Oxytate greenae ( Tikader, 1980 )

Sudhin, Puthoor Pattammal & Sen, Souvik, 2023, Taxonomic notes on the crab spider genus Oxytate L. Koch, 1878 (Araneae: Thomisidae) from India, Zootaxa 5315 (6), pp. 549-558 : 552-553

Oxytate greenae ( Tikader, 1980)

Figs 1E–I , 5B–C , 7

Dieta greenae Tikader, 1980: 235 , figs 308–309 (description and illustrations of female). Sen et al. 2015: 61, figs 309–313 (description and illustrations of female).

Type material. Holotype female from INDIA: South Andaman : Chiriatapu, 29 May 1971, leg. B.K. Tikader ( NZC-ZSI, Kolkata, Regd. No. 4578/18), examined.

Diagnosis. The female copulatory organ of O. greenae is most similar to that of O. elongata , from which it can be easily distinguished by the antero-medially placed hood (anteriorly in O. elongata ), relatively shorter copulatory duct (elongated in O. elongata ), and more elongated spermathecae (kidney-shaped in O. elongata ) ( Figs 1G–H , 2C–D, G–H , 5B–E ).

Redescription. Female (holotype, Figs 1E–I , 5B–C ). Measurements: Body length 9.73. Carapace length 3.35, width 3.12. Abdomen length 6.15, width 2.91. Eye diameters: ALE 0.09. AME 0.06. PLE 0.08. PME 0.06. Eye interdistances: AME–AME 0.17, ALE–AME 0.17, PME–PME 0.18, PLE–PME 0.36, ALE–PLE 0.27, AME–PME 0.23, ALE–ALE 0.61, PLE–PLE 0.27, AME–PLE 0.52, ALE–PME 0.23. Measurements of legs: I 12.51 [3.81, 1.22, 3.58, 2.75, 1.15], II 12.39 [3.71, 1.48, 3.48, 2.61, 1.11], III 6.75 [1.99, 0.80, 1.76, 1.35, 0.85], IV 6.59 [2.15, 0.68, 1.81, 1.19, 0.76]. Leg formula: 1234. Spination. Legs: femur I pl 4 rl 2 do 4 plv 2, II pl 4 rl 4, III–IV pl 2 rl 2; patella I–II pl 1 rl 1 III do 2; tibia I–II pl 2 rl 2 plv 4 rlv 4, III–IV pl 2 rl 2; metatarsus I–II pl 2 rl 2 plv 3 rlv 3, III–IV pl 2 rl 2; tarsus I–IV spineless. Colour in alcohol: carapace light reddish-yellow ( Fig. 1E ). Eyes located on tubercles ( Fig. 1E ). Chelicerae, endites, and labium light yellow ( Fig. 1F ). Sternum yellowish-white ( Fig. 1F ). Abdomen yellowish-white, antero-dorsally with a longitudinal median stripe ( Fig. 1E ). Spinnerets and legs light yellow. Epigyne as shown in Figs 1G–H , 5B–C : epigyne with strongly sclerotized anterior hood; copulatory openings oriented antero-medially, located in the middle of the epigyne ( Figs 1G , 5B ); copulatory duct long, initially sclerotized, then looped inwards, distal part leading forward and connected to the anterior part of spermathecae (1G–H, 5B–C); spermathecae elongated, and kidney-shaped ( Figs 1H , 5C ).

Male. Unknown.

Distribution. India: Andaman Island, West Bengal ( Tikader 1980; Sen et. al. 2015) ( Fig. 7 ).

Figures

FIGURES 1A–I. Oxytate chlorion (Simon, 1906) (A–D), and Oxytate greenae (Tikader, 1980) (E–I). A, E Holotype female, dorsal view; B, F Same, ventral view; C, G Epigyne ventral view; H Vulva, dorsal view; D, I Labels. Scale bars: A–B: 5 mm. C: 0.5 mm; E–F: 2 mm. G–H: 0.2 mm. Oxytate chlorion © MNHN, Paris.

FIGURES 2A–I. Oxytate elongata (Tikader, 1980) (A–D Female from Kerala and E–I Holotype female). A, E Habitus dorsal view; B, F Same, ventral view; C, G Epigyne ventral view; D, H Vulva, dorsal view; I Label. Scale bars: A–B, E–F: 2 mm. C: 0.4 mm. D, G, H: 0.2 mm.

FIGURES 5A–E. Oxytate chlorion (Simon, 1906) (A), Oxytate greenae (Tikader, 1980) (B–C), and Oxytate elongata (Tikader, 1980) (D–E). A–B, D Epigyne ventral view; C, E Vulva, dorsal view. Scale bars: A: 0.3 mm; B–E: 0.2 mm.

FIGURE 7. Records of Oxytate species in India.