Sphingius deelemanae, Feng & Fu, 2010

Feng, Zhang & Fu, Jianying, 2010, A new species of the genus Sphingius (Araneae, Liocranidae) from China, and first description of the female: Sphingius hainan Zhang, Fu & Zhu, 2009, ZooKeys 49 (49), pp. 23-31 : 25-27

Sphingius deelemanae sp. n.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:31749410-B22D-4A45-BC39-A977D3A01D87

Figs. 1–7

Type material. Holotype male, CHINA: Hainan Province, Mt. Jianfengling [N 18.62°, E 108.98°], May 28, 2009, G. X. Han leg. ( MHBU), paratype 1 3, same data as holotype ( MHBU).

Diagnosis. In the Chinese Sphingius species, such as S. hainan Zhang, Fu & Zhu, 2009 , S. pingtung Tso et al., 2005 , S. sinensis ( Schenkel, 1963) and S. zhangi Zhang, Fu & Zhu, 2009 , the new species can be easily distinguished from S. hainan by its broader embolus (Fig. 5), while in S. hainan the embolus is shorter and thinner ( Zhang et al. 2009: fig. 6); by the chelicerae without a distal anterior tubercle (Fig. 4), while S. hainan ( Zhang et al. 2009: fig. 3) has such a distal anterior tubercle on the chelicerae. Specifically compared to S. pingtung , the new species is also distinguished the embolus broader and shorter (Fig.5), while in S. pingtung the embolus thinner and longer ( Zhang et al. 2009: fig. 10); by the tibial apophysis shorter (Fig. 5), while in S. pingtung the tibial apophysis very long ( Zhang et al. 2009: fig. 12). The new species can be distinguished from S. zhangi by having a longer and broader embolus and with the embolus tip very near to the distal end of the cymbium (Fig. 6), while in S. zhangi the embolus thinner, shorter and far from the distal end of the cymbium ( Zhang et al. 2009: figs. 29, 31).

Comparing the new species with the seven species with known males found in nearby south east Asian countries, we find the new species can be distinguished from S. scrobiculatus ( Myanmar) , S. songi ( Thailand) and S. gothicus ( Thailand) by having a longer and broader embolus and the embolus tip very near to the distal end of the cymbium (Fig. 6), while in S. scrobiculatus , S. songi and S. gothicus the embolus thinner, shorter and far from the distal end of the cymbium ( Deeleman-Reinhold 2001: figs. 840, 854, 844). The new species can be distinguished from S. penicillus ( Thailand) , S. gracilis ( Myanmar) and S. octomaculatus ( Myanmar) by the tibial apophysis shorter (Fig. 5), while in S. penicillus , S. gracilis and S. octomaculatus the tibial apophysis very long ( Deeleman-Reinhold 2001: figs. 849, 839, 858). The new species can be distinguished from S. punctatus ( Thailand, Indonesia) by the lump-shaped median apophysis (Fig. 5), while in S. punctatus the median apophysis ribbon-shaped ( Deeleman-Reinhold 2001: fig. 864).

Etymology. The specific name is a patronym in honor of Dr. Christa L. Deeleman- Reinhold, arachnologist.

Description. Male (holotype). Total length 2.25: carapace 1.12 long, 0.85 wide; abdomen 1.13 long, 0.77 wide. Carapace ovoid in dorsal view (Fig. 1), with wedgeshaped posterior margin; reddish brown, surface covered with many seta-bearing granules, each sunk in a large round pit, lateral and posterior margins with triangular thorns, with a long seta arising from the side. Eyes in two transverse rows; AER slightly recurved and PER straight in dorsal view (Fig. 1). Eye diameters: AME 0.13, ALE 0.12, PME 0.14, PLE 0.13. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.17, AME–ALE 0.12,

26 Feng Zhang & Jian-Ying Fu / ZooKeys 49: 23–31 (2010) Figures Ι–7. Sphingius deelemanae sp. n. Ι Male body, dorsal view 2 Male abdomen, ventral view 3 Endites, labium and sternum of male, ventral view 4 Male right chelicera, anterior view 5 Male left palp, ventral view 6 Same, prolateral view 7 Same, retrolateral view c conductor e embolus es epigastric scutum is intercoxal sclerites ma median apophysis pt precoxal triangles sd sperm duct st subtegulum t tegulum ta tibial apophysis vs ventral scutum. Scale bars: 1 mm (1–3); 0.4 mm (4–7).

is pt 3 4 c e ma st sd t ta Ι 5 es c e ma st sd t vs 2 ta 6 7

PME–PME 0.16, PME–PLE 0.14; MOA 0.28 long, front width 0.26, back width 0.25. Thoracic groove obsolete. Chelicerae reddish brown (Fig. 4), with three promarginal and three retromarginal teeth, anterior surface somewhat swollen. Endites, labium and sternum dark brown (Fig. 3). Sternum shield-shaped, lateral margin with precoxal triangles and intercoxal sclerites. Space above the coxae and below the carapace with longitudinal, sclerotized pleural bars. Leg spination: femora I-IV with one small dorsal spine, tibia III v1-1-0, p0-0-1, metatarsus III v0-2-0; tibia IV v2-2-1, r0- 0-1, metatarsus IV p0-1-0, v0-1-0, r0-1-0.Leg formula: 4123 (Table 1).

Abdomen (Fig. 1) dark brown dorsally, with nearly entire dorsal scutum, epigastric and postgenital scutum fused to some extent, postgenital scutum relatively large, about two thirds of abdomen length; venter smooth, without longitudinal lines.

Male palp as illustrated (Figs. 5–7). Tibia with short retrolateral apophysis. Bulb ovoid in ventral view (Fig. 5), tegulum straight at base; sperm duct distinctive Ushaped, originating from upper part of tegulum; subtegulum relatively large (Fig. 6); embolus bent, long and thick, originating from prolateral-apical tegulum, extending beyond tegulum (Fig. 5); conductor apical, corn-flake shaped; median apophysis nearly rectangular from retrolateral view, on distal-retrolateral sector of tegulum.

Distribution. Presently known only from the type locality, Mt. Jianfengling, Hainan, China.