Milema sai Zhao & Li, 2022

Lin, Yejie, Zhao, Huifeng, Koh, Joseph K H & Li, Shuqiang, 2022, Taxonomy notes on twenty-eight spider species (Arachnida: Araneae) from Asia, Zoological Systematics 47 (3), pp. 198-270 : 246

Milema sai Zhao & Li , sp. nov. ( Figs 46–47 )

Diagnosis. This species resembles M. nuichua Zhao & Li , sp. nov., but can be distinguished by the distal tibia thinner than the basal cymbium of the male palp (vs. wider), the ellipsoidal bulb (vs. irregular), the tip of the embolus membranous (vs. sclerotized); spermatheca globular with membranous and sclerotized tubes inside (vs. no tubes).

Description. Male (holotype, Fig. 46A ). Total length 1.15. Carapace 0.50 long, 0.43 wide. Abdomen 0.65 long, 0.61 wide. Carapace brown-yellow. Six eyes, clypeus height 0.10. Chelicerae, legs, labium, and endites light brown. Sternum brown with sparse setae. Leg measurements: I 2.72 (0.90, 0.15, 0.79, 0.48, 0.40), II 2.60 (0.80, 0.15, 0.80, 0.45, 0.40), III 1.85 (0.60, 0.15, 0.55, 0.25, 0.30), IV 2.55 (0.80, 0.15, 0.75, 0.50, 0.35). Abdomen pale brown.

Palp ( Figs 46B–D ). Tibia 2.30 times longer than patella, cymbium 1.50 times longer than tibia, cymbial apophysis length 1/4 wide as cymbial base. Bulb nearly ellipsoidal as shown in Fig. 46C ; embolus triangular, short relative to bulb, length ratio of embolus/bulb 0.23.

Female (IZCAS-Ar43315, Figs 47A–B ). Total length 1.20. Carapace 0.51 long, 0.45 wide. Abdomen 0.69 long, 0.60 wide. Six eyes, clypeus height 0.11. Coloration as in male. Leg measurements: I 2.72 (0.90, 0.15, 0.79, 0.48, 0.40), II 2.60 (0.80, 0.15, 0.80, 0.45, 0.40), III 1.85 (0.60, 0.15, 0.55, 0.25, 0.30), IV 2.55 (0.80, 0.15, 0.75, 0.50, 0.35).

Genitalia ( Fig. 47C ). Insemination entrance membranous, five times thinner than spermatheca; spermatheca globular with many membranous tubes and one sclerotized tube inside, diameter of spermatheca six times wider than insemination entrance.

Material examined. Holotype ♂ (IZCAS-Ar43312), Thailand: Prachuap Khiri Khan, San Rai Yot District, Ban Pu , Sai Cave (9.4801°N, 98.5094°E, elev. 46m), 29 October 2014, H. Zhao, Y. Li leg. Paratypes. 2♂ 1♀ (IZCAS-Ar43313–Ar43315), same data as holotype .

Distribution. Known only from the type locality.

Etymology. The specific name is a noun in apposition taken from the type locality.

Figures

Figure 46. Milema sai Zhao & Li, sp. nov., holotype male.A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. Embolus, apical view; C. Palp, prolateral view; D. Palp, retrolateral view.Abbreviations: Ca—cymbial apophysis; E—embolus. Scale bars: A=0.2mm; B=0.05 mm; C–D=0.1 mm.

Figure 47. Milema sai Zhao & Li, sp. nov., paratype female. A. Habitus, dorsal view; B. Habitus, ventral view; C. Endogyne, lateral view. Abbreviations: S—spermatheca. Scale bars: A–B=0.2mm; C=0.05mm.