Heptathela tomokunii Ono, 1997

Schwendinger, Peter J. & Ono, Hirotsugu, 2011, On two Heptathela species from southern Vietnam, with a discussion of copulatory organs and systematics of the Liphistiidae (Araneae: Mesothelae), Revue suisse de Zoologie 118 (4), pp. 599-637 : 613

Heptathela tomokunii Ono, 1997 Figs 39-43

Heptathela tomokunii Ono, 1997a: 24-26 , figs 1-8 (description of male and female).

MATERIAL EXAMINED: NSMT-Ar 3396-3398; male holotype (matured 8.X.1995), female “ allotype ”, 1 female paratype; Vietnam, Vinh Phu Province , Tam Dao, 900 m; 15 ./ 21.IX.1995; leg. H. Ono.

REMARKS: Diagnosis and description were given by Ono (1997a). The following can be added: cymbial projection only moderately developed, quite wide (Fig. 39); paracymbium short and wide at base, at an acute angle to axis of cymbium ( Ono, 1997a: fig. 2), similar to that of H. tonkinensis ; subtegulum exceptionally long (Fig. 40); contrategulum with denticles on distal edge modified into a series of parallel ribs running down to 1-2 isolated ventral denticles near proximal margin (Figs 39-40); tegulum with quite low, narrowly arched marginal apophysis and with quite short terminal apophysis (Figs 39, 41) carrying a pronounced, strongly bulging dorsal extension with a coasely dentate edge (Fig. 39; Ono, 1997a: fig. 4) not in contact with edge on marginal apophysis; genital atrium with some hairs on ventral side near posterior and lateral margins (Fig. 42); bursa copulatrix short, anterior margin widely arched; all receptacles simple and smooth [Fig. 43; also confirmed for the “ allotype ”, though the corresponding illustration ( Ono, 1997a: fig. 6) indicates indistinctly cauliflower-shaped receptacles], not developed as caulifower-shaped receptacular clusters as in other Heptathelinae examined; larger lateral pair of receptacles sessile, slightly displaced onto dorsal wall of bursa copulatrix; smaller median pair of receptacles stalked [on common socket in paratype (Fig. 43), on individual stalks in “ allotype ” ( Ono, 1997a: fig. 6)] and slightly displaced onto ventral wall (Fig. 43). “Tibial spurs” present on legs I-III of female, on last exuvia of male and also on mature male (with a few “spurs” reduced).

RELATIONSHIPS: Due to similarities in the palpal organ of males (moderately developed cymbial projection; short, wide paracymbium at an acute angle to the axis of the cymbium; long subtegulum; low, arched marginal tegular apophysis; pronounced dorsal extension of terminal tegular apophysis), H. tomokunii appears to be more closely related to H. tonkinensis (female unknown) than to H. australis and H. nui sp. n. More or less pronounced displacements of the lateral pair of receptacles onto the dorsal wall of the bursa copulatrix in H. tomokunii , H. australis and some Ryuthela species are considered homoplasic (see Discussion).

DISTRIBUTION: This species is only known from the type locality, the Tam Dao hill station, about 85 km northwest of Hanoi, in northern Vietnam .