82, 1.16, 1.35, 1.24, 0.77), III 6.14 (1.73, 0.99, 1.27, 1.39, 0.76), IV 7.55 (2.12, 1.14, 1.86, 1.64, 0.79); leg formula 1423. Carapace. Dark, dorsally with dense white scales forming horizontal band behind AMEs, encircling ALEs, then extending longitudinally from around ALEs down to posterior end; white scale bands bordered by sparse, yellowish-brown scales (Fig. 8A); clypeus and lateral edges without white scales. Chelicerae. Paturon with diagonal white scale band on anterior surface, extending from near chilum to subdistal part (Fig. 8I); paturon bump relatively low; cheliceral furrow with two small pro-marginal teeth and one larger retromarginal tooth (Fig. 8K). Abdomen. Dorsal side with pale areas on both sides, covered with longitudinal white scale bands, median melanic stripe covered by slightly sclerotized cuticle and light scales smaller, sparser than those on lateral scale bands, with tuft of white scales in front of spinnerets; ventral side with longitudinal melanic bands on both sides, each carrying a central narrow band of loosely arranged white scales; with median pale area covered by longitudinal white scale band; book lung cover light, surrounded by narrow darkened area; ventral side without white scale patches near posterior on lateral sides (Fig. 8E–F). Legs. Legs I significantly darker than other legs, legs II–IV pale yellow, with dark annuli at joints of segments; all legs sparsely covered with white scales, setae varying between dark or light, long or short; palpal femur with 1 dorsal median bristle (slightly indistinguishable from spine, see Fig. 10G) and one dorsal subdistal spine; all leg femora with two dorsal large bristles. Leg spination. Femur I: pd 2 (1/3 down from distal); tibia I: pv 3, rv 3; metatarsus I: pv 2, rv 2; femur II: pd 1 (1/4 down from distal); tibia II: pv 1, v 2; metatarsus II: pv 2, v 2; femur III: pd 1 (1/3 down from distal); metatarsus III: v 1 (on distal); metatarsus IV: v 1 (on distal); other segments leg parts spineless. Palp. Bright from dense white scales and long white setae, white scales on dorsal of patella, tibia and distal of femur, pro-dorsal side of proximal of cymbium, long white setae on prolateral and retrolateral of patella, tibia and distal of femur, prolateral side of proximal of cymbium (Fig. 10E–G). Embolus initially vertical from basal plate, subsequently inclining retrolaterally from proximal 1/3; with one keel each on retro-ventral (RV), retro-dorsal (RD), and pro-dorsal (PD) sides, RD and PD edges irregular, extending from base of embolus to about middle (Fig. 11F); RV translucent, edge relatively smooth, extending from proximal 1/4 up to subapical of embolus, terminating sharply at precipitous decline (Fig. 11D). Retrolaterla tibial apophysis (RTA) base broad, narrowing distally to small rounded apex not exceeding proximal 1/2 of cymbium.

Female. Measurements of CL / OL / OW for different individuals: MHBU-ARA-00027532 (3.47 / 1.45 / 2.02), MHBU-ARA-00027531 (3.30 / 1.43 / 1.94). Legs of paratype (MHBUARA-00027531). I 6.53 (1.97, 1.33, 1.41, 1.09, 0.73), II 5.44 (1.65, 1.02, 1.13, 0.98, 0.66), III 5.59 (1.61, 0.93, 1.14, 1.18, 0.73), IV 7.31 (2.08, 1.13, 1.81, 1.55, 0.74); leg formula 4132. Overall pattern like male, besides paturon lacking white scales, abdomen lacking dorsal sclerotized area and ventral side with white scale patches near posterior on lateral sides. Leg spination. Femur I: pd 1 (1/3 down from distal); tibia I: pv 3, rv 3; metatarsus I: pv 2, rv 2; tibia II: v 2; metatarsus II: pv 2, rv 2; femur III: pd 1 (1/4 down from distal); metatarsus III: v 1 (on distal); metatarsus IV: v 1 (on distal); other leg parts spineless. Epigyne. Rim of atria shallow, extending down and fading out, septum slit-like (Figs 9C, 12G–H). Spermathecae close to each other proximally, separating and expanding into ellipsoid shape towards distal end. Accessory glands short, with length and width nearly equal. Fertilization ducts close to proximal position of spermathecae.

Natural history. All specimens were collected from the open rocks (Fig. 1C–D), and this species was not found on nearby tree trunks. Among the type specimens, except for one female which was found in a silk sac in rock crevice (Fig. 1E), the rest of the individuals were wandering on the surface of the rocks, with males occasionally swinging their abdomens up and down while walking. One male was collected while feeding on an ant pupa (Fig. 1F).

Distribution. China (Guangxi).